Giant Kauri Trees, the gorgeous Bay of Islands, friendly people, waterfront accommodation, lunching on Fisn n Chips, heaps of sightseeing, shopping, delicious food and sun, sun, sun. If that’s where you want to be then you’ve come to the right place.
Northland and the Bay of Islands are the envy of many a New Zealander. Its warmer and has some of the most interesting places to visit.
You will get to stay in Waitangi and visit the grounds at Waitangi, where New Zealands founding document was signed. In Russell you will dine with locals at the historic Cavelli House. You will visit villages and towns known for Arts and Crafts, Orchards and other culinary masterpieces. And there’s a lot more planned, but you’ve got to be there to get in amongst it!
Get a taste of what many New Zealanders have yet to experience, and learn a little history along the way.
Experiences not included in your tour cost:
Duration
Departure
Auckland - Whangarei - Bay of Islands (L, D) - Bay of Islands sightseeing - Cavalli House, Russell (B, L, D) - Bay of Islands - Mangonui - Bay of Islands (B, L, D) - Bay of Islands - Omapere, The Hokianga (B, L, D) - Omapere - Waipoua Forest - Auckland (B, L)
Your driver/guide meets you and we head across the Harbour Bridge and along the northern motorway stopping at the Honey Centre for morning tea. We lunch at Reva’s beside the picturesque Whangarei Town Basin. At the Bird Recovery centre, we meet the quirky talking tui and see kiwis close-up. Then we continue north to Kawakawa to check out the famous Hundertwasser toilet block and on to our hotel at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. The sparkling blue waters of this maritime park are dotted with islands – it’s paradise for beach lovers and sailors. This evening we dine in at the hotel. Perhaps enjoy a dip in the pool before dinner.
We visit the Waitangi Treaty House and grounds then board the coach to drive to Opua to catch the vehicular ferry to the Russell side. (There’s the option to take a scenic dolphin-watching cruise on the Bay this morning. Step on board at Paihia to cruise out to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock and Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island, $89 per person). Lunch with Adele and Rodney Jones in their historic Cavalli House (1889) on Russell’s waterfront. We take a guided tour of Pompallier House and printing press and stroll around Russell. We drive over to Long Bay for a glimpse of the beautiful outer Bay of Islands. Then we drive back to catch the vehicular ferry to Opua and return to Waitangi. Dine in at the Copthorne Hotel.
From Kerikeri we continue north to Mangonui, a pretty harbourside village in time for lunch at the famous fish and chip shop. In the afternoon we return on the scenic coastal road to Matauri Bay following the picturesque coastline with views to the Cavalli Islands. On our return to the Bay of Islands we stop for afternoon tea and sightseeing in Kerikeri, a thriving town known for its orchards, arts and crafts and the boutique chocolate factory.
We visit the historic mission station at Waimate North then drive along the northern side of the Hokianga to Kohukohu where we lunch at charming Waterline Café before catching the vehicular ferry to Rawene. Continuing around the southern shores of the Hokianga to the small villages of Opononi and Omapere. Our hotel is right on the water’s edge, there’s time for a walk on the beach before we dine in at the hotel this evening.
Driving on to the Waipoua Forest, Tane Mahuta, the largest kauri tree is just a short, flat walk through beautiful native bush. We continue on to Matakohe to visit the amazing collection of local memorabilia at the Matakohe Kauri Museum and lunch at Matakohe House. We stop near Warkworth in time for afternoon tea and return to Auckland at in the late afternoon.
Tour Prices 2019/20 |
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NZ$2,190 |
Single Supplement ( extra ) NZ$400 |
Departure Dates 2019/20 |
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Mar 26th 2019 - Mar 30th 2019 G |
Mar 17th 2019 - Mar 21st 2020 G |
A: Available G: Guaranteed Departure C: Closed