Overview
A five day adventure on New Zealand’s North Island, starting in Auckland and with three nights at Lake Rotorua. This tour to North Island includes some of its cultural and natural heritage highlights, in particular Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, where you gain valuable insights with Māori guides into these precious landscapes. The volcanic activity of the North Island is seen all around, not only at Lake Rotorua, where your hotel has geothermal pools, but also at Mount Tarawera, a volcano that erupted in 1886, forming Waimangu Volcanic Valley. This is a relaxed, easy adventure, with short walks but great insights into a long, inspiring history, as you gain views across ever-changing landscapes.
- Auckland
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Rotorua Lake
- Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
- Māori guides and traditional experiences
- Te Ana a Tokowaru
- Mount Tarawera
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland. Your accommodation is located in the heart of Auckland’s entertainment and business district. It’s just a 5mins walk to the Sky Tower, Aotea Square and Queen Street. Ferry services operate from the city centre to Devonport, for a visit to North Head Historic Reserve.
- Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel or similar in Auckland
Day 2: Hobbiton Tour and Lake Rotorua | 7-8h
You are transferred, with a private guide, to Hobbiton (1h 50mins), travelling through the farmland of Waikato and King Country regions. Take part in a group guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set (pre-booked entry tickets included), located on a vast farm near Matamata. Lunch is also included. After visiting the studios, you are then transferred to Rotorua (1h), arriving in the afternoon. Your accommodation is located next to Lake Rotorua which was originally formed by volcanic activity. Relax or go for a swim at the hotel’s geothermal pool area (included).
- Accommodation: Millennium or similar in Rotorua
- Activity length: 7-8h including transfers
- Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 3: Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park | 2.5km
You are transferred to Kohutapu Lodge (55mins) for a community-led cultural experience hosted by local Māori guides. After meeting your guides, you are transferred to Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (30mins). Begin the guided walk with a mihi whakatau (informal welcome) and karakia (prayer or blessing), acknowledging entry into the forest. The walk follows established paths among ancient podocarp trees, with species traditionally used for food gathering, medicine, carving and building. The walk concludes with a packed picnic lunch and traditional kawakawa tea.
On the return journey to Rotorua (2h), stop at Te Ana a Tokowaru, to visit Māori rock carvings located in the area. These carvings are estimated to be around 400 years old and provide insight into the region’s ancestral history.
- Accommodation: Millennium or similar in Rotorua
- Activity length: 7h including transfers
- Walking for the day: 2.5km
- Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 4: Mount Tarawera | 8km
You are transferred from your accommodation to Mount Tarawera (30mins), a volcano that erupted in 1886, forming Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Take a guided walk on established paths across exposed volcanic terrain formed by ash deposits, lava domes and rift craters. The route is approximately 8km, although the total distance may vary depending on group preference on the day. An optional run into the crater is also available. At the end of the walk, you are transferred back to Rotorua (30mins), arriving in time for lunch.
- Accommodation: Millennium or similar in Rotorua
- Activity length: 4-5h including transfers
- Walking for the day: 8km
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 5: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
- Meals included: breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip is in a hotel in Auckland and a hotel in Rotorua, where on-site geothermal pools are available to guests. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view the default accommodation
- Auckland City Hotel (Auckland)
- Millennium (Rotorua)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts and two lunches are included. On days when dinner and lunch are not included, they are available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is graded easy and suitable for anyone able to participate in the activities listed in the itinerary (read more about difficulty grades). Daily activities include guided walking on established tracks, short cultural walks and scheduled transfers. The terrain varies from city streets to well-formed forest paths and volcanic trails, with some uneven sections on gravel or ash surfaces, particularly on Mount Tarawera. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and carrying appropriate layers for rain or wind.
When to go
This trip is available year-round and can begin on any date within the season. Temperatures vary across the year, with average daytime highs of around 20-26C in summer and 12-18C in autumn, while winter temperatures range between 8-14C with cooler nights. Spring sees increasing daylight and average highs of 15-20C. Rainfall is possible at any time of year, particularly in geothermal and forested areas. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to New Zealand.
Getting there
Click to view travel options and route planner
Our recommended airports for this tour are Auckland Airport (AKL) and Rotorua Airport (ROT).
To get to the hotel from Auckland Airport, take the airport bus to Manukau Bus Station (30mins), followed by a bus to Auckland Central bus stop (25mins). Taxis from the airport to the hotel cost approximately $70-90. For more information, use the Omio planner above.
To get from Rotorua to Auckland Airport, take the InterCity bus to Manukau City (3h 44mins) followed by the airport bus which takes you to Auckland Airport (25mins). Alternatively, there are flights available from Rotorua Airport to Auckland Airport (45mins). For more information, use the Omio planner above.
Airport transfers available on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
- Baggage transfer from Auckland to Rotorua (up to two pieces per person, max 20kg each)
- Entry tickets and guided tour of Hobbiton
- Guided walk through Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
- Guided walk on Mount Tarawera
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Local English-speaking guides
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and airport transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Any drinks, meals and snacks not listed in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for attractions and museums that are not explicitly listed as included
- Personal expenses and tips
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you are travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights in Auckland and Rotorua are available upon request
- Airport transfers are available upon request
