New Zealand Vacations

Adventure Vacations 1

Day 1. Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula. (164 km/102 miles – 2 hours 30 minutes). Depart Auckland and travel the Pacific Coast Highway touring route to the Coromandel Peninsula. The Coromandel's dramatic and unspoiled coast, and beautiful white sandy beaches, offer endless opportunities for fishing, diving, boating, surfing and swimming. Pauanui or Whitianga (2 nights).

Day 2. Coromandel at leisure. Enjoy the unique experience of Hot Water Beach where at low tide you can dig in the sand, allowing the sulphur-heated waters to rise to the top to create your very own thermal spa. Swim with dolphins, hire a kayak and explore the many offshore islands or simply let the azure water lap at your feet and marvel at the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

Day 3. Coromandel Peninsula to Tauranga. (166 km/103 miles – 2 hours 30 minutes). Continuing down the Pacific Coast Highway, sapphire waters and white sand beaches will give way to lush farmland and orchards of the Bay of Plenty. Enjoy the beautiful harbour of Tauranga and the white sand beaches of Mount Maunganui. Tauranga (1 night)

Day 4. Tauranga to Whakatane. (97 km/60 miles – 1 hour 15 minutes). Further down the Pacific Coast Highway is Whakatane, gateway to one of the most accessible active volcanoes. Whakatane (2 nights)

Day 5. Whakatane at leisure. Whakatane is one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand. Just offshore is White Island, a spectacular active volcano that can be visited by launch or helicopter. Other Whakatane attractions include the museum, an observatory and Maori historical sites. In summer, dolphin swimming is the thing to do.

Day 6. Whakatane to Gisborne. (262 km/163 miles – 3 hours 30 minutes). Further down the Pacific Coast Highway the coastal landscape is untamed and wild. You can lose yourself in the hills and valleys, and renew your inner peace on the beautifully natural beaches. Gisborne (1 night)

Day 7. Gisborne to Napier. (216 km/134 miles – 3 hours). From here you enter more breathtaking scenery as you travel your final leg on this highway to Hawke's Bay Wine Country. Basking in a Mediterranean climate, the Hawke's Bay region is known for its wine, food and fabulous scenery. Over 30 vineyards offer visitors a wine tasting and indoor/ outdoor dining experience. Napier and Hastings, the two main centres in the region, have a high concentration of Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the many vineyards and wonderful restaurants in the area. Napier (1 night)

Day 8. Napier to Taupo. (143 km/89 miles – 2 hours). Depart Napier for a journey through to the Lake Taupo region. Taupo is the main centre of the region and Lake Taupo is one of the North Islands most popular holiday destinations. Taupo (1 night)

Day 9. Taupo to Rotorua. (80 km/50 miles – 1 hour 15 minutes). Depart Taupo for a short journey to Rotorua, famous for its spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools and warm geothermal ponds. Rotorua (2 nights)

Day 10. Rotorua at leisure. As the spiritual home to the Maori and host to some of the worlds most incredible earth forces, there is plenty to see and do here with its steamy thermal attractions and fascinating cultural experiences.

Day 11. Rotorua to Auckland. (234 km/145 miles – 3 hours 30 minutes). Today head across to the Waitomo Caves district is famous for its subterranean splendour. Beneath the surface of this limestone region is a series of vast cave systems decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and glow-worms. Continue on to Auckland. Auckland (1 night)

Day 12. Depart Auckland. Return your rental car and depart Auckland for your onward destination.

Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252

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