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Eight day low-cost AAT Kings escorted tour of the North Island. Discover the highlights of the North Island including Bay of Islands, Auckland, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Wellington and more.
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On arrival in Wellington you will be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon explore Wellington on a sightseeing tour featuring views from Mount Victoria and free time at Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand. Te Papa allows you to experience the warmth and vibrancy of Māori culture. See the magnificent contemporary marae and wharenui (meeting house) and explore interactive displays depicting modern New Zealand and pre-European history. Tonight join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a welcome reception and dinner.
Stay: Travelodge (D)
Day2
Wellington - Rotorua
Travel along the Kapiti Coast, through the dairy farms of Manawatu to Tongariro National Park, and discover the alpine scenery of Mt Ruapehu. Visit Taupō and drive along the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake. View Huka Falls and pass the geothermal Wairakei Power Station.
Stay: Hotel Ibis Rotorua (2 nights) (B)
Day3
Rotorua Sights
This morning we visit the Agrodome Farm Show to enjoy an entertaining look at life on a New Zealand farm. The afternoon is free time for you to take in all the other activities Rotorua has on offer. Perhaps visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park, abundant with rainbow trout and native fauna including the kiwi, or Te Puia where you can join a tour of Te Whakarewarewa Valley with a local guide (own expense). Enjoy an evening of fun and laughter and gain an insight into traditional Māori culture followed by a delicious buffet dinner at Tamaki Māori Village. (B, D)
Day4
Rotorua - Waitomo Caves - Auckland
This morning travel through lush Waikato farmland to Waitomo Caves. See the amazing underground Glowworm Grotto by boat and walk through the limestone caves. Later you’ll follow the Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, into Auckland. Enjoy picturesque views of the cityscape and of Auckland’s North Shore from Bastion Point. This evening celebrate your holiday at a dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
Stay: VR Queen Street (B, D)
Day5
Auckland - Bay of Islands
Over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, through Orewa and the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Walk amongst kauri trees at Parry Kauri Park. There’s time to explore Whangarei, the northernmost city in New Zealand, then it’s off to the beautiful Bay of Islands. Take a scenic cruise through game fishing waters to Cape Brett and, weather permitting, through the famous Hole in the Rock. The return cruise to Paihia meanders through picturesque islands – see deserted sandy beaches and secluded bays and keep your eyes peeled for the marine life.
Stay: Copthorne Hotel and Resort (Garden View) (2 nights) (B, D)
Day6
Bay of Islands - Free Time
Today is free for you to experience the beauty of the Bay of Islands at your own pace – perhaps take a coach trip to Cape Reinga via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach, enjoy a guided sea-kayaking trip, or a day of sailing. Tonight is at leisure so why not dine at a local restaurant. (B)
Day7
Bay of Islands - Auckland
You have the opportunity to visit the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand’s founding document was signed. You’ll have time on your own to take in highlights such as the magnificent Māori war canoe (waka) and Meeting House. This afternoon enjoy the lush farmland scenery as you return to Auckland.
Stay: VR Queen Street (B)
Day8
Depart Auckland
Your holiday concludes this morning after breakfast. You will be transferred to Auckland Airport for your onward flight. (B)
4.5/5.0
There are 15 reviews of this tour from past clients of Relaxing Journeys, averaging 4.5 out of 5.
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Tour Reviews
4
Sarah Mort (Australia)
18/04/2018
Enjoyed most of it, especially Rotorua. Fabulous countryside. Vale and Monica were great - love that NZ dry sense of humour! Hotels were mainly great (Travelodge Wellington room was minuscule, but fine for one).
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5
Catherine Owen (Australia)
06/09/2017
We had an awesome tour guide and driver. The guide had excellent local knowledge.
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5
Toni Lanphier (Australia)
30/12/2015
Great tour - we saw all the key attractions of the North Island at a comfortable pace. Good balance of included and optional excursions, with enough free time to feel relaxed and able to do our own thing. Only down-side was joining a group of 35 travellers who had been together for 9 days doing the South Island, so it was difficult to become part of the group, and we missed out on some useful information.
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4
Joanne Swanwick (Hong Kong)
23/12/2015
I had a very good time on the tour overall. I got to see so much during my 8 days, although there were times when I would have liked more free time. For example, on a few occasions we arrived at the hotel after 5.30pm and there was a dinner at 7pm. Personally, I would have preferred to have my evenings free to explore. I feel like I hardly saw Auckland. Another small point, but the hotel in Rotorua (Ibis) doesn't have wifi. A lot of the guests were surprised by this. We were there over Christmas and therefore couldn't easily contact family and friends. In addition, Hobbiton was closed for the holiday, which was a real shame. All in all though, I had a very good time and look forward to visiting the South Island one day. Thanks!
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5
Marion Woolfall (United Kingdom)
12/02/2014
A very good tour of the North Island, extremely well organised and lovely variety of sights and adventures. Excellent Tour Manager and driver, good standard of hotels and excursions, all in all very enjoyable.
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4
Jonathan & Sybil Smith (United Kingdom)
16/10/2013
Accommodation was very good apart from the Auckland hotel and its noisy location, service etc at hotel was good however. The continual changeover of persons on the tour was not something we had experienced before but seemed to work OK. One of the days on the tour was devoted to going in caves to look at glow worms and then 4 hours on the coach seemed a waste of a day. The drivers and tour staff were helpful courteous and did a good job. Thank you for your assistance. The Bay of Islands accommodation was exceptional by the way!
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5
Stewart & Heather Stonehewer (United Kingdom)
27/03/2013
The tour could not have been better. Everything went perfectly. Ngaire was a fantastic guide & Monica was a fantastic coach driver. We saw so much, but at the same time we were given the opportunity to do our own thing & to relax. We really felt that we did the North Island as thoroughly as was possible in the 7 days. We particularly liked the way we were allocated different seats each day on the coach so that over the course of the week we felt that we had seen something of everything. There was never a problem. We were kept fully informed & fully entertained. The accommodation & food could not have been better & the service was always first class. The friendliness of everyone involved was a real pleasure. The highlight of the week was the Maori evening at Rotorua. Very many thanks.
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5
Patricia Daniels (United Kingdom)
28/11/2012
This was a wonderful way to see the North Island from Wellington to Auckland with some optional extra's. I took the Hobbit Village tour,very good value, and the Cape Reinga/Ninety Mile Beach which was good apart from the mist but that was not the tours fault. The driver and tour good were very good. I joined the tour at Wellington (there were six others who joined here) which I thought was the start but this was a continuation of a tour from South Island and it was difficult at first being a single traveler to join in. Also it was a shame that there was no last night meal as this would have been a good time to say gooidbye to the others.
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5
Sharon Coleman (Australia)
14/03/2012
The group that I traveled with on the AAT Kings bus were great and able to mix with easily. The Tour Director and the Coach Driver were friendly and helpful. Unfortunately the weather was not kind and unable to do extra activities that were provided. When the weather was fine, New Zealand was just a beautiful place. I even joined in at the Tamaki Village activities and had a wonderful time doing so. Everything was just soo good.
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4
Rama Khalsa (United States)
29/02/2012
Great guide - Marty and Paul the bus driver. Very solid team. Also liked the activities on the tour and the hotels and food were fine. I might include a few less optional tours.
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4
Claire Livesey (United Kingdom)
14/09/2011
Thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Our tour director, Alan, was very friendly and informative. The only problem we had was at the Mercure Hotel, Willis Street in Wellington. We had checked in on 12 Sept as had two nights booked before the tour started. On 14 Sept our tour itinerary said we would be picked up at 13:00 at the hotel for an afternoon of sightseeing in Wellington. We waited at the hotel but the coach did not arrive. I asked at reception if they knew anything about it. They said they didn't but would find out. Eventually I understand they managed to call the tour director, Alan, who advised them that they were running late and the coach would now be arriving at 3pm (15:00). That evening when we met Alan he said he had faxed the hotel with this information so they should have been able to tell us and also they should have given us a welcome letter which they did not. There just appeared to be a lack of communication/understanding on the part of the hotel which was a bit disappointing. Other than this the rest of the tour was very good - hotels and coach comfortable. Included excursions good - very much enjoyed the Agrodome Sheep Show and the Maori evening at Tamaki, and the glow worms at the Waitomo Caves were amazing. A really great trip.
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5
Donald Clarke (United States)
26/01/2011
Your tour was phenomenal!! It was by far the best trip ever for me!! The tour guide Julie and our driver Paul were absolutely sensational. I don't know how they retain so much useful information. I had spent 3 weeks in Australia on a wonderful tour there, and then New Zealand with your wonderful people!! Then it was on to Fiji, don't have to say much there! I would definitely return to your beautiful country or Australia anytime that I could. The people were very friendly and accommodating in every manner! Thanks so much Georgie for a trip of a lifetime!
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4
Marty & Mike Jordan (Canada)
19/01/2011
Mike and I enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide Ted did a wonderful job - very knowledgeable, organized and a good sense of humour. We were a little disappointed when our guide was switched in Aukland. The tour pace was good and the stops were interesting. We loved summer in January. Thanks for all the effort you put into making great holidays.
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5
Trish Grady (Australia)
05/01/2011
This was the 2nd tour I have booked for a group of travellers to NZ through Relaxing Journeys. Once again your friendly, professional and efficient service made the process very easy from the very first contact with Georgina. Our tour and was well organised with great accomodation, meals and included sightseeing. Overall it met all my expectations and was good value for money.
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4
Sandra Anderson (United Kingdom)
31/12/2008
I have just returned home after a wonderful holiday in New Zealand and Australia and wish to let you and the staff know how much I enjoyed the tour of the North Island from Dec 31st to Jan 7th. In particular I would like to mention the Tour Director, Julie Hodgson and the Bus Driver, John, who both contributed so much. I arrived without my luggage and Julie immediately took over the task of contacting Air New Zealand and checking with them each day until it finally turned up, leaving me free to enjoy the tour and your beautiful country. Her knowledge, and the interesting way in which she passes it on to the passengers made the journey an education as well as a pleasure. The hotels, food, and places visited were all first class, even though I took the less expensive tour and I would not hesitate to recommend your company and AAT Kings in the future. This is the first time I have booked such a trip on the Internet and you and your office made it all so easy. Thank you all.
Eight day low-cost AAT Kings escorted tour of the North Island. Discover the highlights of the North Island including Bay of Islands, Auckland, Waitom...
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