10 Day - Essence of New Zealand

Welcome to Auckland “The City of Sails”. After clearing customs and immigration you will be meet and welcomed to New Zealand and privately transfered to your accommodation. Regardless of your landing time, we will guarantee you an early check-in. Developed in Aucklands inner city waterfront for the America's Cup challenge, the Viaduct Harbour is a lively centre for Auckland's cafe culture and when the sun goes down the partying begins in the numerous up market bars and restaurants to indulge. City Tour: This afternoon, after settling in, relax and take in the sites with a private sightseeing tour around our vibrant city.

Two Nights Accommodation at Hotel de Brett in Auckland city. This property offers a truly boutique small hotel experience in the heart of Auckland City, it links two unique precincts - High Street's hip fashion and Shortland Street's tailored commerce. Hotel DeBrett's iconic building has been stylishly reinterpreted into a 25-room boutique hotel.

After a leisurely breakfast and a stroll along the local beaches, we travel on to Auckland, the 'City of Sails', New Zealand's largest and most vibrant offering an exciting array of cosmopolitan experiences.

Some sightseeing and activity options available:

After a lisurely breakfast make your way down to the Pier and board the ferry bound for Waiheke Island. Cruise down the beautiful Auckland harbour past Browns Island, Motutapu and Motuihe Islands and onto the tranquil island of Waiheke (The name means "Cascading Waters" in Maori).

Waiheke Island is an eclectic mix of cultures, activities, vineyards, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, beautiful beaches, scenic walking tracks and much, much more. It’s a perfect relaxing, romantic escape; family holiday at the beach or weekend away. There are many outdoor activities and plenty to see and do, no matter what your interests or energy levels.

Some sightseeing and activity options available:

Two Nights Accommodation at Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island. This unique haven offers luxury accommodation that will allow your senses to awaken to the ultimate in relaxation and romance. Waiheke Island is renowned for its diversions from city life. Island life means beaches, golf, horseback riding, arts and crafts shops, bars, cafés, restaurants, world-renowned vineyards and olive-groves.

Today enjoy a private wine/sightseeing tour of Waiheke Island. Since the late 1970's Waiheke's benign Mediterranean climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy, yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. The big Bordeaux-style reds of Stony Ridge, Goldwater Estate and Peninsula Estate are now appreciated by wine lovers all over the world, and more than 30 vineyards have followed in the footsteps of the original three. You can visit these and several others including Kennedy Point Vineyard, Te Whau Vineyard where you can have lunch and sample some of the owner's 500+ classic and local vintages enjoying 3 course lunch at Mudbrick Restaurant.

After a leisurely breakfast, your helicopter will reveal the full magnificence of the island dotted Hauraki Gulf before encountering the Coromandel Peninsula. From the air, the hidden coves, isolated beaches and native forests allows one to understand why New Zealanders treasure this place.  The Coromandel Peninsula lies east of Auckland, on the other side of the Hauraki Gulf.  The coastal nature of the Coromandel makes it a brilliant choice if you like to fish, surf, dive, snorkelling, swim or wander along beaches. For contrast you can head for the hills and hike the trails in the forest.

Soak at Hot Water Beach: The natural upwelling of geothermal hot water rising from deep below the sand makes this spot famous. Dig a hole in the sand when the tide is low, then allow the hot springs to work their limb-soothing magic while the cool waves of the Pacific Ocean invigorate you.  Why not enjoy it with a glass of wine as the sunsets on the horizon!

Two Nights Accommodation at the Hahei Oceanfront on the Coromandel. This luxury hosted accommodation is located between two of the Coromandel Peninsula’s top natural attractions, the world-renowned Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.  This house has been designed to offer boutique luxury accommodation to the world’s most discerning travellers.

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. But for those not wanting to just sit on the beach, there is a range of interesting activities to do.

Some sightseeing and activity options available:

You’ll depart the Coromandel Peninsula by float plane and enjoy the view as you soar towards Mt Tarawera. When it erupted it created an 8km long volcanic rift along its summit – the magnitude of which is only fully appreciated when viewed from above. Fly over Mt. Tarawera’s Crater Rift and wonder at the massive destruction caused by the eruption, landing on the spectacular Lake Tarawera outside your accommodation - Solitaire Lodge and belch, and warm geothermal pools and ponds and hot spring bath’s that create a kaleidoscope of colour.

Sightseeing and activity options include:

One Nights Accommodation at Solitaire Lodge, Lake Tarawera. Nestled on an exclusive and privately-owned peninsula on the shores of Lake Tarawera with stunning lake and mountain views and award-winning service. This lodge has been a favourite of the most discerning for decades. 

Impressive is the word best used to describe Lake Taupo, after all, it is the biggest Volcanic Crater in the World! Your guide will fill you in on the area’s turbulent history as you absorb the scenery.  Lake Taupo is the Biggest Volcanic Crater in the World, at 622 sq km it is set amidst clean, green countryside, spectacular mountain scenery, beautiful native bush and some of the largest pine forests in the Southern Hemisphere. Thermal activity in this region includes natural hot pools and springs, steaming craters and boiling mud pools. Taupo is the North Island adventure equivalent of Queenstown!

Two Nights Accommodation at Clarion Suites Sacred Waters in Taupo. These luxurious waterfront apartments are located overlooking the crystal clear waters of Lake Taupo. The apartments design features exude a modern 'global' combination of luxury, comfort and style. Its architecture is timeless and its interior style demonstrates exceptional flair and panache. Amenities and features include:  in-room hot thermal plunge pools and a lap pool and exercise room.

Some sightseeing and activity options available are:

'Haere koe ki raro, ka mihi ki Aotearoa.

'Return home and you will sigh for New Zealand.'

Please take the time to view our “Virtual Tour” for the 10 Day Essence  or download/print the detailed “Tour Dossier”. Both can be found on the right hand column of this page. Alternatively you can simply contact us. For a comprehensive list of all activities available in each location featured in this tour, please refer to the "Destination Guide" found at the top of this page.