7-Day Northern Light North Island Tour

**Auckland to Hot Water Beach** Pickup location: Mayoral Drive, at the Bus Stop opposite the Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, 08:00am Welcome to the first day of your Flying Kiwi adventure! We’ll leave Auckland at 8am and drive south towards the Coromandel Peninsula. The Coromandel is a popular holiday spot for us Kiwi’s and it's not hard to see why. With stunning white sandy beaches, dense fern forests and a rich history of both Maori and European settlement, the Coromandel Peninsula is the perfect place to start your trip! We’ll arrive at our Hot Water Beach campsite, where we’ll spend the next two nights. Go for a walk along the beach once we’ve set up camp, and this evening we’ll enjoy our very first group dinner together. Meals: Dinner Bike Rides: 8km scenic road cycling from Hahei Beach to Hot Water Beach camp Walks and Hikes: Stunning coastal walk with views over the Pacific Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking, Hahei Explorer Available Upgrades: Yes

**Hot Water Beach** Today you have a full free day to spend relaxing or exploring. We’ll head to Hahei Beach where you can go for a walk along the shoreline or take a boat or kayak to see the iconic Cathedral Cove. Later, we’ll head back to Hot Water Beach, so-named because there is a unique geothermal reservoir of hot water under the sand. At low tide, we’ll grab our shovels and head down to dig our very own hot pools in the sand - the cheapest spa day ever! Meals: Breakfast Bike Rides: 8km scenic road cycling from Hahei Beach to Hot Water Beach camp Walks and Hikes: Stunning coastal walk with views over the Pacific Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking, Hahei Explorer Available Upgrades: Yes

**Hot Water Beach to Rotorua** This morning after breakfast, we'll make our way down to the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsula where we’ll stop at the historic Karangahake Gorge which offers great biking and hiking options through old mining relics. This stunning region combines the natural beauty of the area with some NZ history and is a must-see on the North Island. Afterwards we’ll continue on to Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity, adventure activities and cultural experiences. This evening we’ll set up camp and enjoy a group meal together. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Bike Rides: Karangahake Gorge Walks and Hikes: Stroll through Karangahake Gorge & unique thermal landscapes in Rotorua Optional Activities: Polynesian Spa Available Upgrades: Yes

**Rotorua** Today you have a full day to enjoy everything that Rotorua has to offer. There are heaps of optional activities in Rotorua and something for everyone. If you’re interested in adventure, we recommend the award winning Canopy Tours eco zipline tour, or go white water rafting down the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. If you’d prefer to relax, opt for a healing soak at the Polynesian spa, or if you’d like to explore the natural geothermal features of the area, there's plenty of walks where you can see the activity for free. This evening, we recommend heading to the incredible Te Puia where you'll learn about Maori culture, experience the breathtaking Haka and feast on a traditional Hangi meal. Meals: Breakfast Bike Rides: Whakarewarewa Forest Loop (33 km) Walks and Hikes: Walk through Kuirau Park or the Whakarewarewa Forest to see the towering redwoods Optional Activities: Zipline Canopy Tour, Rotorua Rafting, Te Puia Available Upgrades: Yes

**Rotorua to Tongariro National Park** We begin the day with a drive to visit Wai-o-Tapu bubbling mud, a unique experience not to be missed. Next we’ll stop at the mighty Huka Falls, an impressive waterfall found along the Waikato river. This is also our drop off point for those wanting to go skydiving! If you’re not going skydiving there's a great bike ride to Spa Park along the river's edge - be sure to stop off at the natural hot spring along the way or get an adrenaline buzz from the Taupo bungy which is conveniently located on your way into town. You’ll have some time in Taupo to grab some lunch and check out New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo, before we make our way to Tongariro National Park, where we’ll be spending the night. Meals: Breakfast & Dinner Bike Rides: Huka Falls to Spa Park Walks and Hikes: Walks of various distances past dramatic waterfalls and around Lake Taupo Optional Activities: Skydiving, bungy, giant swing Available Upgrades: Yes

**Tongariro National Park to Foxton Beach/Tongariro Crossing Day** Voted one of the best day hikes in the world, today's 19.4km walk takes in some of New Zealand’s most impressive and diverse landscapes. The challenging Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike covers a small section of the country’s oldest national park and dual UNESCO world heritage area, the Tongariro National Park. On a fine day you’ll be able to see Mt Ruapehu, the North Island's highest peak which stands at a towering 2797 metres. You'll also be able to see Mt Ngauruhoe, which featured in the Lord of the Rings movies as Mount Doom. If you'd prefer not to do this hike, your Guide will take you to see some lesser known but equally stunning views and offer up some cycle options for our bikers. When everyone is back together after the hike we'll make our way to our camp, situated on the beach. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Bike Rides: Marton Sash & Door (if not doing the Tongariro Crossing) Walks and Hikes: Walks of various distances past dramatic waterfalls and around Lake Taupo Optional Activities: Tongariro Alpine Crossing Available Upgrades: Yes

**Foxton Beach to Wellington** This morning we’ll drive down to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand! We'll arrive early, giving you most of the morning to explore. We recommend checking out the exhibits at the famous Te Papa Museum, getting to some Lord of the Rings locations on Mt Victoria or taking the iconic red cable car up to the Botanical Gardens. The capital also boasts a thriving café culture, as Wellington is renowned for serving NZ's best cup of coffee. Meals: Breakfast Bike Rides: n/a Walks and Hikes: n/a Optional Activities: Te Papa National Museum of NZ (free), Cable car Available Upgrades: n/a