5 day Waitomo, Rotorua and Hobbiton independent coach tour ________________________________________ Day 1 Personal, meet, greet and private transfer to your accommodation A private transfer will meet you from your flight and drive you to your Auckland accommodation. Welcome to Auckland City Auckland City is New Zealands largest. Known as the city of sails it is situated on a narrow neck of land between two harbours, Manukau Harbour and the beautiful Waitemata Harbour which flanks the city centre. There is somewhere for every visitor to feel right at home as each suburb has its own unique style and atmosphere, from the vibrant and trendy fashion and cuisine found along Ponsonby Road to the breath-taking native bush and beaches of the West Coast. Spend the day exploring the city or relaxing before your adventure begins. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Auckland Afternoon City Highlights tour Discover Aucklands history, culture and scenic highlights with a half-day afternoon tour. Travel through the city centre, past iconic Karangahape Road and the stylish suburb of Ponsonby, and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, enjoying views of the Hauraki Gulf and city skyline. Visit the Viaduct Harbour, home to Americas Cup racing for many years, and the central citys main road Queen Street, before continuing to the Auckland Domain. Developed around an extinct volcano, the Domain features 75 hectares of open spaces, tropical gardens, duck ponds and public art, and is home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The tour continues to historic Parnell Village, where you can explore this boutique shopping area during an afternoon tea stop. Next, travel the stunning waterfront route of Tamaki Drive to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, above Mission Bay. Named after one of New Zealands greatest and most popular Prime Ministers, the park, with its formal gardens and tranquil atmosphere, offers a panoramic outlook over the picturesque Eastern Bays, Auckland city and the Waitemata Harbour. The tour will then take you back along the waterfront to downtown Auckland. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Harbour Dinner Cruise Sailing Experience An on water dining experience is not to be missed in any harbour city especially in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’ Enjoy great sailing and as the sun sets watch the night lights of this photogenic city come alive. Your experienced crew talk about Auckland’s unique features and there is plenty of opportunity to participate in the sailing or sit back and enjoy the sights. At our sheltered mooring you will be served delicious New Zealand fare, you can choose from the sumptuous 3 course menu catered for by Snapdragon Restaurant, a top Viaduct Restaurant. Your accommodation: Quest Auckland Serviced Apartments Quest Auckland is situated in the heart of Aucklands CBD and within walking distance to all the city centre has to offer. The serviced apartments have kitchenettes or fully equipped kitchens plus laundry facilities, private balcony and room control air conditioning. ________________________________________ Day 2 Auckland to Waitomo Caves including picnic lunch, then to Rotorua with Great Sights Enjoy a tour from Auckland to Rotorua including a guided tour of the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Leaving Auckland in the morning you travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions. Your experienced local driver guide will provide a commentary as you travel to Waitomo and point out sites of interest including Rangiriri, the location of a historic Maori land wars battle between forces loyal to the Maori King and the Colonial Government in 1863. On arrival in the small town of Waitomo enjoy a guided tour through the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. We finish the tour with a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - a subterranean cavern lit up by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms. Continue your tour this afternoon by driving to Rotorua, passing through the beautiful Fitzgerald Glade where the roadside trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery. You will also enjoy a delicious picnic style lunch on board the coach. Your accommodation: Tuscany Villas Rotorua Tuscany Villas offers guests luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city, with new modern designs and comfortable furnishings and a personal and friendly service. Meals included: Lunch ________________________________________ Day 3 Thermal Land Shuttle and entrance to Wai-O-Tapu Take the Thermal Land Shuttle to Wai O Tapu thermal wonderland. This thermal area around 30 kilometres south of Rotorua has many walking tracks to take you through this strange landscape. Bubbling mud pools, simmering waters rising from the depths and colourful sulphurous pools make this a fascinating insight into the geothermal activity that goes on below Rotoruas surface. Lady Knox Geyser can be seen erupting at 10:15am daily, shooting water up to 10 metres into the air. There are 3 well signposted walking tracks and an informative brochure tells you about each feature. A gift shop and cafe are also on site. SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Polynesian Lake Spa Rotoruas Polynesian Spa offers a unique thermal spa experience on the shore of Lake Rotorua. You’ll enjoy tranquil bathing and lake views in four shallow alkaline rock pools, each with different temperatures (36˚C to 42˚C). Here you are surrounded by revitalizing native New Zealand flora, natural rocks, the sound of two waterfalls and a grotto. The pools are filled with soothing alkaline mineral water leaving your skin soft and supple. Relax in the outdoor relaxation area overlooking the four hot mineral pools and Lake Rotorua, here you can further unwind on the five geothermally heated recliners set in the stunning backdrop of New Zealands lush and natural greenery. A large indoor relaxation lounge also overlooks Lake Rotorua, where as a Lake Spa guest, you are welcome to move from the pools to the lounge once dried off and return to bathe in the Lake Spa pools as you wish. The Lake Spa is a unique thermal pool environment, where the atmosphere changes from day to night, and from winter steam to summer sparkle. Mitai Maori Village An evening at Mitai will give you an authentic introduction to Maori culture leaving you amazed and in awe. Be enthralled by the natural bush setting, see warriors in traditional dress, paddle an ancient warrior canoe (waka) down the Wai-o-whiro stream, and dont miss your only opportunity in the Rotorua area to see glow worms in their natural habitat. Marvel at the crystal clear water full of eels and trout, flowing directly from the earth at the sacred Fairy Spring. See your traditionally cooked hangi meal being lifted from the ground. During our cultural performance, youll learn about our past, carvings and ta moko (tattoo art). Be captivated by the displays of weaponry and combat, coupled with the grace and beauty of the poi dance. Youll be amazed by the spine tingling haka finale. The Mitai family is proud to have created a sacred and spiritual place that offers you an indigenous cultural experience like no other. Your accommodation: Tuscany Villas Rotorua Tuscany Villas offers guests luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city, with new modern designs and comfortable furnishings and a personal and friendly service. Meals included: Dinner ________________________________________ Day 4 Rotorua Sights + Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Rotorua to Auckland with Great Sights Begin the day with a morning sightseeing tour , experience Te Puia, a place of Maori culture and a thermal wonderland of impressive geysers and boiling mud pools. Explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park, which showcases native flora and fauna as well as the New Zealand Kiwi. Then see NZs agricultural industry in action with a sheep shearing display and sheep dog trials at the Agrodome. Following the show you will transfer onto the Hobbiton Movie Set coach tour and enjoy a scenic drive across the Kaimai Ranges to the picturesque 1,250 acre farm near Matamata where scenes from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed. Upon completion of the Hobbiton Movie Set tour you will travel to Auckland by the Great Sights Coach Your accommodation: Quest Auckland Serviced Apartments Quest Auckland is situated in the heart of Aucklands CBD and within walking distance to all the city centre has to offer. The serviced apartments have kitchenettes or fully equipped kitchens plus laundry facilities, private balcony and room control air conditioning. ________________________________________ Day 5 Transfer to Auckland airport You will be collected from your Auckland hotel and transferred to the airport to meet your departing flight.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 01:45:47 +0000