Northern Wanderer - 9 Days - Top Rated Adventure Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Auckland to the Bay of Islands. Leave the city for the tropical north and the warm waters of the Bay of Islands.

Pass By: Paihia Harbour, Paihia New Zealand
Leaving Auckland at 10am we head to the "winterless north" and the pristine beaches of the Bay of Islands. We stop at the incredible Uretiti beach for a swim and a walk along the sand. Grab a rugby ball and frisbee off the bus and brush up on your passing skills at this picturesque beach spot. On arrival into Paihia, the gateway town to the Bay of Islands, choose from the Mangrove walk or a beautiful cycle to the thundering Haruru waterfall.

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Waterfront campsite centrally located. Upgrades available.

Day 2: Bay of Islands. Enjoy a full day in the bay with numerous options to explore by boat, kayak, bike or foot.

Pass By: Paihia Harbour, Paihia New Zealand
Experience a full day exploring the Bay of Islands and its turquoise waters. This subtropical region is the perfect playground for water lovers and a great place to soak up the sunshine. With a staggering 144 islands, the Bay of Islands offers swimming, sailing, parasailing, kayaking plus much more along with some excellent walks in the native forests. This region is also home to some of the oldest European settlements in New Zealand.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Waterfront campsite centrally located. Upgrades available.

Day 3: Bay of Islands to Orewa. Sand dunes, sandy beaches and beautiful coasts

Pass By: Orewa Beach, Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa, Auckland New Zealand
Today we cross the top of the north to the giant sand dunes of Opononi for beach fun and optional sand boarding. After time on the dunes we head to Waipoua Forest, home to the giant Kauri trees and a variety of scenic short walks and bike rides. We end the day heading down the Hibiscus Coast to our beachside camp at Orewa. Enjoy a tasty evening meal with a sea view before a spot of star gazing in the crystal-clear skies.

The roads around this region pass through forest dominated by huge kauri trees. These tower above you at heights of up to 60 metres with a trunk five or more in diameter. These trees are slow growing and some are over 2000 years old. Beautiful Opononi is an excellent stop with its endless dunes lined by beautiful pohutakawa trees (the New Zealand Christmas tree).

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ideally located campsite with good facilities and upgrade options.

Day 4: Orewa to Coromandel

Pass By: Ocean Beach Road, Hot Water Beach New Zealand
Orewa is often blessed with a beautiful sunrise over the sea which is well worth the early start to check it out. We then travel the short distance to Auckland where we farewell those finishing their tour and welcome new travellers joining us there. Leaving Auckland at 10am we continue onwards to the Coromandel, renowned for its natural beauty, misty rainforests and pristine white, sandy beaches. Marvel at the views on a beautiful coastal walk or take in the coastline from the water by kayak. Visit the unique and famous Hot Water Beach to dig, then relax, in your own thermal pool! Soak up the breath-taking scenery and cameras ready for spectacular sunrises at our beachside camp.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Wonderful campsite near the beach with excellent cabin upgrades available.

Day 5: Coromandel to Rotorua. Options include Hobbiton, Tamaki Maori Village, OGO, Luge, hot pools, Zipline Canopy Tour & more

Pass By: Lake Rotorua, Rotorua New Zealand
Before heading south into the heart of the North Island (where you’ll be amazed by the natural wonderland that is Rotorua), we’ll drive the scenic route out of the Coromandel giving you an opportunity to explore by foot or pedals, the stunning Karagahake Gorge. If the sun is out, we’ll even have a delicious picnic lunch (kiwi styles) to break up the drive.Continuing south we drop off Hobbiton fans then it’s onto Rotorua where you can explore the city, the gardens, spas or take in some Maori Culture at the Tamaki Maori Village. Experience the only native forest zipline canopy tour in New Zealand, enjoy the thrills of OGO or the scenic gondola and luge. Take in the geothermal wonders with walks or relax in the hot pools. For cyclists there is the chance to enjoy a world class mountain bike park and the geothermal featured Te Ara Ahi cycle Trail.

Bubbling mud pools, geysers and Maori culture are the main reasons that visitors head to the thermal resort of Rotorua. It is the oldest and most established thermal resort in the country and the ancestral home of the Te Arawa people who settled here over 600 years ago.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Perfectly situated campsite with cabin upgrades available.

Day 6: Rotorua to Taupo. NZ's largest lake and towering mountains await on this adventure packed day. Free geyser experience.

Pass By: Lake Taupo, Taupo Marina New Zealand
Leave camp for Wai-O-Tapu geothermal Wonderland before continuing on to the impressive Huka Falls. We then head to Taupo, nestled next to one of the largest crater lakes in the World with some great hiking and cycling opportunities. Taupo is also a great place for adventure with heaps of optional activities to choose from. Tonight we enjoy a camp near Tongariro National Park.

This region is centred around Lake Taupo, NZ's largest lake at 619sq km - about the size of Singapore! The Lake is in a caldera created by the Taupo supervolcano some 26000 years ago and the area is still considered dormant today with moderate geothermal activity in the area such as the mud pools, hot springs and vents.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Wonderful camp with cabin upgrade options.

Day 7: Taupo to Kapiti Coast. Experience the best one day walk in the world at Tongariro National Park.

Pass By: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Off State Highway 48 Mangatepopo Valley, Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park New Zealand
Experience one of NZ’s great walks, The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, rated as the best one day walk in the World . This dual listed World heritage area is set to inspire with towering mountains, turquoise lakes, sparkling rivers, lush rainforests and lunar landscapes. For those that don’t fancy the hike, take on some grade 3 whitewater rafting rapids, cycle, enjoy short walks or relax in this beautiful area with an awe-inspiring mountain backdrop. We then head south to our wonderful stunning beach camp – home to amazing coastal sunsets.

The 80,000 hectare Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage Area, with its centrepiece Mount Ruapehu rising dramatically 2797m from the surrounding area. Next to Mt. Ruapehu are two smaller volcanic mountains - Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings) and Mount Tongariro, which is where you be hiking!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Excellent camp with cabin upgrades available.

Day 8: Kapati Coast to Wellington

Pass By: Wellington Cable Car, 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Your tour ends in Wellington with our early arrival at New Zealands beautiful capital city by 9am. Our nations capital offers great cafes and bars, along with plenty to see and do including the celebrated Te Papa Museum & the botanical gardens.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.