New Zealand: Sun and Steam

Trip Type: In Depth Explorer
New Zealand | 6 Days

NZD 1,715.00 /Person

Over 20 optional adventures & a banquet of inclusions; this is going to be a week to remember. The brave will hurl themselves down a hill in an inf...

New Zealand: Sun and Steam

Over 20 optional adventures & a banquet of inclusions; this is going to be a week to remember. The brave will hurl themselves down a hill in an inflated Zorb ball, the more chilled will take a boat cruise around the Bay of Islands. Then we'll all compare notes of Hobbits, fish 'n' chips, the Haka over a few drinks in the city of Auckland.

Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) to Paihia via Whangārei

Welcome to the land of the long white cloud: New Zealand! Time to meet your Contiki crew and cross Auckland's Harbour Bridge admiring the 'City of Sails' harbour before starting our journey north to Paihia.We'll stop off at the stunning yacht marina in Whangārei and check out the quirky exterior of the Hunderwasser art centre, a unique architectural project dedicated to the ecological activist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. After lunch we'll hit the road again towards the Bay of Islands.On arrival to the Bay of Islands we're starting off with a dose of Kiwi history on a guided tour at Waitangi Treaty grounds where in 1840 New Zealand officially became a nation of two communities. And because we like to give you that something extra, how about a free admission at the Treaty museum, in case you seek a bit more detail on Kiwi history. Tonight we'll feast like the locals as we enjoy a true Kiwiana fish'n'chips as we overlook the glittering Bay of Islands.

Accommodation:

Bounty Motel (or similar)

Locations Visited:
  • Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
  • Whangārei
  • Paihia

Paihia

Whether it's parasailing or cruising the Bay of Islands while sailing on Carino - today's (idyllic) list of optionals reads like a who's who of adventure. This area is filled with natural beauty and is sure to inspire your inner wild child. Make the most of the Free Time Add-On experiences on offer - tomorrow we head back to the big city vibes.

Accommodation:

Bounty Motel (or similar)

Locations Visited:
  • Paihia

Paihia to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

After breakfast this morning, feeling full, salty and sun-kissed we wave goodbye to Paihia & sashay our way back down NZ in the direction of Auckland. Arriving in Auckland we've got a array of awesome Free-Time Add-Ons to choose from. Adrenaline junkies, get ready for a bungee jump, climb over the iconic harbour bridge or sky jump off the Skywalk. For those who prefer to keep two feet on the ground, why not get your taste buds tingling with a multi-sensory icecream experience at Giapo?

Accommodation:

Lylo (or similar)

Locations Visited:
  • Paihia
  • Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) to Rotorua

We'll drive through the lush farmlands of Waikato, an area that produces many of New Zealand's best Rugby players for the All Blacks. We'll visit the world’s largest kiwi bird conservation project, watch the birds roam, stand in a human-sized kiwi burrow and even visit the incubation centre where over 2,100 kiwi chicks have been born. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a traditional Māori dinner and performance (you’ll also have the chance to get involved in the world-famous HAKA).

Accommodation:

Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)

Locations Visited:
  • Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
  • Rotorua

Rotorua

The day is yours to roam free in this geothermal paradise. Soak in a hot spring, go white water rafting or hike up a volcano. The options are limitless and the decisions are yours. We recommend the Rotorua Dawn Canopy Tour, exclusive to Contiki, where you'll watch the sun rise, eat some breakfast and drink coffee up in the towering trees as the birds make start their morning calls. Then, you'll get to soar 1200m through the forest on the ultimate zipline adventure.

Accommodation:

Sudima Lake Rotorua (or similar)

Locations Visited:
  • Rotorua

Rotorua to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Just as we were acclimatising to that funky smell, it's time to leave Rotorua. Take one last look at the bubbling geothermic mud pools before we flee. Your Trip Manager will book you into a transfer service this morning. Arriving into Auckland, we'll say goodbye to the wolf pack (sob). NZ - you've been real.

Locations Visited:
  • Rotorua
  • Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

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Destination Details
New Zealand | 6 Days
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Auckland, New Zealand
Trip Finishes:
Auckland, New Zealand
Countries Visited:
New Zealand

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