Northern Light - 5 days - Top Rated Adventure Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Auckland to Coromandel. Enjoy stunning beaches with hike, cycle & kayak options. Dig your own hot pool in the sand.

Pass By: Ocean Beach Road, Hot Water Beach New Zealand
Departing Auckland at 10am we head to the Coromandel, renowned worldwide for its natural beauty, misty rainforests and pristine white, sandy beaches. The beautiful Coromandel Peninsula is just a short distance from Auckland but it feels like a different world! It only takes around two hours to reach the region but the volcanic hills, fern forests and stunning beaches make it an idyllic escape from the city. Locals and others are attracted by the endless white beaches, lovely turquoise waters and the great mix of architecture old and new.

The peninsula is home to some of the most impressive coastlines in the country. We will be dropping you off at Hahei beach where you can make your way to Cathedral cove, here you will find an iconic limestone archway that sits right down at the beach. Take the coastal walkway or take in the coastline from the water while on one the best guided sea kayak trips in New Zealand.

We will then travel a short distance to camp at Hot Water Beach. This beautiful beach offers a unique experience as geothermal water reservoirs under the ground bring hot water to the surface at low tide allowing you to dig your very own hot pool in the sand.

Meals: Dinner

Bike Rides: 8km road cycling

Walks and Hikes: Stunning coastal walk with views over the Pacific – distances vary

Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Wonderful campsite near the beach with excellent cabin upgrades available.

Day 2: Coromandel to Rotorua. Options include Hobbiton, Tamaki Maori Village, OGO, Luge, hot pools, Zipline Canopy Tour & more

Pass By: Lake Rotorua, Rotorua New Zealand
Before heading south into the heart of the North Island (where you’ll be amazed by the natural wonderland that is Rotorua), we’ll drive the scenic route out of the Coromandel giving you an opportunity to explore by foot or pedals, the stunning Karagahake Gorge. If the sun is out, we’ll even have a delicious picnic lunch (kiwi styles) to break up the drive.Continuing south we drop off Hobbiton fans then it’s onto Rotorua where you can explore the city, the gardens, spas or take in some Maori Culture at the Tamaki Maori Village. Experience the only native forest zipline canopy tour in New Zealand, enjoy the thrills of OGO or the scenic gondola and luge. Take in the geothermal wonders with walks or relax in the hot pools. For cyclists there is the chance to enjoy a world class mountain bike park and the geothermal featured Te Ara Ahi cycle Trail.

Bubbling mud pools, geysers and Maori culture are the main reasons that visitors head to the thermal resort of Rotorua. It is the oldest and most established thermal resort in the country and the ancestral home of the Te Arawa people who settled here over 600 years ago.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Bike Rides: Peddle through subtropical forest, mining heritage and don’t forget your headlamp for the tunnels and bridges (trail ride)! In the afternoon, ride through Rotorua to a world class Mountain Bike Forest

Walks and Hikes: Enjoy an awesome little walk through Coromandel lush forest and explore early mining history through caves, tunnels and a pretty beautiful waterfall to complete a great walk!

Optional Activities: Hobbiton, Tamaki Maori Village, OGO, Luge, hot pools, Zipline Canopy Tour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Perfectly situated campsite with cabin upgrades available.

Day 3: Rotorua to Taupo. NZ's largest lake and towering mountains await on this adventure packed day. Free geyser experience.

Pass By: Lake Taupo, Taupo Marina New Zealand
Leave camp for Wai-O-Tapu geothermal Wonderland before continuing on to the impressive Huka Falls. We then head to Taupo, nestled next to one of the largest crater lakes in the World with some great hiking and cycling opportunities. Taupo is also a great place for adventure with heaps of optional activities to choose from. Tonight we enjoy a camp near Tongariro National Park.

This region is centred around Lake Taupo, NZ's largest lake at 619sq km - about the size of Singapore! The Lake is in a caldera created by the Taupo supervolcano some 26000 years ago and the area is still considered dormant today with moderate geothermal activity in the area such as the mud pools, hot springs and vents.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Bike Rides: Ride an awesome single track from Huka Falls stopping in for a quick soak in a natural hot stream on your way into Taupo or grab the bike in the city for a cruisey ride around the edge of the lake.

Walks and Hikes: Follow the trail from an iconic waterfall alongside the mighty Waikato River winding past a natural hot spring that you can soak in followed by walking past a bungy jump watching adrenaline junkies dive into the river!

Optional Activities: Skydiving, bungy, giant swing, Wai-O-Tapu (free - this one is on us!)

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Wonderful camp with cabin upgrade options.

Day 4: Taupo to Kapiti Coast. Experience the best one day walk in the world at Tongariro National Park.

Pass By: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Off State Highway 48 Mangatepopo Valley, Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park New Zealand
Experience one of NZ’s great walks, The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, rated as the best one day walk in the World . This dual listed World heritage area is set to inspire with towering mountains, turquoise lakes, sparkling rivers, lush rainforests and lunar landscapes. For those that don’t fancy the hike, take on some grade 3 whitewater rafting rapids, cycle, enjoy short walks or relax in this beautiful area with an awe-inspiring mountain backdrop. We then head south to our wonderful stunning beach camp – home to amazing coastal sunsets.

The 80,000 hectare Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage Area, with its centrepiece Mount Ruapehu rising dramatically 2797m from the surrounding area. Next to Mt. Ruapehu are two smaller volcanic mountains - Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings) and Mount Tongariro, which is where you be hiking!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Bike Rides: If you’re not doing the Tongariro Crossing, leave camp on a bike and head towards to the Tongariro River Trail. Cycle this loop, over bridges and past huts or a trout centre, keep an eye out for trout fishermen as this is the capital for trout fishing!

Walks and Hikes: The best one day hike in New Zealand! Traverse the Tongariro, steam vents, crater lakes and more!

Optional Activities: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, white water rafting (grade 3 rapids)

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Excellent camp with cabin upgrades available.

Day 5: Kapati Coast to Wellington

Pass By: Wellington Cable Car, 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Your tour ends in Wellington with our early arrival at New Zealands beautiful capital city by 9am. Our nations capital offers great cafes and bars, along with plenty to see and do including the celebrated Te Papa Museum & the botanical gardens.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.