3 Day Private Charter – Central North Island Tour from Auckland

Departing Auckland we travel south, with your first destination being  the famous and unique Waitomo Glowworm Caves – enroute you pass through the Market Garden area known as the Bombay’s, before dropping over the ranges into the lush Waikato dairy farm land. Following the mighty and all powerful Waikato River which is  New Zealands longest river running 425 kilometres through the north island with its source coming from Lake Taupo and running to the Waikato Heads just south of Auckland on the west coast. This river boasts a number of New Zealand’s hydro power plants along its pathway as well as the picturesque Huka Falls which are created by 220’000 litres of water per second being forced through a narrow canyon only 15 metres wide and cascading down a 6 metre drop – making this a very impressive attraction to visit.

Waitomo translated in Maori means Wai = water and Tomo = a hole in the ground. Your cave adventure awaits you – the world renowned Glow-worm cave is just one of the  Waitomo Caves system  but made famous with not only its beautiful Stalagmites & Stalactites or the acoustics of the Cathedral area but the magical boat ride which you get to enjoy under the glow-worm lights which are totally  amazing and unique to New Zealand. It really is mystical & magical.

Today is a very full day so it’s time for a quick lunch before heading off to Hobbiton Movie Set. When you arrive  on the set you embark on a 2 hour guided tour around the movie set used for the trilogy of films – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. You can stand under the party tree, walk past the many Hobbit houses and imagine yourself among the characters. Nestled deep in the rolling hills of the Waikato, this location was chosen for its unblemished landscape. Bilbo Baggins was no typical hobbit and here you will understand why. Left in its original state this is a memory making tour.

You then depart Hobbiton for Rotorua, where you will be dropped off at your hotel. You can choose to relax and dine inhouse, or venture  into the city for your evening meal then visit the Polynesian Spa for a soak in one of these world leading, award winning mineral water spas – a perfect way to end a perfect day.

Accommodation – 4 Star Hotel – includes full breakfast.

We will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and head out to Wai O Tapu Geothermal Park– New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal sightseeing attraction.

You are introduced to a uniquely different natural landscape – one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand.

Clearly defined tracks provide the visitor with the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of this area through a series of different walks taking from 30 to 75 minutes or more, each with their own unique volcanic vistas to fascinate all ages.

Wai-O-Tapu translated means ‘Sacred Water’ and it is easy to see why. Hot pools ranging in colour from turquoise blue, rich green and gold to an almost olive/yellow make the water at Wai-O-Tapu a dazzling must see. The array of colours is caused by mineral salts in the water including arsenic, gold and silver. The spectacular Champagne Pool is a magnificent example of the vibrant colours caused by mineral and silicate interference. Follow the pool down to where it spills over a waterfall of ethereal beauty, coming to rest at the edge of one of the best examples of silica terracing in the Southern Hemisphere since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces in the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption.

The Lady Knox geyser is an awesome sight of spurting boiling hot water bursting from its white, conical mound of silica at 10:15am daily; Lady Knox has a special trick to her timely eruptions! Discovered by a gang of prisoners washing their clothes in the early 1900s, the geyser erupted; shooting hot water 20 meters into the air after the men had unwittingly poured soap into the spout. Now all it takes to get old Lady Knox firing is a bit of soap every day at roughly 10am!

Then is off to Taupo – just a 45min ride.

The Great Lake Taupo region is undoubtedly one of the world’s most unique and picturesque areas. This popular destination boasts the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, and our mountains are internationally renowned. They form part of the dual World Heritage area of Tongariro National Park, and Mt Ngauruhoe featured as the ominous Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The beautiful resort town of  Taupo is the hub of the central North Island, making it an ideal base for exploring and is the perfect place to meet friends and family. Top class restaurants and accommodation options abound, with  numerous art and craft galleries to explore, hot thermal pools for relaxing in and endless outdoor adventures await you. You can choose to stop at the Prawn Park cafe to enjoy locally grown Prawns for lunch or we can take you to L’Artí Cafe & Sculpture Garden or maybe just peruse the shops and find your own little cafe to enjoy some lunch overlooking the grandeur of our largest lake with the snow peaked mountains as the back drop. Alternatively, we could make time to indulge in a Spa before returning back to Rotorua.

A 60 minute drive back to Rotorua and we will stop to view the famous Huka Falls enroute. On arrival to Rotorua you will visit Te Puia – Rotorua’s premier attraction situated within  the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley. Embark on a guided tour of the park with opportunity to get up close to Pohutu geyser as it erupts, see bubbling mudpools & steaming fumaroles, see traditional Arts & Crafts Institute and the nocturnal Kiwi bird enclosure for viewing. When your tour ends you will witness the following:

• Lifting of the Hangi
• Traditional Welcome
• Exclusive Cultural Performance
• Authentic Māori Feast
• The Valley Under Lights
• Transported home to your accommodation place

Wow it’s another full day.

Accommodation – 4 Star Hotel – includes full breakfast.

This morning you will begin your day with the sheep show at the famous Agrodome. They have been hosting and entertaining visitors to New Zealand for over 40 years. Do you know New Zealand has more sheep than people? There are 7 sheep to every one New Zealander, making it over 30 million – so the sheep show is a must see , its fun for everyone.

Then we depart the Rotorua region for the Bay of Plenty, where you will stop to visit a Kiwifruit orchard. You will get up close to these furry little fruits and also to the not so furry gold kiwifruit variety. Tastings of the green & gold fruit and juice is on your agenda, along with opportunity to try some jams, chutneys and other preserves. Today you will learn all about how we grow  these superfoods and supply the world.  Time permitting, we will stop and taste New Zealand Manuka honey and learn all about the special health benefits of this product, and I will introduce you to our bees.

Next stop is Mount Manganui. Voted as New Zealand’s Best Beach – which boasts 14 kilometres of white sand and thundering waves which makes this the most popular seaside resort in New Zealand. I am sure you will find somewhere along Marine Parade to enjoy a quick lunch break before we continue to Auckland.

Auckland being another 3 hour drive – enroute we pass by the most glorious Karangahake Gorge – a sharply winding canyon, which has been  formed by the Ohinemuri River. Historically used for Gold Mining back in the mid 1800’s but today boasts stunning scenery and a very popular destination for tourist & locals to enjoy walkways and a cycle trail.

From here it is direct to Auckland, where we can drop you off at the airport (if you are flying onwards) or your Hotel accommodation.

Should you  be flying to the South Island you may choose to fly direct from Rotorua – if so we can return you to Rotorua from Mount Maunganui.