Tour 9-Day Northern Kiwi Small Group Tour

Others

Te Puia guided tour Mitai Maori Village evening experience Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Waitomo Ruakuri Cave Tour Various scenic hikes

Accommodation

8 nights hostel dorm accommodation Plus, one Overnight stay Māori village experience

Transport

Transport in a comfortable private air-conditioned vehicle.

Guide

All of our experiences are hosted by a local Driver Guide. As your travel wing person, they make your trip convenient and hassle-free by doing the hard yards and organising the details so you can focus on unrivalled memory-making.

Meals

x8 continental Breakfasts included x2 buffet dinners; a traditional hangi dinner at Te Pa Tu Maori Village, and an organic roast dinner at River Valley Lodge.

Not included:

Optional

Loads of extra activities to add on! White Water Rafting on the Rangitikei River Horse Trek through the rolling hills with fantastic scenery out to the nearby National Park. Please note horse riding experience is required for this trek Go sailing on Lake Taupō and see the Māori rock carvings Taupō Skydive Tongariro Crossing shuttle bus Rotorua Canopy Tours Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua luge Explore the underground cave system with Black Water Rafting Explore Cathedral Cove from the Water by Kayak or Boat

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (http://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Wellington
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Wellington

Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand’s vibrant capital city, Wellington, where your Northern Kiwi adventure begins. Wellington is a bustling city compact in size but surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy. If you have time today, explore all that the city has to offer. Stroll along the waterfront and follow the sculpture walk, discover the stories of New Zealand in the Te Papa museum, or treat your tastebuds to one of the many world-class cafes and restaurants this city offers.

Tonight’s accommodation is at the Ibis hotel, located on 153 Featherston Street, Wellington Central. Check in here from 2pm. This evening at 7 pm, get to know your fellow travellers and Kiwi Experience Driver Guide during a welcome evening. Afterward, feel free to explore the many hidden bars in Wellington.
Day 2 Wellington To River Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Wellington To River Valley

It’s time to hit the road! Today we travel to River Valley, the perfect setting to immerse yourself in nature. Located beside the Rangitikei River in the central North Island of New Zealand, River Valley is a remote lodge where you can seek adventure or embrace the solitude and blissfully disconnect. Choose to white water raft on the Rangitikei River (optional activity), experience horse trekking and learn natural horsemanship techniques (optional activity), or explore the beautiful location by e-bike (optional activity).

Tonight we will enjoy a Farm-To-Table meal prepared freshly by the River Valley Chef (included). The team is passionate not just about food but also about where the food comes from. They strongly believe in sourcing ethical, local, and sustainable food and serving wholesome and healthy food.
Day 3 River Valley To Taupo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

River Valley To Taupo

Today we continue north to Taupō, a place of extraordinary natural beauty and wonder centred on a vast, sparkling lake formed from a volcanic eruption. You’ll have a free day tomorrow to explore, but this afternoon choose to sail on Lake Taupō out to the Māori Rock Carvings, one of the most extraordinary contemporary carvings in the world (optional extra). Or if you are feeling adventorous, take a leap at 16,000 feet with a skydive for the perfect birds-eye view of Lake Taupō.
Day 4 Taupo (Free Day)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Taupo (Free Day)

Love this place. Love Taupō. Aroha ki tēnei wāhi. Arohaina Taupō. Today is at your leisure; feel free to explore; you can book one of the many optional activities online via the Trip Planner. If you are looking for a challenge, The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is heralded as the best one-day hike in New Zealand. The crossing is also regarded as one of the top ten-day hikes in the world.

The Tongariro Crossing is an unforgettable alpine hike across a cratered volcanic moonscape of gemstone-coloured mineral pools and steaming vents in the heart of the dual-listed UNESCO heritage site of Tongariro National Park. And Mt Ngauruhoe’s classic cone shape scored it a starring role as the fiery Mt Doom in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings.

Many who complete the 19.4 km (12 miles) journey will tell you the climbs can be steep and the weather unpredictable, though worth it in every aspect. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is in Tongariro National Park - New Zealand’s oldest national park.
Day 5 Taupo To Rotorua
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Taupo To Rotorua

We’ll start the day with a short walk to Huka Falls to see the dramatic waterfall thundering through a natural gorge, before continuing on to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua; a mystical land of bubbling mud pools, rocketing geysers and natural hot springs. You’ll get the chance to explore a geothermal reserve on a guided tour of Te Puia (included).

This evening will immerse you in the traditions and culture of the Māori people with a 3-hour experience at the Mitai Māori Village (included). Witness captivating stories unfold, be enchanted by performers, and satisfy your hunger with a traditional Māori feast.
Day 6 Rotorua (Free Day)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Rotorua (Free Day)

Rotorua offers you plenty of experiences to keep you busy on your free day here. For the adventurous, explore the tree tops on a network of ziplines with Rotorua Canopy tours, roll downhill on a big inflatable ball with Zorb, or go luging at the Rotorua Skyline. If you’d rather relax and unwind, spend the day at Secret Spot Hot Tubs and soak in your own tub surrounded by ferns and overlooking the stunning Whakarewarewa Forest.
Day 7 Rotorua To Waitomo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Rotorua To Waitomo

As we bid farewell to Rotorua, let us venture into the heart of the mighty Waikato region, where we will explore the lush pastures of the Shire™ with a guided walking tour of Hobbiton™, as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies (included).

Back aboard the bus, we continue to Waitomo. In Māori, ’wai’ means water, and ’tomo’ means hole. Waitomo is more than caves and glowworms; it’s a cultural hub rich in Māori history, myths and legends. Some of the cave guides are descendants of Chief Tane Tinorau, the original explorer of the caves. You’ll get the chance to marvel at the glowworms and limestone formations on an included walking tour of Ruakuri Cave, or if you are feeling adventurous perhaps opt for a Black Water Rafting trip and raft in tubes through underground rapids, jump off waterfalls and float below of a ky of glowworms (optional upgrade).
Day 8 Waitomo To Coromandel
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Waitomo To Coromandel

There is no better way to start the day than by walking in nature, and Ruakuri Reserve offers the perfect morning walk. This spectacular loop highlights the sculpted cliffs and low limestone arches unique to the Waitomo area. Afterwards, we hit the road to Coromandel. En route, we will explore the Karangahake Gorge, located at the base of the Coromandel Range. This Historic Walkway follows the old railway line between Paeroa and Waihi and offers an impressive glimpse into the remains of a once-booming gold mining and railway era.

We then arrive in Coromandel, known for its pristine beaches and the famous Cathedral Cove. You have the option to experience the breathtaking natural rock formation at Cathedral Cove accessible (currently) only from the water by Kayak or via Boat (optional paid activity). If the tides are right we will head to Hot Water Beach in the afternoon so you can dig your own natural spa and relax in the hot geothermal water, before heading around the corner to Hahei to spend the evening. Hahei is a gorgeous beach town famed for its spectacular, pink sandy beach. Go for a sunset swim or grab a bite to eat before winding down for the night.
Day 9 Coromandel To Auckland
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Coromandel To Auckland

It’s the final day of your Northern Kiwi tour, and today we are heading to New Zealand’s largest city, Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. Auckland, also known as the "City of Sails" is nestled between two stunning harbours and offers a unique blend of urban sophistication, natural beauty, a thriving arts scene, and outdoor adventures. Today, stroll along the iconic Viaduct Harbour, Wynyard Quarter or explore Britomart. If culture is more your thing, Auckland offers an array of museums and galleries to explore. If you’re staying for longer, hop on a ferry to Rangitoto Island and climb to the summit of a dormant volcano, or explore the many vineyards on Waiheke island.

Your tour ends here, so it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the companions who have become your new lifelong friends throughout this incredible journey. Ka kite anō!

9 days tour

9-Day Northern Kiwi Small Group Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 9-Day Northern Kiwi Small Group Tour

Wellington

Wellington To River Valley

River Valley To Taupo

Taupo (Free Day)

Taupo To Rotorua

Rotorua (Free Day)

Rotorua To Waitomo

Waitomo To Coromandel

Coromandel To Auckland

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