Small Group Tour
Small Group Tour
Northern Kiwi
Start: Wellington
Finish: Auckland
9 DAYS
Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable experiences of New Zealand's North Island with our Northern Kiwi Adventure tour. This isn't just a trip; it's a journey that will take you beyond the ordinary, connecting you with like-minded travellers and the heart and soul of Aotearoa. Starting in the bustling capital city of Wellington, this tour will take you through all of the North Island's best highlights, inclduing Tāupo, Rotorua, Waitomo, the Coromandel, Auckland and everything in between!
What's included:
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Tour Dates
202419 June - 27 June 24 Book Now |
202522 January - 30 January 25 Book Now
|
FROM
NZ $2199
Day 1Welcome to Wellington - Arrival
Welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand's vibrant capital city, Wellington, where your Northern Kiwi adventure begins. Wellington is a bustling city compact in size but surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy. If you have time today, explore all that the city has to offer. Stroll along the waterfront and follow the sculpture walk, discover the stories of New Zealand in the Te Papa museum, or treat your tastebuds to one of the many world-class cafes and restaurants this city offers.
Tonight's accommodation is at the Ibis hotel, located on 153 Featherston Street, Wellington Central. Check in here from 2pm. This evening at 7 pm, get to know your fellow travellers and Kiwi Experience Driver Guide during a welcome evening. Afterward, feel free to explore the many hidden bars in Wellington.
Accommodation
- Ibis Wellington
Experiences & Highlights
- Welcome evening - Meet your Small Group Tour Driver Guide and Fellow Travellers
Day 2Wellington to River Valley
It's time to hit the road! Today we travel to River Valley, the perfect setting to immerse yourself in nature. Located beside the Rangitikei River in the central North Island of New Zealand, River Valley is a remote lodge where you can seek adventure or embrace the solitude and blissfully disconnect. Choose to white water raft on the Rangitikei River (optional activity), experience horse trekking and learn natural horsemanship techniques (optional activity), or explore the beautiful location by e-bike (optional activity).
Tonight we will enjoy a Farm-To-Table meal prepared freshly by the River Valley Chef (included). The team is passionate not just about food but also about where the food comes from. They strongly believe in sourcing ethical, local, and sustainable food and serving wholesome and healthy food.
Accommodation
- River Valley Lodge
Experience & Highlights
- Relax and disconnect at River Valley Lodge, nestled on the Rangitikei River.
- Enjoy a group Farm-To-Table dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients (included)
- Go white water rafting on the Rangitikei River (optional extra)
- Horse Trek through the rolling hills with fantastic scenery out to the nearby National Park. Please note horse riding experience is required for this trek (optional extra).
Day 3River Valley to Taupo
Today we continue north to Taupō, a place of extraordinary natural beauty and wonder centred on a vast, sparkling lake formed from a volcanic eruption. You'll have a free day tomorrow to explore, but this afternoon choose to sail on Lake Taupō out to the Māori Rock Carvings, one of the most extraordinary contemporary carvings in the world (optional extra). Or if you are feeling adventorous, take a leap at 16,000 feet with a skydive for the perfect birds-eye view of Lake Taupō.
Accommodation
- Lakefront Lodge
Experiences & Highlights
- Go sailing on Lake Taupō and see the Māori rock carvings (optional extra)
- Taupō Skydive (optional extra)
Day 4Taupo Free Day
Love this place. Love Taupō. Aroha ki tēnei wāhi. Arohaina Taupō. Today is at your leisure; feel free to explore; you can book one of the many optional activities online via the Trip Planner. If you are looking for a challenge, The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is heralded as the best one-day hike in New Zealand. The crossing is also regarded as one of the top ten-day hikes in the world.
The Tongariro Crossing is an unforgettable alpine hike across a cratered volcanic moonscape of gemstone-coloured mineral pools and steaming vents in the heart of the dual-listed UNESCO heritage site of Tongariro National Park. And Mt Ngauruhoe’s classic cone shape scored it a starring role as the fiery Mt Doom in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings.
Many who complete the 19.4 km (12 miles) journey will tell you the climbs can be steep and the weather unpredictable, though worth it in every aspect. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is in Tongariro National Park - New Zealand's oldest national park.
Accommodation
- Lakefront Lodge
Experience & Highlights
- Tongariro Crossing shuttle bus (optional extra)
- Skydive Taupo (optional extra)
Day 5Taupo to Rotorua
We'll start the day with a short walk to Huka Falls to see the dramatic waterfall thundering through a natural gorge, before continuing on to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua; a mystical land of bubbling mud pools, rocketing geysers and natural hot springs. You'll get the chance to explore a geothermal reserve on a guided tour of Te Puia (included).
This evening will immerse you in the traditions and culture of the Māori people with a 3-hour experience at the Mitai Māori Village (included). Witness captivating stories unfold, be enchanted by performers, and satisfy your hunger with a traditional Māori feast.
Accommodation
- Rocksolid Backpackers
Experiences & Highlights
- Visit Huka Falls, where you can witness the phenomenon of natural hydro power.
- Visit the geothermal wonderland of Te Puia (included)
- Mitai Village evening experience (included).
Day 6Rotorua Free Day
Rotorua offers you plenty of experiences to keep you busy on your free day here. For the adventurous, explore the tree tops on a network of ziplines with Rotorua Canopy tours, roll downhill on a big inflatable ball with Zorb, or go luging at the Rotorua Skyline. If you'd rather relax and unwind, spend the day at Secret Spot Hot Tubs and soak in your own tub surrounded by ferns and overlooking the stunning Whakarewarewa Forest.
Accommodation
- Rocksolid Backpackers
Experiences & Highlights
- Rotorua Canopy Tours (optional extra)
- Secret Spot Hot Tubs (optional extra)
- Rotorua luge (optional extra)
Day 7Rotorua to Waitomo
As we bid farewell to Rotorua, let us venture into the heart of the mighty Waikato region, where we will explore the lush pastures of the Shire™ with a guided walking tour of Hobbiton™, as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies (included).
Back aboard the bus, we continue to Waitomo. In Māori, 'wai' means water, and 'tomo' means hole. Waitomo is more than caves and glowworms; it's a cultural hub rich in Māori history, myths and legends. Some of the cave guides are descendants of Chief Tane Tinorau, the original explorer of the caves. You'll get the chance to marvel at the glowworms and limestone formations on an included walking tour of Ruakuri Cave, or if you are feeling adventurous perhaps opt for a Black Water Rafting trip and raft in tubes through underground rapids, jump off waterfalls and float below of a ky of glowworms (optional upgrade).
Accommodation
- Waitomo Chalets
Experiences & Highlights
- Head behind the scenes and explore Hobbiton (included)
- Marvel at the glowworms and limestone formations on the Ruakuri Cave Tour (included)
- Explore the underground cave system with Black Water Rafting (optional upgrade)
Day 8Waitomo to Coromandel
There is no better way to start the day than by walking in nature, and Ruakuri Reserve offers the perfect morning walk. This spectacular loop highlights the sculpted cliffs and low limestone arches unique to the Waitomo area. Afterwards, we hit the road to Coromandel. En route, we will explore the Karangahake Gorge, located at the base of the Coromandel Range. This Historic Walkway follows the old railway line between Paeroa and Waihi and offers an impressive glimpse into the remains of a once-booming gold mining and railway era.
We then arrive in Coromandel, known for its pristine beaches and the famous Cathedral Cove. You have the option to experience the breathtaking natural rock formation at Cathedral Cove accessible (currently) only from the water by Kayak or via Boat (optional paid activity). If the tides are right we will head to Hot Water Beach in the afternoon so you can dig your own natural spa and relax in the hot geothermal water, before heading around the corner to Hahei to spend the evening. Hahei is a gorgeous beach town famed for its spectacular, pink sandy beach. Go for a sunset swim or grab a bite to eat before winding down for the night.
Accommodation
- Hahei Beach Resort
Experiences & Highlights
- Ruakuri Reserve Bush Walk
- Hike through the Karangahake Gorge
- Explore Cathedral Cove from the Water by Kayak or Boat (optional extra)
- Relax at Hot Water Beach; dig a personal spa pool, where the water is naturally heated deep within the earth to emerge through the golden sand (tide dependant).
Day 9Coromandel to Auckland
It's the final day of your Northern Kiwi tour, and today we are heading to New Zealand's largest city, Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. Auckland, also known as the "City of Sails" is nestled between two stunning harbours and offers a unique blend of urban sophistication, natural beauty, a thriving arts scene, and outdoor adventures. Today, stroll along the iconic Viaduct Harbour, Wynyard Quarter or explore Britomart. If culture is more your thing, Auckland offers an array of museums and galleries to explore. If you're staying for longer, hop on a ferry to Rangitoto Island and climb to the summit of a dormant volcano, or explore the many vineyards on Waiheke island.
Your tour ends here, so it's time to bid a fond farewell to the companions who have become your new lifelong friends throughout this incredible journey. Ka kite anō!
Accommodation
- Not included
Experiences & Highlights
- Visit New Zealand's largest city Auckland
Optional Extras
What our passengers think
I really enjoyed this tour, thank you so much!
Fortunately, we had two guides this time and they were so kind, friendly and well-informed :) Activities included were awesome! Experiences about Maori were especially interesting for me. If there is someone who wants to go to the north Island, I’ll surely recommend joining this tour!! Thanks to Arias, Ahu, the crew and KiwiExperience, this trip has become a great memory for me ;)
Faq's
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I’m a solo traveller... will I meet other solo travellers?
Absolutely! The majority of our passengers are travelling solo. Kiwi Experience is a social experience guaranteed to leave with new friends from across the globe.
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Am I too old/young for Kiwi Experience?
We welcome the young, and the young at heart aboard our buses, there is no upper limit! There is however a lower limit; you’ll need to be 18 at the time of travel.
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What visas do I need?
Luckily, many nationalities are able to visit New Zealand for less than 3 months without a visa. However, if you are not from one of these countries, obtaining your own visa is your own responsibility. We ask that you check out the Immigration New Zealand website before booking your Kiwi Experience trip.
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Do I need travel insurance?
While not mandatory, travel insurance is strongly recommended and should be taken out when travelling with us. As well as making sure your expensive stuff is covered, you should also get comprehensive travel insurance (covering all medical expenses you could incur while travelling).
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How much should I budget for each day?
We recommend you budget between $70 - $100 per day to cover food and super fun times. From time to time, it may be worth putting a little more aside to pay for the really crazy stuff like skydiving.
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How much luggage am I allowed to bring?
Passengers are allowed one 23kg suitcase/backpack and one day bag, as there are strict weight restrictions on our buses.
