A fresh, clean country with the ideal growing environment for fruit and vegetables of outstanding quality. A southern hemisphere country with growing seasons opposite to those of its northern hemisphere customers. Come on a food tour in the North Island and enjoy a fantastic range of local and multicultural foods. New Zealand's cuisine has been described as Pacific Rim, drawing inspiration from Europe, Asia and Polynesia. This blend of influences has created a mouth-watering range of flavours and food in cafes and restaurants nationwide. Its distinctiveness is more in the way New Zealanders eat, generally preferring as relaxed and unaffected as possible, in keeping with the laidback Kiwi lifestyle.
Private guided tour itinerary- 5 nights
Day 1: Auckland – Waitomo - Taupo (Private glow-worm caves tour, Huka Falls, private dinner/fishing cruise)
Day 2: Taupo – Day trip to Rotorua (Geothermal areas, blueberry farm, Hamurana Spring, Hot Pools)
Day 3: Taupo – Whitianga (Private tour of a sheep and deer farm, Kiwifruit orchard)
Day 4: Whitianga – Day trip to Coromandel (Mussel barge safaris/fishing, visit Oyster/Paua company)
Day 5: Coromandel – Auckland (Lavender tour, Lunch at Zealing Tea Estate, afternoon to your own leisure)
Day 6: Auckland departure
Prices: We recommend the following guidelines for customized tour packages, excluding international flights:
4* (3* internationally) to 5*: From around NZ$ $400 - $1150+ per person per day. The customized package will include accommodation, airport transfers and other transportation within New Zealand, guided tours or activities, unique experiences, trip planning, and 24X7 support during your trip. Please enquire for a custom quote. The price is customized based on final accommodation choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences.
Day 1: Auckland – Waitomo - Taupo (Private glow-worm caves tour, Kawa Kawa tee, Huka Falls, private dinner/fishing cruise –fresh rainbow trout)
Driving distances 4h
Early start!! Start of private guided tour North Island. As you depart Auckland your tour will take you through the Waikato region, one of New Zealand's greenest places, and richest agricultural regions. You will pass land with lush grass for raising cattle, thoroughbred horses and vast stands of exotic timber. One of the major attractions of the Waikato/King Country region is the famous Waitomo Caves (translation: 'where the water disappears into a hole in the ground'). Enjoy a short shuttle ride to the cave while your experienced guide reveals the rich history of Waitomo. Then, take a short walk through breath taking New Zealand native bush to the cave entrance. There, your guide lights the candles setting the scene for an intimate cave experience, where you will see glow-worms and cave formations up close and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave (also known to local Maori as Te Anaroa Cave).The solar powered lights are kept low so you can appreciate the magnificent glow worm displays at their best, only inches away. Around a corner lie the bones of one of New Zealand's lost treasures, the ancient Moa. The soothing sound of Footwhistle Cave stream flows in the darkness below. Formation lights are specially turned on to cast a warm glow over stunning cave formations. The guide tells the stories of the insect life that live here - titiwai, the glow worm, and tuna, the eel. After enjoying a relaxed stroll through the cave, you'll be seated in Footwhistle's Cathedral to see it lit up by a dazzling magnesium torch. Complete the tour by enjoying a New Zealand native herb found in your bush surroundings. Kawa Kawa tee On the way to Taupo we stop at Huka Falls - these spectacular falls roar through a 15 wide chasm before plunging a further 11m. Lake Taupo is also the world’s largest volcanic crater, created in one giant explosion. The ash cloud floated all over the world - ice samples from as far apart as Antarctica and Alaska have determihttned the explosion to have occurred in 186AD. The effects of the ash were even recorded in China and Rome. You can gather your own free volcanic souvenir from the shoreline in the form of very light pumice stones (great for cleaning off rough skin) which were spewed out in that eruption. Just about everywhere you look in the Lake Taupo region, you'll see a volcano. For dinner we have organised a boat cruise on Lake Taupo, where you can just relax and reflect on the day’s adventure or catch one of the many rainbow trout for your evening meal. The vessel is 50 foot long and the fish will be caught by down riggers. Average size of trout is 4 pounds and the flesh looks like Salmon, as they feed on the bottom sweet water crayfish. Accommodation: Taupo
Day 2: Taupo – Day trip to Rotorua (Geothermal areas, blueberry farm, Hamurana Springs, Hot Pools)
Driving distance 2h
Return In the morning we take you to the fascinating “Champagne Pool” and experience the panorama of vividly colourful hot and cold pools, steaming fumaroles and hot boiling mud pools. Sculptured out of volcanic activity and thousands of years in the making, Wai-O-Tapu is considered to be New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal sightseeing attraction. You are introduced to a uniquely different natural landscape – the key to what you see lies below the surface – one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand. Your next activity is a visit to the Mamaku Blue ‘Blueberry Experience and Winery’. As part of the tour you will be met on arrival by the friendly staff before you are escorted to an “air conditioned” people carrier that will whisk you off into the blueberry orchard. Spend time discovering the story behind Mamaku Blue and learn the steps involved in getting the blueberry from the bush to the market. From the orchard you will visit the sorting and packaging shed, where you will learn some of the steps that make MAMAKU BLUE berries so special. Your will then proceed on through to the wine making department, have a chat to the wine maker and learn about blueberry wines. After you tour you will have the opportunity to visit the Hamurana Spring. The Reserve is made up of the stream, a scenic walking track through a Redwood Grove, the main spring Te Puna-a-Hangarua, the Dancing Sands Spring and a wide variety of wildlife. In the late afternoon relax in the new Wairakai Hot springs, here enjoy the hot Thermal Pool. These mineral enriched pools, soft and silky to the touch and striking blue in colour, provide the perfect setting for complete rest and relaxation. Or: Traditional Maori Hangi and cultural evening show: An evening at Mitai will give you an authentic introduction to Maori culture leaving you amazed and in awe. Recommneded activity: Helicopter flight and landing at active volcano. Accommodation: Taupo
Day 3: Taupo – Whitianga (Private tour of a sheep and deer farm, Kiwifruit orchard)
Driving distance 4h
In the morning travel to nearby Tauranga. Here we have arranged a private tour to cover three primary industry types, offering an insight into the lives of two kiwi farming families and an Orchard supplying the Bay of Plenty's famous Kiwifruit. Travel approximately 32 kilometres out of Tauranga city into the Kaimai Ranges passing some delightful rural scenery ranging from small lifestyle blocks through to acreage and more traditional NZ farms, arriving at our first destination Aratoa Deer Farm. Aratoa Deer farm is a 400 acre commercial deer farm owned by Cedric and Bev Stone situated in the heart of the Kaimai ranges with rolling vistas and with a real working farm feel, Aratoa Deer Farm is the genuine thing! Next depart for the McDonald sheep and cattle farm "Grand View". Stopping en route at the Kaimai Cafe for morning tea and toilet stop, whilst enjoying the beautiful rural surrounds with time to browse through the wool & gift stores located there. Grand View is an 800 acre working sheep and cattle farm owned by Angus and Noeline McDonald. Located high in the Kaimai Ranges their farm offers panoramic views over the Bay of Plenty region. On the way back visit a Kiwifruit orchard and where you will be able to sample the green and gold varieties of Kiwifruit at the local landmark fruit shop Mr McGregor’s. The Coromandel is one of New Zealand’s most popular and best-loved holiday destinations. When you visit it you will see why. A binocular’s view across the gulf from Auckland, it is everything that a big city isn’t. We take you to Whitianga which has attracted visitors for more than a thousand years, since Maori explorer Kupe first settled here around 950A.D, but it was Captain James Cook who gave the area its name, when he anchored in the bay in 1769 to observe the transit of Mercury. Now an established tourist resort, the Bay's spectacular coastline is dotted with islands and its relatively sheltered waters are perfect for all water sports. You will have the opportunity to explore the picturesque Hahei Beach with its white beaches and stunning shoreline to Cathedral Cove and its marine reserve. A fantastic view from the lookout point will give you spectacular photo opportunities and a fabulous view of the coastline. Accommodation: Whitianga
Day 4: Whitianga – Day trip to Coromandel (Mussel barge Safaris/fishing, visit Oyster/Paua company)
Driving distance 2h
Return We take you further to the top of the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula and the same named township. Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored, are just some of the natural attractions that have people returning to The Coromandel time after time. The Coromandel is where Kiwis go on holiday! Renowned worldwide for its natural beauty - misty rainforests and pristine golden beaches, the Coromandel is blessed with hundreds of natural hideaways, making it an ideal place to slow down, relax and unwind. In the late afternoon come and enjoy the fabulous fishing amongst the mussel farms. See the harvesting barges in action, working the myriad of mussel farms in and around Coromandel Harbour and enjoy our awesome scenery at the same time. The Coromandel Oyster Company has been in existence since the 1960's and has been operating since 2007 under the current management - Anne and John Louden - who are pleased to be able to offer a full oyster experience from farming to processing and retail sales. Enjoy the beautiful seaside garden, looking out over the farms and enjoy a taste of the Coromandel through the fresh seasonal kitchen, offering local seafood taste sensations. Also available at the retail outlet local seafood, cooked and fresh, including Green lip Mussels, Kina, Paua, Crayfish ... come try the famous Mussel Chowder or Paua or Mussel fritters. Accommodation: Whitianga
Day 5: Coromandel – Auckland (Lavender tour, Lunch at Zealong Tea Estate, afternoon to your own leisure)
Driving distance 3hrs
In the morning we visit a local lavender farm. The growers love to share their love of lavender by welcoming visitors to their property. For fifteen years they have been producing a range of lavender products developed with the sole purpose of helping people to improve their quality of life. By midday we visit the Zealong Tea Estate, where you can taste the purest and perfect tea in New Zealand. In the afternoon we take you to Auckland the largest city in New Zealand and called the city of sails for its many harbours and islands. In New Zealand’s most northern regions, food and wine are never far from anyone’s thoughts. Auckland is a city of travellers, packed full of people who can trace their heritage all over the world. Aucklanders have embraced the culinary arts of all those who have come to call it home, resulting in a dining culture that prizes variety, inventiveness and presentation. A night out could mean anything from fine European-style dining on the viaduct to watching a Taiko drumming performance while enjoying sushi. Accommodation: Auckland city
Day 6: Auckland Departure A taxi will take you to your departing flight. |