North Island Magic
Explore the diversity of the North Island! On this rental car tour you will travel from Auckland in the sunny north of the island to the capital Wellington on its southern tip. You will discover Rotorua with its boiling lake and mud pools, the art deco city of Napier and Tongariro National Park.
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Rotorua
Upon arrival at the airport, pick up your rental car and drive through fields, forests and lakes until you reach the Rotorua geothermal area. A true natural paradise awaits you here, which offers numerous highlights and activities. A popular en route visit is the Hobbiton movieset in Matamata.
DAY 2
Rotorua
The day is at your free disposal for your own explorations. For example, visit the Wai-o-Tapu thermal area with its bubbling mud pools, sulphur springs and impressive geysers. Furthermore, many hot thermal springs invite you to take a relaxing bath and the landscape itself is ideal for unforgettable hikes and bicycle tours.
DAY 3
Napier
Napier is famous for its Art Deco architecture. Admire Napier’s unique looks during a stroll through town. On your way to Napier you should also stop at the popular Huka Falls and Taupo on the lake of the same name, a true outdoor paradise. Learn more about the lake’s impressive history of origins and get active by hiking, fly-fishing or kayaking.
DAY 4
Napier
A day at leisure in Napier. Explore the Art Deco City on a guided city tour or relax at the beach. There are also many leading wineries in the area of Hawke’s Bay that you can visit. During a tasting session you can enjoy world-class wines such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Shiraz.
DAY 5
Wellington
Drive on the Classic Wine Trail from Napier to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. On your way south you’ll drive through Waipukurau and Waipawa – both have historic buildings to visit. In Dannevirke, a town originally settled by Scandinavians, you can inspect locally made knitwear. The wildlife sanctuary at Mt Bruce is an essential stop. Enjoy the clean, green Wairarapa scenery as you drive south. Carterton is a good place to shop for Paua shell souvenirs, while Greytown has many beautiful examples of Victorian architecture and a quaint museum. After passing the town of Featherston, which has an interesting locomotive museum, you’ll climb up and over the Rimutaka Range – great views in every direction. Once the mountains are behind you, it’s easy driving for the rest of your journey to Wellington.
DAY 6
Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, is compact, cultured and full of character. Nestled between the harbour and the hills, the downtown area is ideal for explorations on foot. Make sure to visit New Zealand’s national museum Te Papa Tongarewa and prepare your taste buds for Wellington’s famous coffee culture and cuisine. To soak in Wellington’s beautiful coastline and panoramic views, head out to the Mount Victoria Lookout or catch the Cable Car for ride up to the lookout and the Botanical Gardens.
DAY 7
Wellington - Tongariro
On the way back north, you will stop at the impressive Tongariro National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here a fascinating and contrasting landscape awaits you with three still active volcanoes, the Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. Numerous hiking trails invite you to discover turquoise lakes, flowering meadows and hot springs.
DAY 8
Auckland
Drive past Lake Taupo and through the agricultural areas of King Country and Waikato back to Auckland. After the timber town of Te Kuiti, it’s just a short drive to the Waitomo turn-off. The Waitomo Caves district is famous for its subterranean splendour. Beneath the surface of this limestone region is a series of vast cave systems decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and glow-worms. You can stop here for a tour. Depending on your thirst for adventure, you can take a walking tour and boat ride through the caves, raft through them on a rubber tube (known as blackwater rafting) or abseil down into the darkness.Hamilton city is a great lunch stop, and at the southern end of the main street you’ll discover a wide variety of excellent restaurants and cafes. The Waikato River will accompany you for much of your journey north. As you approach Auckland, you can’t miss the extinct volcanic cones that dot the landscape – there are 48 in all. The city is also set between 3 beautiful harbours, so it’s an ideal base for water-based adventures. Other attractions include the Auckland Museum, the harbour with its many sailing boats and the central Queen Street with many shopping facilities. A detour to one of the surrounding beaches, islands or volcanoes is also worthwhile.
DAY 9
Free in Auckland, Departure
Explore Auckland before heading back home.
What´s included
- Rental car for 8 days (based on 24 hours)
- 8 nights at 3 star accommodation as per itinerary
- Daily Breakfast
Excluded
- Any Personal Expenses
- Tips and Gratitudes
- Any other meals than mentioned
- Tourist tax (payment in the hotel)
Additional Information
- All pricing is reflected in British Pounds unless otherwise specifically denoted and is valid at time of publication but is subject to change.
- All prices are per person sharing a double room. Single and Triple room rates available upon request.
- ‘From’ prices represent land only and low season twin share prices (unless otherwise clearly stated).
- Unless otherwise stated, prices include all government levies and airport taxes as at the date of publication.
- Dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only and subject to change by time booking.
- Private Travel prices are valid for travel during low season and will vary depending on date of travel.
- Some Private Journeys do include group excursions. These excursions are not operated privately and guests join a scheduled departure tour.
- All Journeys are subject to availability. Some Journeys do not operate all year around and may not take place at desired date.
- All Hotel Names stated in the tour itinerary may change to one of a similar Standard without prior notice.
- Some countries charge additional destination tax which are either per Person or per Night. These taxes can vary and must be paid directly at the location or hotel.
- Items listed under Booking Exclusions are NOT included in the price and must be paid directly at the location.
- All Tours are escorted by English-Speaking Guides unless otherwise mentioned.
- All Excursions are based on Join-In Capacity unless “Private Tour” is explicit mentioned. Private Tours are available upon request and with surcharges.
- Self-Drive Tours may not always include a car rental. Please check carefully the included and excluded box. Driver must be in possession of a valid drivers license and for some countries an international license as well as a valid credit card.
- We will use our reasonable efforts to notify you of changes in prices.
- All our Insider Journeys itineraries as shown on our website and in our brochures will outline the relevant touring schedule and inclusions and will be priced accordingly to reflect this. Prices may vary based on the selected travel season and any individual amendments required.
- Even if the tours are requested as displayed, on occasion Insider Journeys may be required to impose surcharges depending on variables in the destinations outside of its control. Due to hotel availability in some destinations the accommodation stated in the itinerary may change to that of a similar standard. In light of recent worldwide events and due to the ever-changing current situation, there may also need to be more flexibility applied to the touring content and schedule in certain incidences and sometimes at short notice. Please note that we will always endeavour to keep the inclusions as close as possible to those shown and to notify you as best we can should such changes arise, although we appreciate your understanding in that this may not always be possible.
- All displayed tour maps are originated from Google Maps and are indicative only to show the overall routing of the tour. These are not actual travel routes and may differ to the actual itinerary.
- For more detailed price and other booking information please visit the booking condtions page click here
