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Strike that perfect balance between adrenalin and culture with this week-long North Island tour! Discover New Zealand, take part in some awesome adventures, and experience a selection of cultural feasts: visit a traditional fortified Maori village, witness a Haka performance, taste a "hangi", and explore the Orakei Korako Thermal Park!

Day 1 - Auckland

Kia Ora and welcome to New Zealand! We begin our tour in the country’s largest city Auckland. It is unsurprising that a quarter of the population reside here when you consider a region of stunning beaches, enchanted holiday islands, a sunny climate, and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping!

The metropolitan area of Auckland sits on the narrow sliver of land where the Northland peninsula tapers south to meet the rest of the North Island. Therefore the sea is ever present, and it isn’t difficult to guess the origin of its nickname ‘City of Sails’!

After meeting the group at our centrally-situated accommodation, we set off for an orientation tour to let you get acquainted with all that the city has to offer. The range of activities is immense, and this morning you can go shark diving, canyoning in Piha or climb Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower - with the added option of jumping off! If you are not conducting any activities you can escape the city with your guide and admire the beautiful surroundings with a walk at Piha on the west coast.

After a stop for lunch, you can choose to Sail an America’s Cup Yacht, climb or bungy jump off Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, take advantage of the city’s shopping, or relax along the Viaduct quayside with a drink in one of the bars. The afternoon is up to you!

Throughout your tour your Haka Tour Guide will be on hand to help you plan your time and ensure things are as hassle-free as possible. In the evening we like to invite everyone out for dinner in order to get better acquainted as a group – although we promise no cheesy introductions! There is nothing compulsory on our tours.

Day 2 - Auckland to Coromandel

We depart from Auckland early and set off for the Coromandel peninsula. One thing that is great about travelling with Haka Tours is that your Tour Manager will break up each journey with unique stops along the way. These off-the-beaten-track places give you an inside look to New Zealand that the other tour companies miss out on! Some of the stops are written about in this itinerary, others we like to keep as surprises!

Volcanoes dominate much of the land between the Coromandel and Auckland. Remnants of this volcanic activity can be found in the form of natural hot pools and one of the highlights of the region is Hot Water Beach, where around low tide you can dig in the sand and make your own hot tub! Conditions permitting, the surf can also be pretty good in this area.

We reach the gorgeous Mercury Bay and Whitianga, and check into our accommodation before taking a quick tour about town. Included in the tour this afternoon is the opportunity to carve your very own kiwi pendant from bone – a souvenir that many of our group members choose to wear for the rest of their trip!

In the evening your guide will take you to the Lost Springs, a luxury spa resort where you are able to have dinner and relax with a drink in the natural hot pools.

Day 3 – Coromandel to Rotorua

Experience the gorgeous coastal scenery of the area with a walk along the cliff top to Cathedral Cove, a bay made famous by films such as The Chronicles of Narnia. Pure New Zealand! Snorkelling is also available for all at Hahei.

After lunch we make the short journey down the coastline and inland to the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, one of the longest standing tourist destinations in New Zealand. Geothermal activity first attracted tourists to this inland region in the 19th century. Volcanic landscapes and thermal wonders dominate the landscape – geysers, hot springs, mud pools and silica terraces and colourful cliffs and slopes. Rotorua is consequently accompanied by the distinctive smell of sulphur.

One of our favourite activities located just outside the city is the Zorb – undoubtedly a kiwi invention! Roll down the hill whilst inside a giant air-cushioned ball! For an alternative experience, the Agrodome is located just over the road where you can watch sheep shearing, sheep dog shows and a variety of other farm-related goings-on.
The therapeutic qualities of geothermal springs were recognised early on by Maori settlers, and so Rotorua is also a town steeped in Maori culture and history. This evening we are all invited to a “marae” (meeting ground) for a Maori cultural performance and “hangi” feast, where the food is cooked below the ground and tastes absolutely delicious!

Day 4 – Rotorua to Waitomo Caves

It is an early start for white-water rafting and sledging on the Kaituna River, including the 7 metre Tutua Falls! This activity is a definite highlight for many of our tour members, but if it doesn’t sound like your thing then your tour guide will show you around Rotorua, or you can visit one of the rather inexpensive geothermal hot spring baths in the area.
After lunch in town we take a trip up the Rotorua gondola (cable car) to another stunning panoramic view and the chance to ride down on the luge – heaps of fun!

At Waitomo there is a distinctive limestone region where surface water and underground streams have dissolved the rock over tens of thousands of years, creating an amazing system of underground caves. As the small town is only two hours from Rotorua, we reach our accommodation by late afternoon, via a couple of surprise stops! In the evening your guide may take you on an exciting torch lit trek around some of the area’s caves.

Day 5 – Waitomo Caves to Taupo

You cannot visit Waitomo without experiencing its main attraction – the glow-worm caves, which have attracted people for over 100 years. The moment you enter this subterranean wonderland you'll discover an ancient underground labyrinth of limestone caves and grottos, with its amazing stalactites and stalagmites - mother nature's decorations.

There is a choice of various ways to journey underground through the caves and limestone chambers and passages – our particular favourites are black-water rafting and a wicked four hour caving trip which starts with an awesome abseil!

If the caves really don’t appeal, then there are choice of walks around the area, or go watch the Angorian rabbit shearing – a sight to be believed with your own eyes!
On the way to Taupo we make a stop at Orakei Korako, an extraordinary geyserland and thermal park included within your tour price. The park is the ideal way to see some great examples of the thermal activity in the North Island and you can walk around at your own pace. Don’t forget your camera – there are some stunning ranges of kaleidoscope colours and truly unique sights to be seen!

We reach our accommodation and check in by the late afternoon. With a whole day to explore Taupo tomorrow, feel free to relax at the hostel or experience some of the town’s best nightlife in the evening.

Day 6 - Free Day Taupo

Lake Taupo was created a few thousand years ago in what was the largest volcanic eruption in 5,000 years. The eruption was so dramatic that records report the sun became hazy in places as far as China. What is left today is a fresh-water lake the size of Singapore and the largest in Australasia.

You can start off the morning with an epic skydive over the lake, and on a clear day you can see both the west and east coast of the North Island. Skydiving is the ultimate thrill and never fails to get great feedback from all those who do it!

Alternatively, go quad biking, play golf or bungy jump over New Zealand’s longest river, the mighty Waikato. In the afternoon we offer the option to take a cruise on The Barbary sailing boat to see Maori rock carvings alongside Lake Taupo at Mine Bay. Or you can find a secluded beach, indulge in boutique shopping, or enjoy a good feed at one of the many restaurants or cafes.

In the evening your guide will treat you to a soak in some naturally-heated thermal rock pools situated in a local park. It will keep you warm for hours!
We have all your options covered and you are spoilt for choice. As always, a large number of our suggestions and activities are free of charge.

Day 7 - Taupo to Wellington

On the way to Wellington we drive along the Desert Road that divides the Rangipo Desert, an area with poor vegetation because of bad soil conditions and drying winds. The climate is harsh and in winter it is not unusual to see snow. However, the biggest attractions on this road is that of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe, the volcano better known for Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings. On the other side of the road is the lesser noticed Kaimanawa Range, home to a breed of wild horses that can be spotted on rare occasions.

We make a stop at Mokai Gravity Canyon, an extreme adventure park including the world’s most extreme flying fox and New Zealand’s second largest bungy. Tour members are welcome to do the bungy, flying fox or canyon swing and do not have pre-book.

After this we pass through the towns of Bulls and Levin, before briefly touching upon the west coastline. In the summertime we like to pause along the Kapiti Coast and have a BBQ on one of the beaches in front of the dying sun. Unfortunately in the winter the weather is usually too cold or the sun has already set. Either way, we reach Wellington by early evening.

After your 7 day North Island Adventure tour

So what now? As the tour finishes this evening, if you wish to explore Wellington tomorrow you need to purchase extra nights’ accommodation, which we offer from just $28 NZD.

Alternatively, you can complete your North Island travels by jumping on one of our 6 day Northland tours that depart fortnight from Auckland. These have been designed and are run by our Head Tour Manager Steve, who knows the “Winterless North” like the back of his hand. We award 5% off when you have already booked a 7 day North Island tour.

Should you wish to travel further south, on forward routes you can extend your tour to Christchurch for $359 NZD. This involves an extra 3 days on the road and includes one night in Wellington and another in Kaikoura before reaching Christchurch in the late afternoon. Price includes ferry crossing, 2 nights’ accommodation, tour guide and breakfast.


Whether you choose to stay on, return home or continue travelling overseas, we promise to have given you a New Zealand experience not just to remember, but to value as one of the best trips of your life!