Auckland Central Trip Overview
Travel New Zealand in luxury with an experienced local guide.
We pick you up from any airport or Cruise Ship Port and take you on a private trip for your group.
Let us make an itinerary for you or plan your own and tell us where you would like to go.
Book 1 day or multiple days, we will stay with you throughout your vacation and give you an authentic unforgettable Kiwi experience.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 days
Starts: Auckland Central, New Zealand
Trip Category: Shore Excursions >> Ports of Call Tours
Explore Auckland Central Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Auckland Central, North Island, New Zealand
Travel New Zealand in luxury with an experienced local guide.
We pick you up from any airport or Cruise Ship Port and take you on a private trip for your group.
Let us make an itinerary for you or plan your own and tell us where you would like to go.
Book 1 day or multiple days, we will stay with you throughout your vacation and give you an authentic unforgettable Kiwi experience.
Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from any location of your choice in New Zealand – this is only some examples
Stop At: Auckland, Auckland, North Island
We customize tours to suit the requirements of our guests. Once booking is made, please make contact and we will send you recommended itineraries and we will start customizing it until we finalize the perfect experience.
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: SkyTower, Victoria Street Corner Federal Streets, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010 New Zealand
Breathtaking Panoramic 360° Views From The Southern Hemisphere’s Tallest Structure. Dine-in Award-winning Restaurants Or Push Your Limits With Our 192m Up SkyWalk & SkyJump. Dine At Orbit 360 or relax At The Sugar Club.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Mount Victoria Reserve, Kerr Street, Devonport, Auckland New Zealand
Mount Victoria offers panoramic views of Auckland City, Rangitoto Island, the North Shore and the Hauraki Gulf. Starting at the top of the pretty seaside town of Devonport, the steep walk will take about 20 minutes to the summit.
Duration: 3 hours
Pass By: Auckland Harbour Bridge, Curran St, Auckland Central, Auckland New Zealand
Experience Breathtaking Harbour Views at Auckland’s Most Iconic Landmark.
Stop At: Piha Beach, Piha, Auckland New Zealand
Piha is a scenic black-sand surf beach on the rugged coast west of Auckland. There are several walks through native forest in the surrounding hills.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Muriwai Gannet Colony, 428 Motutara Rd Waitakere, Muriwai Beach, Auckland 0881 New Zealand
Muriwai’s gannet colony is a one hour drive from the centre of Auckland. A short walking track leads to a viewing platform right above the main colony area. Out to sea, the colony continues on two vertical-sided islands. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest here from August to March each year.
Those coming in to land must glide over the squawking raised beaks of their neighbours – so getting it wrong can be painful.
These two-and-a-half kilogram birds have a wingspan of two metres, and their mastery of the onshore updrafts is impressive to say the least.
The views from the colony are very impressive. Muriwai Beach extends 60 kilometres to the north – a line of black sand between the thundering surf and the sand hills. Far below, enthusiastic surfers look like seals on the large ocean swells.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Matakana Village, 2 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana, Auckland 0986 New Zealand
From the cascading cherry blossoms of spring to the riches of autumn leaves, you’ll find something to savour in every season. Just 45 minutes from the Auckland Harbour Bridge, yet a world away – there’s so much to love in Matakana Village.
Duration: 4 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 2: Hobbiton Movie Set & Waitomo Glow Worm Caves – North Island
Stop At: Hobbiton Movie Set, 501 Buckland Road Matamata, Hinuera 3472 New Zealand
Experience the magic of Hobbiton movie set in the heart of the Mighty Waikato region, you can explore the lush pastures of the Shire™ with a guided tour of Hobbiton™, as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3943 New Zealand
The glowworm studded Waitomo caves are a world-renowned destination within New Zealand.
Famous for their abundance of glow worms, extensive underground river system and stunning stalactite and stalagmites formations, a trip to the Waitomo caves is a trip to another world. Keep reading to find out why you should discover the Waitomo caves.
Whilst in the Waitomo region you can explore three caves by foot; the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave. Each cave is uniquely magical and comes with its own history and culture.
Duration: 2 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 3: Tour of Rotorua – North Island
Stop At: Te Puia, Hemo Road, Rotorua New Zealand
Te Puia, is home to the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, Pōhutu Geyser, as well as the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute – training the next generation of artists from around the country.
Join a world famous guided experiences showcasing our geothermal valley, Māori culture and Kiwi Conservation Centre with five Kiwi in our state of the art enclosure.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Lake Rotorua, Rotorua New Zealand
Surrounded by lush farmland, native bush and steaming geothermal springs and vents, the lake has a distinct dark green-yellow colour due to its high content of sulphur and other volcanic minerals. A fan of trout fishing? You’re in for a treat – Lake Rotorua is considered the most productive trout fishery in New Zealand.
Lake Rotorua is the largest lake in the district. Although beautiful and peaceful, this lake has a violent history – it was one of several large volcanoes in the region and was formed when an underlying magma chamber collapsed after a massive eruption around 200,000 years ago.
This beautifully peaceful lake has a violent history. One of several large volcanoes in the Rotorua region, its underlying magma chamber collapsed after a massive eruption around 200,000 years ago. The collapse created a circular caldera about 16 kilometres wide, which filled with water to form the North Island’s second largest lake.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Skyline Rotorua, 178 Fairy Springs Road, Fairy Springs, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand
Skyline Rotorua Gondola is the most spectacular way to take in the 180 degree views of Lake Rotorua, the city and surrounding district.
Skyline’s Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar, open daily for lunch and dinner, is renowned for its delicious New Zealand cuisine, and the Market Kitchen provides a multitude of tasty options for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
No visit would be complete without a ride down one of Skyline’s luge tracks. The luge is a world first! With three different track options and over 5kms of track to ride, once is certainly never enough! Riders have full control, over the 3 wheel, gravity-based luge cart.
Duration: 5 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 4: Tour of Lake Taupo – North Island
Stop At: AJ Hackett Taupo Bungy & Swing, 202 Spa Road, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
Toes Over The Edge, You’re About To Leap From New Zealand’s Only Cliff-Top Bungy. High Over The Waikato River, Jump Solo Or Tandem With A Friend.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Huka Falls Rd, Taupo, Hinuera New Zealand
At Huka Falls you can witness the phenomenon of natural hydro power with more than 220,000 litres of water per sec barreling over 11meter high waterfall.
The Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river, moves gracefully north from Lake Taupō between banks 100 metres apart. Just before the Huka Falls it enters a shallow ravine of hard volcanic rock. The effect is nature’s large-scale equivalent of a fire hose feeding into a very fine nozzle.
The previously placid waters roar and rumble at great speed along the ravine before bursting out over Huka Falls to crash into the turbulent pool 11 metres below. A foot bridge right at the top of the falls puts you in a prime position to get up close and witness the powerful display of water blasting by -. If you’d like to see the power and fury of the falls up close, try a jet boat ride or river cruise.
Duration: 4 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 5: Tour of Tauranga & Mount Maunganui – North Island
Stop At: Mount Maunganui, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty Region, North Island
You can’t travel New Zealand without visiting the best beach in the country. Discover why Mount Maunganui – or The Mount, as locals refer to it, has been the summertime destination of choice for tourists.
Our little beach paradise is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and soak up the sun (which is very hot in summer, make sure you bring sun protection!). There are literally kilometres of white sand beaches to enjoy – you won’t struggle to find empty space (in fact, sometimes you’ll struggle to find another person).
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 6: Tour of Wellington – North Island
Stop At: Wellington Cable Car, 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
A favourite of locals and visitors alike, the Cable Car allows easy access from the central business district to the Kelburn lookout and the top entrance of the Botanic Garden. Take this five minute historic trip to enjoy stunning views from the lookout over the city and harbour Te Whanganui-a-Tara and easy access to many of Wellington’s top attractions. The Cable Car Museum, Botanic Garden, Space Place (Carter Observatory & Planetarium) and Zealandia Ecosanctuary.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable St, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Te Papa is a museum like no other. Rated by Lonely Planet as one of their top 500 places on earth, New Zealand’s interactive national museum is a must-visit.
But if the phrase ‘national museum’ conjures images of dusty artefacts in glass cases, you might not have been to Te Papa yet. Te Papa’s clever, contemporary and bicultural approach puts it in a league of its own and, unlike so many museums, general entry is free and it’s open every day except Christmas Day.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Weta Workshop, Corner of Camperdown Rd & Weka St Miramar, Wellington 6022 New Zealand
The Workshop is best known for its Academy Award®-winning work on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, but you certainly will have seen plenty of movies and shows they’ve had a hand in. Weta Workshop has a constantly growing list of blockbuster credits to its name, applying its craftsmanship to Blade Runner 2049, Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia and more.
All the Workshop’s craftspeople have jobs that would make kids jealous but we reckon Warren Beaton might take the cake. Having previously worked on projects from ads for tinned spaghetti to making eight tonnes of pink goo for The Matrix, he started at Weta Workshop in 1999 with the unusual first-day task of making Uruk-hai birthing sacks. If you’re curious, he drew on his chemistry background to create “a special 1200% stretch hot melt elastoma material” for them… whatever that means. This has been par for the course for his two decades as a craftsman of the bizarre and ambitious at the Workshop.
Duration: 3 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 7: Tour of Kaikoura – South Island
Stop At: Kaikoura, Kaikoura, Canterbury Region, South Island
Kaikoura is a coastal town on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s known for its abundant wildlife and its sperm whale population. The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway winds from the town centre to lookout points at Point Kean. Close by, the rock platforms are home to a colony of New Zealand fur seals. The 1800s Fyffe House is a cottage built on a foundation of whalebones, with displays on the town’s whaling past.
Kaikoura is best known for its whale watching which continues to drive ecotourism each and every year.
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 8: Tour of Christchurch – South Island
Stop At: Christchurch, Christchurch, Canterbury Region, South Island
Christchurch, known for its English heritage, is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Flat-bottomed punts glide on the Avon River, which meanders through the city centre. On its banks are cycling paths, the green expanse of Hagley Park and Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 9: Tour of Dunedin – South Island
Stop At: Dunedin, Dunedin, Otago Region, South Island
Tucked into a sheltered harbour on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Ōtepoti Dunedin is a city rich in heritage, renowned for its wildlife and distinctly quirky character. Discover an intriguing mix of vibrant urban culture, wildly beautiful places and exceptional local cuisine.
Duration: 10 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 10: Tour of Queenstown – South Island
Stop At: Queenstown, Queenstown, Otago Region, South Island
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most exciting destinations. Surrounded by towering mountains, positioned on the edge of a lake, Queenstown is a hub of adventure, thrumming with adrenaline and an omnipresent sense of fun.
Whether you like to indulge your inner explorer or simply relax and enjoy the finer things in life, you’ll be able to craft your perfect itinerary from Queenstown, the perfect base for exploring the area.
Duration: 10 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 11: Tour of Milford Sounds – South Island
Stop At: Milford Sound, Milford Sound, Southland Region, South Island
Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offers views of rare black coral and other marine life. Boat tours are a popular way to explore.
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
Day 12: Tour of Fox Glaciers & Franz Joseph – South Island
Stop At: Fox Glacier, Fox Glacier, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast Region, South Island
Tucked into the forested foothills of the Southern Alps, the cosy township of Fox Glacier is geared up for glacier hikes, flights and scenic walks in the area.
To see the glacier, you can head towards Lake Matheson on Cook Flat Road for magnificent views. You can arrange an ice-hiking adventure or booking a scenic flight. There are glow worm caves just a short walk from the town centre, which offers a good choice of cafes and restaurants. Close to Fox Glacier is beautiful Lake Matheson, one of the most photographed lakes in New Zealand. On a clear day it reflects Mount Cook.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Franz Josef Glacier, Glacier Access Road Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef, Westland Tai Poutini National Park New Zealand
The hospitable town of Franz Josef serves the glacier of the same name. Stay here while you explore this spectacular World Heritage Area.
Franz Josef Glacier (Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere) was explored by local iwi and in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is five kilometres from the town of the same name, and a 1.5 hour walk will take you to within 750m of its terminal face.
If you want to actually make contact with the glacier, take a heli-hike or a guided ice walk. Aerial sightseeing is another option.
There’s a range of natural attractions in close proximity to Franz Josef Glacier Village. Lose yourself in the rainforests, waterfalls, and lakes.
In the town, you’ll find plenty of places to stay and eat, or relax at the Glacier Hot Pools(opens in new window) or explore the wildlife centre. At nearby Lake Mapourika, you can take a kayak tour or rent a stand-up paddleboard.
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Accommodation can be arranged. (cost not included)
