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| self drive tours > 11 Day Northern Rhapsody North Island Self Drive Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Day 1: Arrive Auckland Welcome to Auckland! On arrival at the airport you collect your rental vehicle before making your way to your centrally located accommodation. Also included for the duration of your car hire is the KRUSE GPS Travel Guide, which as well as offering GPS navigation also provides informative commentary on the regions you pass through as well as a 'Best of NZ' button which showcases New Zealand's award winning restaurants, wineries, cafes, pubs and hidden scenic gems.
Day 2: Auckland to Hokianga Harbour & Twilight Encounter Drive over the Auckland Harbour Bridge towards the bays and beaches of Auckland’s North Shore. Travel along the Hibiscus Coast before turning to the west and passing through the towns of Matakhoe and Dargaville. Drive through the Waipoua Forest and follow the steep climb of the highway to suddenly reveal the majestic beauty of the Hokianga Harbour. This evening you enjoy a Twilight Encounter – a unique eco-cultural night walk of the Waipoua Kauri Forest, hosted by guides of the local iwi (Maori tribe). An experience not to be forgotten, this 4 hour night experience visits the oldest and largest known kauri trees in the world, Te Matua Ngahere (The father of the forest) and Tane Mahuta (The lord of the forest). Let the night noises, foreign environment, time, local Maori guides and ecological and cultural interpretation (Maori story, song and instruments) awaken your spirtual senses.
Day 3: Hokianga to the Bay of Islands & Leisure Time It's just a short drive today to bring you to the seaside town of Paihia in the Bay of Islands. Paihia is known as the jewel of the magnificent Bay of Islands. With shimmering safe waters and superb beaches it’s a great place to be based for your Bay of Islands experience. Take a relaxing walk along unspoilt beaches, a guided tour through historical sites or try your hand at big game fishing. And if adventure is what you seek, perhaps try skydiving, parasailing, scuba diving or kayaking.
Day 4: Day Sailing Adventure Come sailing and discover the wild Dolphins and the beautiful Bay of Islands. On board you can lend a hand to hoist the mainsail and jib or sit back and relax as the sails catch the breeze and the 50ft catamaran skims across the waves, sailing amongst the 144 islands that make up the beautiful Bay of islands. Sightings of the world’s smallest penguin, the little blue penguin, Australasian gannets, pied cormorants, shearwaters, stormy petrels and other ocean birds are common while on board. They are also the only yacht licensed by Department of Conservation to swim with the dolphins. And due to the spontaneous nature of sailing, there are several favourite islands that you can stop at. Your skipper will find a suitable calm cove to enjoy and there are a wide range of activities available at our island stopover from snorkelling to nature walks. A BBQ lunch is included today. Day 5: Bay of Islands to the Coromandel Peninsula Depart the Bay of Islands today as you travel south past Auckland along the Southern Motorway to reach the market garden area of Pukekohe. Then join the Pacific Coast Highway and continue on to reach your destination of the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, a beautiful rugged area fringed with dozens of excellent beaches.
Day 6: Nature & Coast Guided Walk This full day walk is a photographer's dream! A delightful sample of Coromandel Peninsula's natural heritage and scenic beauty. Enjoy the flora & fauna of the semi-tropical rainforest with giant ferns, kauri trees and crystal clear streams. Visit the old historic gold caves sparkling with glowworms and hear the fascinating history of this magic area. Visit stunning coastal scenery with white sand beaches, magnificent cliffs decorated with ancient Pohutukawa trees, old Maori pa sites and offshore islands as well as a visit to Hot Water Beach [tide permitting]. Lunch will be a delightful picnic or a visit to a café. Day 7: Coromandel Peninsula to Taupo Today travel along the Bay of Plenty Coastline before heading inland across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua, known for it's geysers and boiling mud pools, passing many of the regions crystal clear lakes en-route. You then continue south through the large Kaingaroa man made forest to reach the popular lake resort of Taupo, home to New Zealand's largest lake and the spectacular Huka Falls.
Day 8: Huka Falls Jetboat Ride Today you feel the exhilaration and the power of a Huka Jet jetboat ride. Marvel at the incredible water level views of the spectacular Huka Falls, and enjoy the sensation as you slide past cliffs and trees at 80km per hour. Then get ready for a 360 degree spin, as the boat turns on its own length! Your 30 minutes of fun and excitement takes you along a beautiful river environment, lined with native bush and natural hot springs. You’ll travel up to the very base of the Huka Falls, past the Wairakei Thermal Power Station, Prawn Park and the Aratiatia Dam. Afterwards a host of leisure experiences are available in Taupo today. Perhaps enjoy a round of golf at one of several local courses, a swim in a warm thermal pool or explore the local township. Day 9: Taupo to Waitomo & Ruakuri Caves The cross-country route to Waitomo Caves takes you past Wairakei Geothermal Power Station before turning west after the hydro power station at Atiamuri. Drive through a mixture of farmland, lakeland and forest before reaching Waitomo Caves, a region famous for its subterranean splendour. This afternoon you visit Ruakuri cave which offers a captivating blend of Waitomo's most compelling subterranean experiences. In any one tour, your guide will bring you up close to glowworms, elaborate cave formations, underground rivers, myths, legends and sacred Maori sites. Ruakuri is New Zealand's longest guided underground walking tour and an experience that must be seen to be believed. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature.
Day 10: Waitomo to Auckland The trip to Hamilton takes you through prime Waikato farmland. The Waikato River will then accompany you for much of your journey north towards Auckland. You know you’re getting close to Auckland when you reach the motorway at the base of the Bombay Hills. The scenery will change gradually from market gardens to bloodstock farms to suburbia.
Day 11: Depart Auckland Sadly your time in New Zealand comes to an end as you return your rental vehicle to Auckland Airport in time to join your onward flight. Here, we bid you a fond farewell to your homeland and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Please note that this self drive package can be taken in reverse order and the prices remain the same. If you are interested in receiving further details about this package, please complete the enquiry form below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Package Inclusions
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Package Prices EARLYBIRD SPECIAL
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| To receive more information about this package, please complete the below enquiry form. Once received, one of our specialist travel consultants will be in contact by the next working day. In addition Luxury Vacations take your privacy very seriously and you can be assured that we will never distribute, sell or rent your information to anyone else. Fields marked with a * are required. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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