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Hairy Berry - 11 Day North Island Tour for 18-35s

North Island, New Zealand

Starting From

$1,549.99/person

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Book this tour through our partner: Sweet As Travel

From the Coat Hanger to the Cake Tin, if you haven't got enough time to explore the Northland, don't worry, we've got you covered! Blending effortlessly with natural as well as active, geothermal volcanic wonders, start off & return to Auckland on this 11-day blitz of NZ's North Island.

Additional Information

DAY 1

#1 Auckland to Tauranga via Coromandel

07:00: Depart Auckland

Wakey wakey! For those of you hiding under the sheets from the sun like something out of Twilight, after last night, we’re taking it easy on you. As we detox over a late breakfast, we leave the City of Sails and head south for a day of beach relaxation.

09:30: Arrive at Hot Water Beach

If one beach wasn’t enough, try two! And what better way than to escape a hangover than lying in nature's jacuzzi - Hot Water Beach. If you didn’t already guess, this beach gets its name from the geothermal hot springs that rise up through the sand. If the tides right, grab your spades and start digging.

11:45: Cathedral Cove & Hahei Beach

Packed full of rugged coastlines and exotic beaches, sit back on this scenic drive as we pass through the Coromandel over to our next spot, Cathedral Cove. Arguably one of the most popular beaches in the North Island, with its pristine sands and golden cliffs, be sure to test the acoustics under the Te Hoho rock as we stop at the cove for the morning.

17:00: Arrive in the Bay Of Plenty, Tauranga.

Putting the beaches behind us, we sashay south through the Bay of Plenty and the coastal town of Tauranga. Here you can kick back on the beach or catch the sunset from the top of Mt Maunganui for the rest of the arvo (Kiwi for afternoon).

Inclusions

  • Take the coastal walk to Cathedral Cove.
  • Visit Hahei beach.
  • Dig a hole in nature's jacuzzi, Hot Water Beach.
  • Night in the Bay Of Plenty, Tauranga.

DAY 2

#2 Tauranga to Rotorua

08:00: Depart Tauranga

08:30: Mt Maunganui

If you didn't already venture up last night for an epic sunset, todays your day! Standing at an impressive 761ft, the 'mount' as it's known is challenging as it is beautiful. 

12:00: Arrive in Rotorua

Winding our way out of the hills of Waikato, for our next culture injection, we head down to the geothermal capital of New Zealand, Rotorua!  Smell that? No, that wasn’t your buddy’s meal from last night, that my eager Beavers’ is Sulphur, so get out your nose pegs kids.

Inclusions

  • Climb Mt Maunganui!
  • Night in the geothermal capital of NZ, Rotorua!

Extras

  • 2 Hour Hobbiton tour of the Shire, including a free drink. 
  • Get hands-on with everything Maori at the Tamaki Village and experience a traditional hangi buffet with NZ desserts for dinner!

DAY 3

#3 Rotorua to Taupo

08:30: Depart Rotorua

09:30: Kerosene Creek

Just down the road from our next stop, we'll take a dip in the natural hot spring - Kerosene Creek, famous for it's hot spring waterfall! 

11:30: Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Famed for it’s boiling mud pools, hot springs and spurting geysers, we give you – Wai O Tapu! A wonderland of natural beauty that will leave you mesmerized! Hmmm, or maybe that’s just the Sulphur?! 

15:00: Huka Falls, Taupo

Which brings us onto Taupo (“Toe-Paw”). This monster of a lake is claimed to be bigger than the size of Singapore and twice the size of the second largest lake in New Zealand!  This central North Island town sits on the south shore where you’ll find 220,000 litres of water gushing over the Huka Falls every second!

16:30: Arrive in Taupo

Inclusions

  • Visit the Thermal Wonderland, Wai O Tapu.
  • Dip into the natural hot springs of Kerosene Creek.
  • See the amazing Huka Falls!

Extras

  • Sail Barbary Sunset Cruise BYO Party, inc dinner

DAY 4

#4 Taupo to Tongariro National Park

06:30: Depart Taupo

08:00 Tongariro Crossing

Wait, who's got the ring? Strap up your boots troops, ‘cause this is going to be a long day! We rise at the crack of dawn, for your next journey takes you unexpected Hobbits to the top of Mount Doom! This eight-hour shoe shredder isn’t for the faint-hearted, as you’ll hike above the clouds through 19km of unforgiving volcanic terrain called, the Tongariro Crossing! But don’t sweat couch potatoes, we’ve got you covered. If you weren't brave enough to journey south, we’ve lined up kayaking around the Mine Bay Maori Rock carvings to skydives and white water rafting to keep your mind off what you’re missing. Later, relax for a well-deserved dip in the Otumheke thermal stream amongst your worn-out wolf-pack.

18:30: Return to Taupo

Inclusions

  • Challenge yourself & hike the epic Alpine Tongariro Crossing.
  • Dip into the Otumheke thermal spring.

Extras

  • Ernest Kemp Replica Steamboat Cruise.
  • Tandem Skydive 9,000ft.
  • Tandem Skydive 12,000ft.
  • Tandem Skydive 15,000ft.
  • Huka Falls Jet.
  • Kayak to Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings.

DAY 5

#5 Taupo to Napier

09:30 Depart Taupo

12:00 Arrive in Hawkes Bay

After yesterday, you’re probably wanting a break. Start practising your spitting (off the bus), ‘cause we’re showing you exactly what put New Zealand's wine on the map with an epic Hawkes Bay wine & brewery tour! Visit two of Hawkes Bay's best wineries including one of NZ's oldest, plus visit a quirky craft brewery which hosts a variety of worldwide styles. 

15:30 Arrive in Napier

Whether your legs are wobbly from the wine or yesterday's crossing, get settled into the art deco city of New Zealand, Napier.

Inclusions

  • Transport to and from all wineries & breweries.

Extras

  • Wine & beer tastings.

DAY 6

#6 Napier to River Valley

06:30: Depart Napier

10:30: Taihape

Home to the annual Gumboot Day, welcome to New Zealand's Gumboot capital! Here we'll test your throwing skills in a "boot off" before heading into our last stop, River Valley Adventure Lodge! 

12:30: River Valley, Pukeokahu

Adventure lodges aren't complete without grade 5 water rafting & amazing horse treks, so kick back and settle in for the arvo as we enjoy some good ol'fashioned kiwi country.

Inclusions

  • Visit the Gumboot capital of NZ, Taihape & challenge a friend to a welly throw off!
  • Experience really kiwi outback at River Valley Adventure Lodge.

Extras

  • Horse riding through River Valley.
  • Grade 5 White Water Rafting.

DAY 7

#7 River Valley to Wellington

07:30: Depart River Valley

11:00: Tui Brewery, Mangatainoka.

For those still thirsty from Hawkes Bay, we'll make a quick stop off at the famous Tui Brewery to send us on our way.

16:30: Arrive in Wellington

As much as we love nature, it’s time for another city… and boy is this one windy!

Windy? That’s right, if you haven’t already blown over, welcome to the NZ's capital - Wellington. Sitting on top of the Cook Strait, don’t let the wind scare you off! Welly’s chilled atmosphere, stunning promenade and vibrant nightlife will be sure to keep you distracted. Home to a myriad of surprises, for those who can’t sit still, check out the Weta Caves before you get settled in for the night.

Inclusions

  • Visit the famous Tui Brewery.
  • Visit the Windy Capital of New Zealand, Wellington.

Extras

  • Beer tastings.

DAY 8

#8 Wellington

09:00: Your time, your way

Finally a free day! We’re handing the reins back to you for today, but if you're stuck for ideas - start off the morning with a walk up to the top of Mt Victoria to get your bearings in check. From here, you can head into the city for a guided tour and another Kiwi culture shot at the famous Te Papa Museum. Later, take a trip up the iconic Wellington Cable Car where you can check out the views from the Botanical gardens. If you didn’t already get accustomed to the town last night, no worries, after dinner we’re cracking out our drinking boots for an epic bar crawl.

Inclusions

  • Free entry at the famous Te Papa Museum.
  • Check out the views from the top of Mt Victoria.
  • Join our epic Bar Crawl of Welly's sweetest pubs & clubs.

Extras

  • Weta Workshop.

DAY 9

#9 Wellington to New Plymouth

08:30: Depart Wellington

11:30: Break at Whanganui

14:15: Goblin Forest, Mt Egmount

Goblins? Where? Thriving off the neck of the mighty volcano, we come to our next Middle Earth treasure, the Goblin Forest. Found deep in the Egmont National Park, look out for orcs, elves or hung-over backpackers. Oh wait, that’s us!

16:00: Arrive in New Plymouth

After a short walk around the Kamahi loop, we'll take the arvo off where you can stroll through the Botanical Gardens or check out the Paritutu Rock as we explore New Plymouth, a city shadowed by our second volcano, Mt Taranaki!

Inclusions

  • Get up close with the Mt Taranaki volcano and trek through the Goblin Forest of Mt Egmount.
  • Check out the Botanical gardens and if it's the right time of year, the TSB Light festival.

DAY 10

#10 New Plymouth to Raglan

08:30: Depart New Plymouth

11:30: Waitomo Caves

Peeps, you’ve earned it. Lie in and slow sip that coffee before we head back up north for a Kiwi classic, the glow-worm capital, Waitomo! Strange as they are beautiful, glow-worms are the stars of the underworld. Today we’re putting on our headlamps and taking to the caves on this epic journey below! Climb into the unknown, sail under blue-lit caves or black water raft down into the abyss, this place has it all.

17:30: Arrive in Raglan

Home to New Zealand's coolest surf town, this arvo we'll get stuck in with those beach vibes before we end our last night with an awesome sunset boat party & BBQ.

Inclusions

  • Waitomo Cave tour.

Extras

  • Raglan Sunset Boat Party & BBQ meal.
  • Additional Waitomo Cave Tours.

DAY 11

#11 Raglan to Auckland

13:00: Depart Raglan

For those hiding from the sun after last night, before we say “poroporoaki” (Maori for goodbye) to our last stop, hire out a board or take a surf lesson for the morning.

15:00: Return to Auckland

After a well-deserved bite for lunch, we'll arrive back in Auckland around 15:00 to end this epic trip off. So, this is it folks, the final piece of the puzzle! So steady your feet, hold on to something tight… no not us! Amigos, welcome back to Auckland! It’s time for you culture pros to say ciao to the tribe and in years to come remember what we did in the land of the Long White Cloud.

Extras

  • Raglan Surf Lesson.
  • Surf Board Hire.

PICKUP LOCATION

Meet at approx 06:30 at 229, Queen St, Auckland. Bus stop on the corner of Darby & Queen St. Coach departs at 07:00.

DROP OFF LOCATION

Arrive back in Auckland for around 15:00 at the bus stop on the corner of Darby & Queen St, 229 Queen St, Auckland.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

Tour includes all:

  • Transport.
  • Accommodation.
  • Food Ingredients (breakfast, lunch & dinner) if selected. 
  • Itinerary inclusions.

and heaps of optional extras to take your getaway to the next level.

WHAT WE DON'T

  • Private Accommodation. 

Rotorua

  • Redwood forest treetop walk - Day/ Night.
  • Kaituna River White Water Rafting.
  • Rotorua Canopy Tour.
  • OGO Zorbing.
  • Skyline Luge.
  • Redwoods Mountain Biking.
  • 2 Hour Horse Trek.
  • Hobbiton Tour.
  • Rainbow Springs Kiwi Encounter.
  • Tamaki Maori Village Evening Cultural Experience. 

 Taupo

  • Ernest Kemp Replica Steamboat Cruise.
  • Tandem Skydive 9,000ft.
  • Tandem Skydive 12,000ft.
  • Tandem Skydive 15,000ft.
  • Huka Falls Jet.
  • Acacia Bay Kayak Hire. 

Wellington

  • Weta Workshop. 

Raglan

  • Raglan Surf Lesson.
  • Surf Board Hire.

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Starting From

$1,549.99/person

Book Now

Details

Duration

11 Days

Starts

Auckland

Ends

Auckland

Group Size

7-30

Difficulty

3/5

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