This is a great introduction to the highlights of the North Island, designed for people who must be conservative with both their time and good value for your money. Arrive in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Join an evening harbour cruise where you will enjoy sunset views of the skyline, and a delicious Kiwi dinner! Participate in a morning tour of the city, visiting it's most interesting neighbourhoods and sights including Mt Eden, Victoria Park Market, Westhaven Marina, the War Memorial Museum, Parnell and Bastion Point . Have an afternoon on board a beautiful sail boat, a definite in the city of sails. The following day travel overland from Auckland to Rotorua by coach, stopping along the way to visit Waitomo. Take a guided tour through the galleries and lofty chambers of the caves, and a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. Once in Rotorua, do some hiking where you will not believe the beauty of the volcanoes and breathtaking scenery. If you are adventurous some excellent biking can be done in this area. Spend a leisurely spa day at the Hells Gate Geothermal reserve, where you will experience the unique mud and water baths that this region is famous for. Attend a Maori Hangi and concert, where you learn about traditional Maori customs and beliefs and finish it all off with an authentic Hangi dinner! This is a wonderful stand alone tour of the North Island, but has been made to work together with our South Island Explorer for a more complete exploration of New Zealand.

Shared shuttle transfer between Auckland Airport and your hotel. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Experience a dinner cruise with delicious New Zealand fare, including some traditional Kiwi favourites, at one of the best times to experience Auckland’s magnificent harbour. Enjoy great sailing while the sun sets, and watch the fairy-tale lights of this photogenic city come alive. Your experienced crew will explain Auckland’s unique sights and those wishing to participate in the sailing can do so.


Enjoy dinner (included in tour price).

Rendezvous Hotel Auckland is New Zealand's largest hotel. From the moment you enter the dramatic atrium lobby, you will know that you have arrived in one of Auckland's premier hotels. Located in the very heart of cosmopolitan Auckland, a stay at Rendezvous Hotel places you within walking distance of some of the city's finest dining, shopping and entertainment, including Queen St and the Viaduct Harbour. The hotel is also linked via an underground tunnel to four of Auckland's most significant venues - Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Square - making it ideal for those in town to see a show.

Auckland is the largest city in the country, and has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. It is one of the few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate major bodies of water. Auckland is popularly known as the "City of Sails" because the harbour is often dotted with hundreds of yachts, in fact over 135,000 are registered in the city. Many national treasures are displayed at the Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland War Memorial Museum, the National Maritime Museum, or the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Exotic creatures can be observed at the Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World.

See first hand why Auckland is known as the City of Sails as you enjoy a trip over the Harbour Bridge. Visit the Famous Auckland landmark of Mount Eden, a dormant volcano whose summit offers excellent panoramic views of the city and harbours. From the fantastic vantage point you will see evidence of Auckland's volcanic history, the most significant being the youngest volcano of Rangitoto Island at the entrance to the Waitemata harbour. This tour also takes in the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park which is situated on a 62,000 year old volcano. In addition to these natural features you will be taken to the trendy shopping are of Parnell Village with its historical buildings that have been transformed into boutiques, antique and craft specialty shops. Your tour will then take you along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Dr. before returning to Downtown. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). You will have two hours sailing in a real America's Cup yacht on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour. Try your hand at the wheel, or grinding, help to hoist the sails, and enjoy the peace of being on the water, under sail.
Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Rendezvous (4.5*).

Enjoy a day trip from Auckland to Rotorua through lush rolling farm landscape to the mystical Waitomo Glowworm Caves. After lunch (own expense) enjoy a guided tour through the galleries and lofty chambers of the Caves. Your tour culminates with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - lit up by thousands of tiny living lights. View the unique Waitomo glowworms, as expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves historical and geological significance. Enjoy the limestone shafts, stunning Cathedral cavern and then take a unique boat ride through the glowworm grotto. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).

Near Polynesian Spa and Blue Baths, this Rotorua property is situated on a lake. Another nearby point of interest is Government Gardens. In addition to air conditioning and minibars, guestrooms feature high-speed (wired) Internet access (surcharge) and refrigerators. Bathrooms come with shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. At Millennium Rotorua recreational amenities include an indoor pool, a health club, and a sauna. The property also provides a full-service health spa, a poolside bar, and a restaurant.

Rotorua is a city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island. It is also home to botanical gardens and interesting historic architecture. Known as a spa town and major tourist resort since the 1800s, many of its buildings hint at this history, particularly Government Gardens at the eastern end of the town. Another of Rotorua's attractions is the mountain biking. Whakarewarewa (also known as the "Redwoods") Forest has been described as 'the Disneyland of mountain biking' and has some of the best mountain bike trails in New Zealand.

This is said to be the greatest 1-day hike in the world, the Tongariro Crossing is a must do for the intrepid traveler. With stunning views all around, hike the saddle from Mt Tongariro to Mt Ngauruhoe on a guided experience including interpretation from local iwi on their tribal lands. We know you will not be disappointed by this magnificent walk. Trip begins and concludes in Rotorua and is approximately 6 to 8 hrs.
Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Millennium (4.5*).

The unique geothermal muds and waters of Rotorua are renowned for their curative and invigorating properties—and this is particularly so at “Hells Gate” - Rotorua’s most active thermal park. Hells Gate Geothermal Park is set in 50 acres with a large variety of thermal features. Walk past steaming fumeroles and hot pools of boiling mud so violent they are unnerving. Wai Ora Spa Facility is where visitors can experience the unique geothermal mud and sulphurous waters in privacy as well as in a totally unique environment. There are three private mud baths in the Wai Ora (“Healthy Waters”) Spa Facility – one family and two three-person baths each containing in excess of 70-100kgs of the finest geothermal muds in both suspended and solid form. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). On arrival at Mitai Maori Village, you are welcomed by Mitai family members and guided to your table in the dining area. Here, you will receive an introduction into Maori customs and traditions, rituals, beliefs, protocol and language. Mitai are proud to offer you an authentic hangi meal that is cooked in the earth oven known as 'the hangi pit'. Your menu includes a hot selection of succulent New Zealand Lamb & Chicken, Potatoes (Rewai), Sweet Potato (Kumara) and stuffing (a combination of Bread, Mixed Herbs, Corn, Carrots & Peas). Side dishes include scalloped potatoes baked with a cheese topping and freshly baked Garlic Bread.

Overnight at Millennium (4.5*).

The perfect day for families and adventurer's when in Rotorua. This includes 2-3 hours of superb Mountain biking, and extreme Kaituna Waterfall Rafting, a delicious lunch in a local bakery/cafe and a beautiful Kayak on Lake Rotoiti to thermal hot pools only accessible by boat. Your day includes return transport from Rotorua, GT Bike hire, Necessary Rafting and Kayaking Equipment, Lunch, Forest Concession fees and Hot Pool entry. This is a full day. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Millennium (4.5*).

Enjoy a private airport transfer to your accommodation or v.v. with vehicle and driver. Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.