12-Day Self-Drive North Island Highlights

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A private guided Waiheke Island food and wine tour is planned for you today. Your tour guide will pick you up and take you around the island. You will visit an award-winning olive oil mill, followed by two vineyards, each offering a range of gourmet tastes to accompany their wines. Treats may include oysters straight from Te Matuku Bay, wild honey, the famous local green herb spread and artisan cheeses. Your guide will provide an entertaining and informative commentary along the way.

Today you'll leave this beautiful island. Your hosts will drive you down to the ferry terminal where you will catch the ferry back to downtown Auckland. A taxi driver will pick you up at the ferry terminal and take you to the rental car depot. After everything is sorted your tour continues to the Coromandel Peninsula. From your accommodation's hilltop location, the jaw-dropping views encompass Tairua Estuary, Pauanui, Slipper Island and the Pacific Ocean.

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Today is free to spend as you wish. A worthwhile visit is the Hot Water Beach, where you can dig your own "nature spa pool" and relax in the hot water. You can also explore the impressive Cathedral Cove by boat, kayak or on foot. This rock formation on a white sandy beach was also one of the backdrops of the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. You can also take a ride on New Zealand's only narrow-gauge railway, which takes you over viaducts and through beautiful scenery.

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The Coromandel Peninsula is a beautiful area that extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, with cool forests, picturesque beaches, rugged coastlines and swimming holes. Dense rainforest occupies much of the peninsula. Around the island, there are waterfalls, beaches, forest trails to be found. While exploring the island, you can venture to the hot springs, providing evidence of the island's volcanoes some million years ago.

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Today, you'll leave the peninsula and head south towards Rotorua. It is recommended that you make a stopover in Matamata to discover the true Middle-earth. During a two-hour guided tour, you can visit the film set 'Hobbiton' of the "Lord of the Rings" and the "Hobbit" trilogies, which you might better know as "Shire". Afterwards, you'll continue onwards to Rotorua. This region is not only the centre of Maori culture but also famous for its geothermal activity.

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Today, you'll head out on a private Te Puia tour. You will come face to face with the biggest, active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere Pōhutu Geyser, jumping mud pools and live kiwi birds in their brand new Kiwi Conservation Centre. Your tour also includes a traditionally cooked steam box lunch to enjoy in front of Pohutu Geyser. The rest of the day is at your leisure; take a helicopter flight with Volcanic Air, or take a short walk through the Redwoods Forest.

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Today, you will be travelling through an important forestry area on your way to the Taupo. You are passing a few more geothermal parks which are worth a visit. Before entering Taupo, you can make a stop at the picturesque, fast-flowing Huka Falls. Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and of volcanic origin. This is the oldest of the New Zealand national parks consists of a grand volcanic mountain landscape. You will be spending the next two nights in a very unique accommodation.

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Today you will explore the beautiful landscape of the Tongariro National Park on a half-day guided tour. When possible, your guide will start the tour on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and head up to Soda Springs before returning to the start. Other popular Tongariro sites which could be included in the four-hour tour include Lake Rotopounamu, Taranaki Falls, Silica Rapids, Soda Springs, Pukeonake, Whakapapanui River, Tawhai falls and Meads Wall.

Today, your New Zealand adventure continues southwards through the fertile farmlands of Levin to Wellington. New Zealand's capital lies partially on reclaimed land at the harbour and the steep hillsides adjacent to the Cook Strait. Wellington has been the capital city since 1865 and such is also the country’s political centre. You'll have the rest of the day free to explore once you arrive in the city.

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Today is free to explore Wellington as you wish. You can undertake a city sightseeing tour and drive to Mount Victoria from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. The top of the cable car, running from Lambton Quay, also gives a fine close-up view of the city. A cycle tour on an e-bike or a guided food tour through Wellington's hidden gems is also another great way to see the city. These tours can be arranged for you if you wish.