New Zealand with Gavin Hetherington

Included welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Toast to an exciting trip ahead! Your meal will either be a 2-course set menu, or a la carte depending on your finalized restaurant with one alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage included.

Overnight in Auckland.

Breakfast at the hotel or local cafe is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Depending on your hotel location, you will either walk 20 minutes (~0.75 miles) to the wharf or take a private shuttle to the wharf. From here you will board a ferry for a scenic 40-minute journey across the bright blue Hauraki Gulf to Waiheke Island.

After arriving on Waiheke Island, you will explore the beautiful coastline on foot! You will enjoy a short hike along the coastline and then inland before getting picked up on a private shuttle that will take you 5 minutes to a local vineyard for your wine tasting experience. Distance: 1.3 miles / Elevation Gain: 330 feet / Duration: 45 minutes / Difficulty: Easy.

After a 5 minute shuttle ride you’ll arrive at the vineyard. Here you’ll enjoy 3 different wines of different varietals. You will be guided through the experience, and you’ll learn a little about each wine as you taste your way through. After your taste you’re free to stroll the vineyard grounds before you hop back on the shuttle and head to Oneroa Beach where you are free to grab lunch. If you would like to stay longer at the vineyard or on Waiheke Island, you are free to do so.

After a 5 minute transfer from Oneroa Beach you’ll arrive at the wharf. From here you’ll take the 40 minute ferry ride back to Auckland in the afternoon. If you would like to stay longer on the island and continue exploring, feel free to do so. The last ferry back is at 6:00pm, subject to changes in the ferry schedules.

Overnight in Auckland.

Breakfast at the hotel or local cafe is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to the Ruakuri Caves. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as well as a stop for a brief coffee break.

Explore the Ruakuri Caves on this 90 minute shared tour led by a local guide. Head underground through a spiral staircase and venture through the subterranean cavern where you’ll walk among limestone formations and crystal tapestries. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to snag some pics with the bioluminescent glow worms! Photography and video are permitted in selected areas of the cave. Large backpacks aren't permitted inside the cave and day packs need to be worn on the front. All you will need are comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket. You will be underground for most of the 90 min and you will remain dry. If you are claustrophobic or do not wish to participate in this activity, you can explore the nature trail and surroundings above ground on your own during this tour.

Enjoy a simple picnic lunch. Picnic lunches usually consist of cold meats, hummus, salads, breads, and wraps along with snacks like nuts or cookies. Juice and water are included. Your exact picnic lunch will vary.

Continue your transfer to Tongariro National Park. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed.

After arriving at the trailhead you embark on a loop hike passing Taranaki Falls. Begin by hiking across the alpine shrublands and through the beech forest. The main volcanoes of the Park all come into view before Taranaki Falls. Marvel at the giant waterfall that cascades from 65 feet above. After leaving the falls you’ll continue your final hike back out to where you began. After your hike you’ll transfer 15 minutes to your hotel. Distance: 3.7 miles / Elevation Gain: 475 feet / Duration: 2 hours / Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.

Dinner at the hotel is included. Your meal will either be a 2 course set menu or a la carte with water included, subject to change.

Overnight in National Park.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Departing from your hotel you’ll transfer 20 minutes to the start of the trail. Begin your full day hiking experience over the UNESCO-listed Tongariro Alpine Crossing to the craters of Mount Tongariro. This world-famous trek features striking volcanic terrain, old lava flows, active craters, steam vents, and emerald lakes. Led by your guide, you’ll begin your hike on a gradual incline beside a stream through alpine vegetation before breaking out onto the steep and bare old lava flows. About a quarter of the way in, you’ll begin the real climb up the mountain through a series of staircases. Once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape and if the weather is good, views of Mt. Ngauruhoe. The trail levels out a bit before you make your final climb and begin your descent. The descent is steep and with loose gravel and rocks dirt and rocks therefore it’s important to exercise caution. The alpine environment and trail can be dangerous at times; as such, it is best suited for very fit hikers. The ability to complete the hike is subject to weather conditions. Distance: 12.6 miles / Elevation Gain 2800 feet / Duration: 7-9 hours / Difficulty: Difficult.

Trail lunch provided for those hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. *Those who choose to not do the long day hike may like to buy lunch at their own cost at the hotel. Trail lunches usually consist of a wrap, hummus, and crackers along with snacks like energy bars or fruit. Your trail lunch will vary and may change.

Dinner at the hotel is included. Your meal will either be a 2 course set menu or a la carte with water included, subject to change.

Overnight in National Park.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

After departing Tongariro, you’ll transfer 30 minutes to Lake Rotopounamu. Here you’ll hike up to Lake Rotopounamu and follow a loop trail back to the start. Then you’ll continue to Lake Taupo. Distance: 3.1 miles / Elevation Gain: 426 feet / Duration: 1.5 hours / Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Continue your transfer to Taupo.

Continue 10 minutes on from Taupo and make a quick stop at Huka Falls. Here you’ll get out for a short walk (10 minutes) to see the powerful falls from the Waikato River that get funneled into a narrow channel. The flow of water is so great that it could fill an Olympic swimming pool in just 11 seconds!

After your stop at Huka Falls you’ll continue another 45 minutes to Waiotapu Thermal Reserve. Waiotapu is an active geothermal area and on your hike you’ll experience a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colorful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of volcanic activity. After your hike, transfer another 30 minutes to Rotorua. Distance: 2 miles / Elevation Gain: 180 feet Duration: 1.5 hours / Difficulty: Easy

Overnight in Rotorua.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

First take a 20 minute private transfer from the hotel to Lake Tarawera. After arriving you’ll hop on a 30 minute public water taxi to the far end of the lake trail.

Once you’ve arrived at the far end of the lake trail you’ll be able to have a dip in the glorious natural hot water pool in the bush. You will then begin your hike then hike following the edge of Lake Tarawera back to the road end. Plunge into the lake to cool off at any one of the tiny beaches during your hike. Please note that there are no changing rooms or facilities of any kind here, therefore, you may need to change in the cover of the trees. Distance: 6.2 miles / Elevation Gain: 1410 feet / Duration 4-5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate If the group is interested in a longer harder hike, you can be dropped of as a group by the water taxi one more bay over. This adds 90 min to the walk and 3 miles and 800 feet of elevation gain. Please note, access to Hot Water Beach and Lake Tarawera is subject to the Iwi Tribe, weather conditions, and the Department of Conservation.

Trail lunch included. Trail lunches usually consist of a wrap, hummus, and crackers along with snacks like energy bars or fruit. Your trail lunch will vary.

A short 5 minute transfer will take you to the shared Te Po experience. Tonight is an enchanting evening of Māori culture, including a traditional hangi feast and mesmerizing performances of song and dance. Begin with indulging in a traditional feast. After you’ve enjoyed your meal, you’ll stroll and wander through the geothermal area of Te Puia, which includes an impressive geyser. This is a captivating journey into the heart of New Zealand's indigenous heritage.

Dinner included as part of the Te Po cultural experience. Your meal will typically be buffet style with water included, subject to change.

Overnight in Rotorua.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set.

On this shared tour, you’ll experience the real Middle-earth™. At the Hobbiton Movie Set, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. A local guide will show you around the Alexander sheep farm and point out the famous locations as seen in the film and explaining how the brilliance and magic of these films came to be.

Continue on from Hobbiton™ to Auckland. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed.

Included farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Your meal will either be a 2-course set menu, or a la carte with one alcoholic / non alcoholic beverage included, subject to change.

Overnight in Auckland.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.