Accommodation

4 nights in Hotels, 1 night in Hostel

Meals

2 Dinner (D) 5 Breakfast (B) Paihia: A dinner of fish ’n’ chips, enjoyed while overlooking the Bay of Islands in Paihia. Is this heaven? No sir, it’s just salt and vinegar.

Others

Auckland: Cameras at the ready folks, the views will be extraordinary here. Auckland: With sailboats at every angle, this is a beaut view indeed. Whangārei: See the work of the visionary Austrian painter, architect and ecological activist who made New Zealand his spiritual home. Paihia: The Waitangi Treaty Grounds might just be NZ’s most important historical site, marking the place where the British Crown and the Māori people signed their first accords back in 1840. Rotorua: A traditional Māori cultural performance, topped off with a traditional Māori feast... this ought to satisfy even the keenest of culture vultures. Rotorua: Wait til you see ’em. Wait til you smell ’em. These geothermic mudpools are a thing to behold. Rotorua: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll head to National Kiwi Hatchery near Rotorua to learn all about the locals’ efforts to protect New Zealand’s adorable national bird.

Transport

Coach

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Contiki through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. For guests travelling with Contiki from 1 January 2023, Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are highly recommended, but no longer required. Please note that regardless of time of travel guests will need to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destination visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than above. It is guests’ responsibility to ensure that they comply at all times with these requirements. No refunds will be given if guests are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to their failure to comply with these requirements.

Guide

Expert Trip Manager + Driver Team + Local Guides

Not included:

Optional

Other activities and services not included.

Others

Other activities and services not included.

Flights

International flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei

Welcome to the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand! Time to meet your Contiki crew and cross Auckland’s Harbour Bridge admiring the ’City of Sails’ harbour before starting our journey north to Paihia.We’ll stop off at the stunning yacht marina in Whangārei and check out the quirky exterior of the Hunderwasser art centre, a unique architectural project dedicated to the ecological activist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. After lunch we’ll hit the road again towards the Bay of Islands.On arrival to the Bay of Islands we’re starting off with a dose of Kiwi history on a guided tour at Waitangi Treaty grounds where in 1840 New Zealand officially became a nation of two communities. And because we like to give you that something extra, how about a free admission at the Treaty museum, in case you seek a bit more detail on Kiwi history. Tonight we’ll feast like the locals as we enjoy a true Kiwiana fish’n’chips as we overlook the glittering Bay of Islands.
Day 2 Day 2: Paihia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Paihia

Whether it’s parasailing or cruising the Bay of Islands while sailing on Carino - today’s (idyllic) list of optionals reads like a who’s who of adventure. This area is filled with natural beauty and is sure to inspire your inner wild child. Make the most of the Free Time Add-On experiences on offer - tomorrow we head back to the big city vibes.
Day 3 Day 3: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

After breakfast this morning, feeling full, salty and sun-kissed we wave goodbye to Paihia & sashay our way back down NZ in the direction of Auckland. Arriving in Auckland we’ve got a array of awesome Free-Time Add-Ons to choose from. Adrenaline junkies, get ready for a bungee jump, climb over the iconic harbour bridge or sky jump off the Skywalk. For those who prefer to keep two feet on the ground, why not get your taste buds tingling with a multi-sensory icecream experience at Giapo?
Day 4 Day 4: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Rotorua
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Rotorua

We’ll drive through the lush farmlands of Waikato, an area that produces many of New Zealand’s best Rugby players for the All Blacks. We’ll visit the world’s largest kiwi bird conservation project, watch the birds roam, stand in a human-sized kiwi burrow and even visit the incubation centre where over 2,100 kiwi chicks have been born. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a traditional Māori dinner and performance (you’ll also have the chance to get involved in the world-famous HAKA).
Day 5 Day 5: Rotorua
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Rotorua

The day is yours to roam free in this geothermal paradise. Soak in a hot spring, go white water rafting or hike up a volcano. The options are limitless and the decisions are yours. We recommend the Rotorua Dawn Canopy Tour, exclusive to Contiki, where you’ll watch the sun rise, eat some breakfast and drink coffee up in the towering trees as the birds make start their morning calls. Then, you’ll get to soar 1200m through the forest on the ultimate zipline adventure.
Day 6 Day 6: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Just as we were acclimatising to that funky smell, it’s time to leave Rotorua. Take one last look at the bubbling geothermic mud pools before we flee. Your Trip Manager will book you into a transfer service this morning. Arriving into Auckland, we’ll say goodbye to the wolf pack (sob). NZ - you’ve been real.

6 days tour

New Zealand: Sun And Steam (6 Days)

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip New Zealand: Sun And Steam (6 Days)

Day 1: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Paihia Via Whangārei

Day 2: Paihia

Day 3: Paihia To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Day 4: Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) To Rotorua

Day 5: Rotorua

Day 6: Rotorua To Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

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