| 1 |
Auckland - PaihiaAfter crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge we head north to the Bay of Islands. This morning’s drive is all about getting you to this amazing part of the New Zealand - full of culture, beaches and history. We pass through Whangarei where you should consider hopping off the bus and heading out to Tutukaka if you fancy some world class diving amongst the Poor Knights Islands. These islands have World Heritage status, spectacular drop offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels. All inhabited by an amazing array of underwater life. Before you settle into ‘Bay life’, we first take you to Waitangi for a panoramic look over the beautiful Bay of Islands. We strongly recommend those interested in the Maori culture and the history of New Zealand visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the birthplace of our nation. Your afternoon is free so why not try one of the fabulous boating options such as parasailing, fishing or taking a cruise out to the Hole in the Rock (with the chance to swim with the dolphins!). If you have no plans for the evening, check out the recommended Culture North night show. If you have more time available then you should consider The Rock overnight cruise which should not be missed! Approximate arrival time into Paihia is 12pm. |
|---|---|
| 2 |
Paihia - AucklandThis is one of Magic's most unique days. We travel from Paihia across country to Opononi, a lovely town on the edges of the Hokianga Harbour. Opononi faces the impressive Hokianga sand dunes – where we will encourage you to try your hand at sandboarding – an exhilarating activity to help wake you up. Magic strongly recommends you overnight in Opononi to take advantage of the celebrated 'Footprints Waipoua', one of 82 Lonely Planet 'Experiences of a Lifetime'. Later in the morning we head deep into the Waipoua Forest where you will not only get the chance to stretch your legs but also get up-close to Tane Mahuta, ‘God of the Forest’; This giant Kauri tree, estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years old, is very important in Maori mythology. |
| 3 |
Auckland - Hobbiton Movie Set - RotoruaFor many Magic Travellers this is the start of your New Zealand adventure and what a great day we have in store for you. First up we take you on a short scenic drive through Auckland city, locally known as the City of Sails. After taking in some stunning panoramas, we travel southeast over the Bombay Hills and out onto the Hauraki Plains. We will then cross the new Kopu bridge and stop into Thames. Thames is the starting point for any passengers heading off to one of New Zealand's best regional destinations - the Coromandel Peninsula.
From Thames we continue onto Paeroa, where can you grab a bottle of New Zealand’s most famous drink; Lemon and Paeroa (also known as L&P). We’ll then give you a chance pose for a group photo with the world famous (in NZ) giant L&P bottle. At 7 metres high, the bottle is a permanent reminder of the therapeutic Paeroa Springs water discovered before 1900, which, with the addition of a squeeze of lemon, became known as New Zealand’s national soft drink.
After we leave Paeroa, we head into the spa town of Te Aroha, which translates from Maori to English as ‘The place of love’. Jump off and spend the night here if you want to climb Mount Te Aroha or relax in hot soda springs to ease away any aches and pains.
Our next stop will be where we will at the Shires Rest near Matamata - home of the now world famous Hobbiton movie set. This stop will have you immersed in stunning New Zealand farmland and overlooking the rugged Kaimai Ranges. This is your chance to eat lunch and relax, feed the friendly sheep, get involved in some sheep shearing and even try authentic Lord of the Rings beer! Hop off the bus and do a tour of set as seen in The Lord of the Rings movies and the upcoming movie; The Hobbit. The detail of the set is amazing and is like stepping into a new world.
After leaving The Shires Rest we will give you the opportunity to take part in a truly unique New Zealand activity; OGO. The OGO is a 3 metre (11 foot) transparent sphere constructed from over 100 square metres (300 square feet) of plastic. It;s pumped full of air to make a beautiful big ball that you can jump inside and tumble down a hill. OGO Rotorua provides your very own play-paddock where you can spend the afternoon rolling down our purpose built 250 meter long tracks. You can OGO solo or as a double or triple! If you’re the adventurous type you should definitely try the Fishpipe! If you didn’t come prepared with towels and a change of clothes these can be provided by the OGO team too.
To end your day on the bus we’ll take you into our overnight destination of Rotorua. Rotorua is a mind blowing town where Maori culture and thermal activity combine to make an incredibly unique destination. Upon arrival, take a deep breath and the smell of Rotorua will fill your nostrils…. beware it does resemble the smell of rotten eggs! The dense sulphur deposits all over the city provide this pungent aroma. Look out for steam rising from the ground on a scenic tour of the city via Government Gardens and Lake Rotorua. This will be followed by experiencing a heartfelt cultural welcome to the area at the Realm of Tane, which will take you on a short journey through Maori culture, mythology and stories. This evening, make sure you take the opportunity to try a superb Tamaki Maori Hangi (dinner) and Concert – a true New Zealand experience that shouldn’t be missed!! We recommend you spend more than one night in Rotorua as there is so much to do in this exceptional place; including volunteering in the Magic Forest, epic whitewater rafting down the Kaituna River or relaxing in hot pools – you will also have a chance to do all of these activities tomorrow as we do not leave Rotorua until 11.30am (please note pick up times). Approximate arrival into Rotorua is 4pm. |
| 4 |
Rotorua - TaupoToday we depart Rotorua beginning our pickups at 11.15am – giving you a great chance to indulge in some more activities such as gondola rides, riding luges or off-road driving. This morning will really make you fall in love with what Rotorua has to offer you
This morning also gives you the chance to hop on the Geyserlink shuttle and head out to the spectacular Wai-O-Tapu geothermal wonderland, famous for vivid mud pools and the Lady Knox Geyser. The Geyserlink shuttle will allow you time to see the Lady Knox geyser which erupts at 10.15am everyday of the year like clockwork, shooting jets of water reaching up to 20 meters and lasting for over an hour. You will also have plenty of time to wander around the park and see the other thermal wonders including the Champagne Pool. If you do choose to take the Geyserlink shuttle the Magic bus will pick you up from Wai-O-Tapu before we continue onto Taupo and our next incredible stop - the mighty Huka Falls. The falls throw over 200,000 litres of water a second into the river below. Those in for an adrenaline rush you will have the chance to try out the Huka Jet boat on the Waikato River. Ride up to the base of the falls or if you want you can even Bungy jump above them.
For those wanting to experience one of the best thrills in NZ, Taupo is one of the most amazing places in New Zealand to skydive. From 15,000 feet you can even see both coasts of the North Island. If you are not partaking in these adrenaline activities we continue into the town, situated on the edge of a lake bigger than the entire country of Singapore. In true Kiwi fashion all this water means there are heaps of things to do. Make sure you spend two nights here if you can to enjoy all the activities available. The nightlife in Taupo is outstanding, with many bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from. Approximate arrival time in Taupo is 2.30pm. |
| 5 |
Taupo - AucklandToday you'll travel back to Auckland on Intercity, enjoying the sights of the Waikato region on the way. Your tour concludes on arrival in Auckland. |
| Holiday Pricing | Share Twin | Single |
|---|---|---|
| per person | $669.00 | $969.00 |
|
Rates valid until 30 September 2012. |
||
