Auckland Central Trip Overview
Journey through the North Island of New Zealand and explore Waitomo, Rotorua and Lake Taupo, and discover the natural beauty of Kaikoura and Christchurch on this 5-day trip from Auckland to Christchurch or vice versa. See the glow worms at Waitomo Caves, relax at Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland, see Giant Sperm Whales where mountains meet sea and be mesmerized by the natural beauty of New Zealand. This 5-day tour will have you travelling by coach, train and ferry with plenty of time at leisure to make this holiday truly magical.
Additional Info
Duration: 5 days
Starts: Auckland Central, New Zealand
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Auckland Central Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Auckland Central, North Island, New Zealand
Journey through the North Island of New Zealand and explore Waitomo, Rotorua and Lake Taupo, and discover the natural beauty of Kaikoura and Christchurch on this 5-day trip from Auckland to Christchurch or vice versa. See the glow worms at Waitomo Caves, relax at Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland, see Giant Sperm Whales where mountains meet sea and be mesmerized by the natural beauty of New Zealand. This 5-day tour will have you travelling by coach, train and ferry with plenty of time at leisure to make this holiday truly magical.
Itinerary
Day 1: Auckland – Waitomo – Rotorua
Stop At: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943 New Zealand
Today you will depart from Auckland and drive to the magical Waitomo Caves. Here you will have a guided tour of the caves, before taking a short boat ride along the river to the grotto. Be enchanted by the thousands of glow worms emitting tiny lights that twinkle in the darkness. Later, you drive to Rotorua, passing through the Fitzgerald Glade, a section of highway where native bush forms a canopy overhead. Be dropped off at your accommodation and spend the rest of your day at your leisure.
Duration: 5 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Millenium Hotel Rotorua or similar
Day 2: Rotorua
Stop At: Te Puia, Hemo Road, Rotorua New Zealand
You will be picked up from your accommodation and transferred to Te Puia to experience Rotorua’s famous Maori culture and geothermal activity with a tour of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley – a place where mud pools bubble and boil and geysers shoot steam high into the air.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Rainbow Springs Nature Park, 192 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua 3015 New Zealand
Discover New Zealand wildlife and natural scenery at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, where you can get up close to native flora and fauna including the famous kiwi – a flightless native bird. Wander through native forest and discover New Zealand birds, fish and lizards (including the ancient tuatara), as well as exotic animals from around the world.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Agrodome, 141 Western Rd, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 3010 New Zealand
See Rotorua’s agricultural industry in action at the Agrodome: a working organic farm where you can find out all about farming life in New Zealand. Watch a sheep shearing display and see sheep dog trials where the farm dogs show off their amazing skills. Afterwards, be transferred back to your accommodation where you can spend the afternoon at your leisure
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Millenium Hotel Rotorua or similar
Day 3: Rotorua – Lake Taupo – Wellington
Stop At: Lake Tekapo, Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie District, Canterbury Region, South Island
After being picked up from your accommodation, travel from Rotorua to Wellington by road via Lake Taupo, the Central Plateau (home to several active volcanoes), Palmerston North and the Kapiti Coast, arriving in Wellington by late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your evening accommodation.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Rydges Hotel or Similar
Day 4: Wellington – Picton – Kaikoura
Stop At: Wellington Ferry Terminal, 1 Aotea Quay, Pipitea, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Interislander Cook Strait Ferry for ferry crossings from Wellington to Picton. See spectacular spectacular sights on the beautiful Marlborough Sounds on your arrival into Picton on the South Island.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Picton, Picton, Marlborough Region, South Island
Transfer from the ferry terminal to the Pacific Coast Railway Station and join the Coastal Railway Journey from Picton to the stunning seaside township of Kaikoura, where the mountains meet the sea. You will then be taken to your evening accommodation. (This portion will be replaced by coach if train is unavailable)
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: White Morph Hotel or similar
Day 5: Kaikoura – Christchurch
Stop At: Whale Watch Kaikoura, Whaleway Station Road, Kaikōura 7340, New Zealand
On this final day you will join a Whale Watch tour in Kaikoura where you will see the Giant Sperm Whale and a host of marine life including dolphins, seals and seabirds. This afternoon continue onto Christchurch where your tour concludes.
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
