North Island holiday, New Zealand
| country: | New Zealand |
| location: | North Island, Coromandel Peninsula |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec 2009: 11 Jan, 25 Jan, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 8 Mar, 22 Mar, 5 Apr, 19 Apr, 3 May |
| price: | From £1030 (14 days) excluding flights, local payment NZ $300. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Explore the fascinating culture and beauty of New Zealand's North Island.
Join us on a journey through the land of the Lord of the Rings. From the island's volcanic plateau to the unique thermal regions, experience the best of the North. We include a traditional Maori 'marae' stay and 'hangi' dinner for a taste of local culture. We'll have the opportunity to try some of New Zealand's best wines and explore the charming cities of Auckland and Wellington.
Join us on a journey through the land of the Lord of the Rings. From the island's volcanic plateau to the unique thermal regions, experience the best of the North. We include a traditional Maori 'marae' stay and 'hangi' dinner for a taste of local culture. We'll have the opportunity to try some of New Zealand's best wines and explore the charming cities of Auckland and Wellington.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Auckland. Known as 'the city of sails', Auckland is a melting pot of Pacific flavours. Explore the vast waterfront, take a day trip to one of the many islands or head out to a nearby beach. |
| Day 3: | Coromandel. With rugged volcanic hills, a spectacular coastline hemmed with the lush kauri forest, Coromandel is a haven for Kiwi holidaymakers and home to stunning white sand beaches. Dig a hole in the sand and create your own hot water pool - a volcanic phenomenon! |
| Day 4: | Lake Rotoiti/Rotorua. Experience warm hospitality and traditional food while learning about Maori culture on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. |
| Day 5-6: | Tongariro National Park. Drive along the shores of Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake, before settling in to stay near Tongariro National Park. We spend two nights here allowing us to walk the trails and enjoy views which gained world-wide fame as Mount Doom in the 'Lord of the Rings' movies. |
| Day 7-8: | Napier. Leaving the central plateau, we head east to the coast and the art deco city of Napier on Hawkes Bay. This is a premium wine area and we have time to explore the wineries on bicycle, pausing at our leisure to sample some of the best blends on offer. |
| Day 9-10: | Wellington. Delve into New Zealand's rich heritage at the Te Papa Museum or ride a cable car to the Botanic Gardens, taking in spectacular views of the city and harbour along the way. |
| Day 11: | Marlborough Sound. Renowned for its gorgeous inlets and coves, Marlborough Sounds is bursting with waterways and bush walking tracks that just beg to be explored. It's also possible to fit in a spot of fishing. |
| Day 12: | Kaikoura. Teeming with marine life, Kaikoura is an animal-enthusiast's dream. Keep your eyes peeled for sperm whales, dolphins, fur seals and wandering albatrosses. |
| Day 13-14: | Christchurch. Soak up the charming English atmosphere of Christchurch, perhaps picnicking by the River Avon or catching a local tram past heritage buildings. Check out the Gothic architecture, Maori carvings and local arts and crafts at the Arts Centre. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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New Zealand is renowned for its pristine environment and its Maori culture. On this tour we stay with a Maori clan at their “Marae” or meeting place. We are hosted by a local family member, are welcomed by the clansmen and are treated to a traditional “Hangi” meal roasted underground. We stay overnight at the Marae itself and gain a fantastic insight into the Maori culture and the people. Payment from the stay is used within the local community and supplies extra employment in an area where unemployment is high.
During our trip, our group leaders take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as sticking to established trails, not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants. They are also always eager to share information about the country and culture in which they live. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |