The North Island Highlights Tour is comprised of two short tours combined:

Coromandel Peninsula tour 8 days, & Volcanoes tour 8 days

The Coromandel Peninsula is a cycling gem lying east of Auckland in one of New Zealand's most diverse and breathtaking locations. See giant kauri trees and ride a bush railway.

A farm stay will give you the opportunity to meet some real "Kiwis". The first part of the tour finishes at the geothermal spa town of Rotorua with the opportunity to experience the local Maori culture.

Both North Island tours are rated moderate difficulty, so a reasonable standard of fitness is required.

DATES:

21 Jan. - 04 Feb. 08
10 Feb. - 24 Feb. 08
30 Nov. - 14 Dec. 08

10 Feb. - 24 Feb. 09

Accommodation includes 4* Auckland waterfront hotel, farmstay, delightful waterfront lodges and character hotels.

DATES:

21 Jan. - 28 Jan. 08
10 Feb. - 17 Feb. 08
30 Nov. - 07 Dec. 08

19 Jan - 26 Jan. 09

10 Feb. - 17 Feb. 09

12. Mar - 19 Mar. 09

DAY 1 AUCKLAND.
Lunch by one of Auckland's volcanic cones, then a little sightseeing in the City of Sails.

DAY 2 THAMES.
Follow the Firth of Thames coast, past the Miranda Shore Bird sanctuary, to Thames and a comfortable lodge on the water's edge.

DAY 3 COROMANDEL.
Visit a working gold mining museum and have lunch at the Rapaura Water Gardens.

DAY 4 WHITIANGA.
Time to visit the craft shops and potteries, and take a ride on the quaint bush railway, then relax on the fabulous beach at Whitianga.

DAY 5 WHANGAMATA.
Walk to Cathedral Cove and visit another magnificent beach at Hahei.

DAY 6 MATAMATA.
Through the Karangahake Gorge to the fertile Waikato Valley and a farmstay.

DAY 7+8 ROTORUA.
We cycle over the Mamaku Plateau, followed by a great descent to the spa city of Rotorua. A rest day offers many options: geysers and bubbling mud pools, rafting, Mt Tarawera, fishing and lots more.

  Cathedral Cove, Hahei

Whangamata

The locals!

DAY 1: ROTORUA
We meet in the afternoon in the spa city of Rotorua.

DAY 2 TAUPO.
We now head for Lake Taupo of trout fishing fame, with a visit to the dramatic Huka Falls a must.

The Volcanoes tour covers a great diversity of scenery from farmland to lakes, forests and the magnificent volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. Stay on a sheep farm, (meet some of New Zealand's 45 million sheep) and visit the world famous Waitomo Caves for a magical glow-worm display.

Accommodation includes 4* Auckland waterfront hotel, 

farmstay and character hotels.

Departure Dates:

28 Jan. - 04 Feb. 08
17 Feb. - 24 Feb. 08

07 Dec. - 14 Dec. 08

17 Feb. - 24 Feb. 09

DAY 3 and 4 TONGARIRO.
The three volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu are the dramatic features of Tongariro National Park. Here we relax in style and comfort at the Grand Chateau.

DAY 5 PIO PIO.
We wind our way down to King Country, known for sheep farms and limestone formations, for a farmstay.

DAY 6 WAITOMO.
Our hosts will show us a little of their lifestyle and then it is a short, easy ride to the old world charm of Waitomo Caves.

DAY 7 and 8 AUCKLAND
A visit to the world famous caves is a must, with the option of blackwater rafting for the more daring. We follow delightful quiet country roads to Te Awamutu from where we drive back to Auckland.

Tongariro Crossing Walk

(Mt Doom)

Waitomo Glow Worm Grotto