TOURS & BUS PASSES / North Island 7 Day Adventure Tour

North Island 7 Day Adventure Tour

This 7 Day North Island Adventure Tour combines epic North Island scenery, Maori culture, adventure and of course mountains from Lord of the Rings (Mt Doom).

You’ll see and experience volcanoes, natural mud baths, native forests and white sand beaches. Our expert guides will get you from one destination to the next, providing background information along the way and guided tours of each of this tour’s destinations. This all-inclusive tour is perfect for your New Zealand trip of a lifetime. 

Highlights

  • Dig your own hot tub at the fantastic Hot Water Beach
  • Coastal walk around Cathedral Cove Cultural
  • Experience and dinner at a ‘marae’ in Rotorua
  • Free entry to Wai-O-Tapu thermal reserve
  • Relax in natural thermal pools in Taupo

What's Included

  • Transport, Breakfast and Accommodation (max 6 share, upgrades available)
  • Passionate Kiwi Guide
  • Maori Cultural experience in the Coromandel and Rotorua
  • Traditional Maori ‘Hangi’ (food cooked using heated rocks buried in an underground oven)
  • Carve your own ‘Tiki’ pendant from bone
  • Small Groups - Max 16
  • Guided tour of every location. 

Important Notes

  • Departure Time / Location: 8am at Haka Lodge Auckland
  • Finish Time: Arriving at around 5pm in Wellington YHA

Book Now

PRICE: $1,349 NZD

Number of Days 7

Starts: Auckland Finishes: Wellington

Tour Type: Small Group Tour

DEPARTURES

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Tour Itinerary EXPAND ALL

On our first day, our meeting time is at 8am where we will have prepared a continental breakfast at the reception of YHA International. Today you'll meet your guide and the rest of your group, and we'll highlight everything you need to know during your trip.

Our tour begins in the country's largest city - Auckland. You'll learn a bit more about the city as your tour guide takes you on an orientation tour depending on the season and weather of that day. After this, we are headed off to Coromandel - one of New Zealand's favorite getaways. It's home to spectacular remote beaches, deep forests and clear blue waters. Today you'll also have the opportunity to carve a kiwi pendant from a bone.

A great way to end our first day is to visit the world-famous Hot Water beach where you can dig your own jacuzzi as you dig a hole in the sand where natural hot springs bubble up. Perfect!

ACCOMODATION

Turtle Cove Backpackers. 

SIGHTS

Included: Hot Water Beach, carve your own pendant 

Optional Paid: Sea kayaking

Today we will check out the cliffs down by Cathedral Cove, you might recognize them form the Chronicles of Narnia. It's a beautiful place with perfect beaches and massive rock arches, a very famous spot in the Coromandel.

Later this afternoon we head towards Rotorua; en route, we’ll visit Matamata – best known for being the home of Hobbiton.

While the majority of the North Island is volcanic in some way, Rotorua is exceptional for its geothermal activity. With neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, active volcanoes and geysers galore, there are more unique natural wonders to be found in Rotorua than many other places in the world.

SIGHTS

Included: Cathedral Cove

Today is a free day to explore Rotorua and its surrounding area. Talk to your guide for the best free things to see and do in the neighbourhood (Kuirau Park’s steaming and hissing mud pools are a great option).

There are also a number of optional activities you can choose from:

If adrenaline is your thing, the highest commercial waterfall drop in the world, on the Kaituna River, is begging to be conquered on an exhilarating rafting trip.

Perhaps you’d like to try thundering down grassy hills in a giant air-cushioned inflatable ball (aka ZORB)?

A day trip to Waitomo is another option today. Famous for its glowworms there are a number of ways to experience these twinking creatures up close. Discover the magic of both the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, as well as the enchanting Ruakuri Cave on a ‘2 cave combo’ walking/boat tour.

Or you can float along an underground river on a Black Water Rafting trip as the glow worms light your path. 

ACCOMODATION

YHA Treks

SIGHTS

Included: Maori cultural evening

Optional Paid: Black water rafting, ZORB

This morning we visit Te Puia Maori Village. Here you’ll learn more about Māori history and culture, come face to face with the Pohutu Geyser, see jumping mud pools and get up close and personal with kiwi birds.

Later this afternoon we head to Kohutapu Lodge in Murupara – a living Māori village - where you will experience a tribal tour by a village elder.

Here you’ll also have a chance to learn the world-famous haka dance, and weave your own dinner plate using flax (a type of plant).

Tonight’s dinner is a traditional hāngi meal. Cooked in an underground earth oven you can expect tender meat and delicious vegetables infused with a smoky, earthy fragrance – it will fill your puku (belly) right up!

It’s only a short drive to our next destination, Taupō, and there’s plenty to discover along the way. From mesmerising mud pools to the thundering rapids of the Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam, your trusty Haka guide will make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Taupō is a beautiful lakeside town with a stunning mountain backdrop. Lake Taupō is New Zealand’s largest lake – believe it or not, it’s roughly the same size as Singapore!

This place is all about the thrills and spills, and there are plenty of options in store this afternoon. Get your hair wet with a water touch bungy jump, take an unforgettable skydive or a sunset lake cruise for amazing lake and mountain views.

ACCOMODATION

Blackcurrant

SIGHTS

Included: Soak in a natural hot spring

Optional Paid: Bungy jump, skydive, jet boat ride, Tongariro Crossing

A full day in Taupō… are you in the mood for peaceful lakeside tranquility or unlimited adrenaline and adventure? Either way, Taupō’s got you covered. For many, the ultimate adventure on offer here is the hiking (or tramping, as we Kiwis know it).

The Tongariro Crossing is among the top 10 full-day walks in the world. This 19.4-kilometre mountain trek in Tongariro National Park boasts emerald green lakes, venting steam, lava flows and craters. You’ll come back grinning from ear to ear before falling into bed and sleeping like a baby.

If you’d prefer to relax, jump on a boat for a sailing trip to view Māori rock carvings. Or head to Spa Park and soak until your fingers are wrinkly. However you choose to spend today we guarantee you won’t forget it.

It’s a big drive from Taupō to Wellington, but there’s some unmissable scenery on offer. Lord of the Rings junkies, you’re in for a treat!

Our journey takes us through Tongariro National Park via the Rangipo Desert (bet you didn’t know New Zealand had one of those!). Some of your favourite Lord of the Rings battle scenes were filmed right here.

The Desert Road boasts incredible views of three active volcanic peaks – Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu. You may know Mount Ngauruhoe as Mount Doom, so be sure to snap a Mordor selfie!

We pull into Wellington in the afternoon, with just enough time for film buffs make a trip to Weta Workshop, where the special effects of Lord of the Rings and Avatar were produced.

New Zealand’s capital is famous for its bars and eateries, and is a paradise for lovers of craft beer – you’ll be spoilt for choice tonight!

The tour officially finishes at 8pm today in Wellington, but your accommodation tonight is included.

SIGHTS

Included: Scenic drive through Tongariro National Park, Mt Victoria Lookout

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Reviews

2 reviews
Luca
April 2016

The North Island 7 days tour was great! I'll never forget the stunning New Zealand's landscape! Our guide was always ready to make our experience unforgettable and exploit the time we had in the best way possible. Travelling with a small group of people means you can really feel part of the group from the beginning and make new friends easily. I liked very much the possibility to choose among different activities.

I definitely recommend future travellers to use Planit NZ for their New Zealand adventure.

Trip Date: November 2015

  • Overall Rating
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Una Dunne
April 2017

Super trip of the North Island and all its glories. Our guide Grant was very relaxed and well organised. He made us feel very involved even though we were the older lemons in the group.
The whole experience made us feel like young ones again!!
I would recommend this trip to all ages.

Trip Date: February 2017

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  • Experience On PlanitNZ
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