Northern Spotlight
Northern Spotlight
Northern Spotlight
8 Days Starting in Auckland, New Zealand and ending in Wellington, New Zealand
Visiting: Auckland, Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Wellington
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LABW24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Northern Spotlight" tour and explore the captivating landscapes and rich cultural heritage of New Zealand. This journey takes you from the vibrant city of Auckland to the serene Bay of Islands, where history comes alive at the Treaty of Waitangi site. Experience the enchanting Waitomo Glowworm Caves and the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, where Maori culture and natural beauty intertwine. Discover the northernmost city of Whangarei, with its stunning waterfalls and beaches, before heading to the cool capital of Wellington. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, including the Holiday Inn Express in Auckland and the Travelodge in Wellington, and benefit from the expertise of a specialist Travel Director and Driver Guide. With a low fitness requirement, this tour offers a perfect blend of guided experiences and free time to explore at your own pace. Flights are not included, so plan to arrive in Auckland and depart from Wellington.
Make Travel Matter
The Te Po Experience at Te Puia contributes to the success of the Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, committed to preserving, encouraging, fostering and promoting Maori arts and crafts.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’. And you’ll discover why when exploring its two harbours at your leisure. Pick a waterfront precinct and find a perch to while away the afternoon with a glass of Central Otago sauvignon blanc and a backdrop of yachts darting the water. Meet fellow travel companions at a Welcome Reception tonight.
Day 2: Auckland - Bay Of Islands
Location: Bay of Islands
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
Meals Included: Dinner
Your journey north on a Bay of Islands tour from Auckland is not short of drama – discover 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea at the top of the country. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance: this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your guide, likely a descendant of one of the original signatories, will explain the significance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
Day 3: Bay Of Islands Free Time
Location: Bay of Islands
Accommodation Name: Copthorne Hotel and Resort
If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. And today, you can do just that. At your leisure, venture up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, cruise to the Hole in the Rock or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands. The choice is yours.
Day 4: Bay Of Islands - Auckland
Location: Auckland
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
Northern exposure is a thing today, when you journey toward the top of the country to visit Whangarei – NZ’s northern-most city, and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerising commute back to Auckland.
Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
There’s no bad day in Auckland – today, yours starts with a city sights tour before you set your GPS for the Waikato River and Waitomo Caves. This place is radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. This evening, explore Te Puia’s geothermal valley, and learn about Māori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes a dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you’ll view one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands.
Day 6: Rotorua Free Time
Location: Rotorua
Accommodation Name: Ibis Rotorua Hotel
Explore at your own pace today, but with plenty of tips from your Travel Director. Want a bit of down time? We wouldn’t blame you for simply blissing out at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway.
Day 7: Rotorua - Wellington
Location: Wellington
Accommodation Name: Travelodge Wellington
You’ll hear Huka Falls well before you see it – at this natural wonder, a staggering 220,000 litres of water thunder over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, its waters so vivid and blue you’ll think someone has taken the glasses off your nose and cleaned them for the first time. Traverse the Kapiti Coast to New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington, where there are so many restaurants and bars to choose from, you’ll need a guidebook. Wait, you have an in-the-know Travel Director to talk to.
Day 8: Farewell From Wellington
Location: Wellington
The best way to begin a Wellington day? With a coffee. The city is known for its uber-cool cafés, designed to fuel you through your city sights tour. You may wish to linger in town, discovering Maori culture at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Afterwards, it’s time to bid farewell to your NZ crew. What a week.
What's Included
What's Not Included
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Flights to and from the start/end of your trip
Flights to and from the start and end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
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Personal items
Items such as comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, water bottle, warm layers in cooler months, and camera are not included and should be brought by the traveler.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland; Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Bay of Islands; Ibis Rotorua Hotel; Travelodge Wellington.
Mode of Transport
Transportation details are not explicitly provided, but the tour includes a specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide. Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
Dining Summary
- 7 Full Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 1 Highlight Dinner (HD)
Fitness Requirement
- Low level of fitness required.
Flexible Holidays
- Sometimes, the best experiences in life (meals, spas, hikes) are those you stumble upon. We can point you in the right direction in Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington – then go for it!
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Auckland Airport Day 8 – flights to depart after 2.00pm from Wellington Airport
Iconic Sites
- Life becomes all the more radiant at Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a subterranean wonderland that replicates the night sky.
Natural Wonders
- Ancient volcanoes, thundering waterfalls and a yacht-studded harbour are your backdrop in Whangarei, New Zealand’s northernmost city. What a wildlife wonderland.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months Camera
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of experiences can I expect at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves?
At the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, you will experience a magical landscape illuminated by thousands of glowworms as you cruise through the cavernous waterways.
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What cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes the Te Po Experience at Te Puia, where you will learn about Maori history and culture, enjoy a hangi-inspired dinner, and witness a cultural performance in a carved meeting house.
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What is the significance of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand's history?
The Bay of Islands is historically significant as the location where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between Captain William Hobson and Maori chiefs.
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What natural wonders will I see in Rotorua?
In Rotorua, you will see geothermal wonders such as bubbling geysers, mud pools, and steam vents, as well as the Pohutu Geyser during the Te Po Experience.
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What is the level of physical fitness required for this tour?
A low level of fitness is required for this tour.
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Are flights included in the tour package?
Flights to and from the start and end of the trip are not included in the tour price. You should arrive in Auckland prior to 4.00pm on Day 1 and depart from Wellington after 2.00pm on Day 8.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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