North Island Highlights New Zealand Itinerary 10 days
Welcome to the 10 Day Northern Trail Haka Plus Tour!
Join us on tour and spend 10 days in New Zealand’s North Island. From New Zealand’s biggest city to the nation’s lively capital, you’ll take in a whole host of North Island gems, enjoying cinemagraphic landscapes, spectacular coastal walks and geothermal wonders. We'll fill your days with highlights of the North Island and also give you a great insight into New Zealand life and culture.
Created for travellers in their mid-thirties and upwards, this North Island tour includes special activities such as walking to the spectacular and photogenic Cathedral Cove, a fully guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set, a traditional Māori meal, a tour of Zealandia Nature Reserve in Wellington and a walk amidst towering – and magically lit – treetops. You can also choose to select some tour add-ons such as hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – otherwise known as Mordor, kayaking to a natural hot pool, visiting an off-shore eco-sanctuary, or flying over snow-capped mountains!!
You’ll have the chance to swim, kayak, skydive, hike, see kiwis, relax in hot pools, roll down a hill in a giant ball, eat and drink like a local, and more! This is your trip, and it’s designed to be flexible. The choice is yours – pick the activities that appeal to you.
At the end of the day, you can relax in comfortable 3–4 star accommodation to ensure you have a great night’s sleep ready for the following day’s activities.
Across 10 days in New Zealand’s North Island between Auckland and Wellington, you’ll encounter an array of landscapes: lush, green rolling hills; beautiful golden sand beaches, tumbling waterfalls, geothermal valleys filled with bubbling mud and sulphuric lakes, magnificent mountains, cosy laid-back surf towns and vibrant cities. Prepare your camera and get ready to make some magical memories!
As our tours are made up of a combination of tours, the composition of your group may change throughout your tour (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch are the hubs where the group may change).
Tour itinerary
Auckland
Welcome to Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau! Settle into your accommodation, meet your new travel buddies and get an early night before your adventures start tomorrow.
Auckland to Coromandel
This morning’s drive takes us to the famed beauty of Coromandel Peninsula. Explore the magnificent coastline and crystal-clear waters.
Coromandel to Raglan
We head west to relaxed Raglan where beginners and experienced surfers can sample the surf breaks before we enjoy a meal of fish & chips on a sunset cruise.
Raglan to Rotorua (via Waitomo and Matamata)
En-route to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua, we’ll visit Waitomo’s world-famous glow worms and Matamata's Hobbiton. This evening we’ll take a magical walk amongst giants!
Rotorua
Opt to zipline over ancient trees, hike a volcanic crater, or brave white water rapids. Tonight we’ll visit a living Māori village.
Rotorua to Taupō
We’ll visit the thundering Huka Falls, which you’ll hear before you see, then stop in Taupō where you can try the ultimate adrenaline rush: skydiving.
Taupō
Spend today relaxing around the lake, try adrenaline pumping activities or you have the option to hike the Tongariro Crossing – considered one of the world’s top 10 best one-day walks.
Taupō to Wellington
We’ll leave the mountains through landscapes familiar to Lord of the Rings fans and head south towards the world’s coolest little capital city – Wellington.
Wellington
Explore Wellington’s picturesque waterfront and visit a nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary. You can also choose to visit Te Papa Museum or spend some time with Weta Workshop’s imaginative artisans.
Wellington
All good things must come to an end, so share contact details, photos and tour memories over breakfast then bid farewell to your new friends and wonderful guide.
What’s included?
What's included on every Haka Plus tour:
- Passionate and knowledgeable local Kiwi guide
- Comfortable and air-conditioned bus transport
- Orientation tour of each and every location
- Small groups of maximum 16 people
- Experiences to teach you about our unique Māori culture
- Stay each night in twin-share 3–4 star accommodation: a mix of hotels, motels, lodges, and rainforest retreats.
What's also included on this tour:
- Stay 9 nights in twin-share 3–4 star accommodation: a mix of hotels, motels, and lodges.
- Feast on daily hearty breakfasts and 2 dinners, including a traditional Māori hāngī cooked in an underground oven.
- Walk a stunning coastal track to Cathedral Cove (as seen in the Chronicles of Narnia movies).
- A fully guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set.
- Watch a Māori cultural performance and check out a geothermal valley of bubbling mud pools including the famous Pōhutu Geyser in Rotorua.
- See endangered kiwi birds up close and personal.
- Soak up a sunset boat cruise in the West Coast surf town of Raglan – the fish and chips are on us!
- Brave the Redwoods Treewalk, crossing 23 raised suspension bridges.
- Hike through the forested gorge of Ruakuri (45 minutes) – bring your camera for this one.
- Discover rare animal species tour of Zealandia Nature Reserve in Wellington.
- Plus, many more surprise stops along the way!
ENHANCE YOUR TRIP WITH ADD-ON ACTIVITIES AND UPGRADES
Your tour includes all the essentials but you can add extra wow-factor to your tour by adding on the activities and accommodation upgrades that suit you best.
ADVENTURE OR HAKA PLUS?
Discover which is best for your ->
GUEST REVIEWS
Available dates
Only $99 to secure your seat unless you book within 60 days of departure. Once your spot is booked, you can log in and customise your tour with any extra experiences or activities up to 60 days before departure.
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