Northbound 4 day Napier, Rotorua & Waitomo Experience

Wellington City is New Zealand's capital. It sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (only around 1 square kilometre) and so exploring on foot is relatively easy. From your city centre accommodation you can easily stroll the cafes and restaurants around Courtenay Place and if you arrive early enough New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is also close by.

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Wellington train station to meet your Intercity Coach.

Follow the Kāpiti Coast north from Wellington, then into the rural countryside of the Manawatu region.  Passing through the university city of Palmerston North, you are then guided through the Manawatu Gorge and into the countryside of the Hawkes Bay, towards the city of Napier. Napier, the city by the sea, is renowned for its 1930s Art Deco architecture, events such as the Art Deco Weekend in February, stately Norfolk pines, surrounding wineries and local fresh produce. Supported by a Mediterranean climate and over 2,200 hours of sunshine a year this popular year-round destination boasts a vibrant cafe culture amongst the splendour of the Art Deco buildings.

You will be collected from Napier coach depot and transferred to your accommodation.

This 2 1/2 hour tour takes in all the history, from early settlement, through to the huge 1931 earthquake and the rebuilding of the City to the Art Deco Capital of the World to what it is today. You also visit the historic area of Ahuriri, National Tobacco Building and the famous Mission Estate Winery. As you return to Napier City, you will also tour an Art Deco Housing Estate. Experience many stops for photos from lookouts to famous landmarks etc. This is a compact tour, it is really for those that are spending the one night here in Napier and still wish to see the City highlights.

You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Napier Intercity coach stop.

You journey from Napier takes you across the Ahimanawa Ranges into the town of Taupō sitting on New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupō. The lake itself is actually a gigantic volcanic caldera formed during one of the world's largest ever eruptions. Continuing the last leg to Rotorua you pass alongside some of the most active geothermal regions such as Wai O Tapu and Waimangu Valley. Arriving into the city of Rotorua the region's geothermal activity becomes evident as you see steam rising from the roadside and hills. Rotorua is considered the Māori cultural centre and its here you can enjoy and experience some of their unique history. The Rotorua Museum is outstanding and one of its main displays covers the devastating eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. One of the most popular introductions for many to the Māori culture is through an evening cultural performance and traditional hāngi dinner.

You will be collected from Intercity Depot and transferred to your accommodation.
Please note that this is a shared transfer, there may be 2-3 extra stops along the way.

An evening at Mitai will give you an awe-inspiring introduction to the indigenous Maori culture. Marvel at the beautiful bush setting and see warriors in traditional dress who paddle an ancient warrior canoe (waka) down the Wai-o-whiro stream while trout and eels swim beneath the surface. Enjoy a traditionally cooked hangi meal and round your evening off with a spectacular cultural performance that tells the story of the Maori people, their past, carvings, and ta Moko -Tattoo art. Be captivated by the displays of weaponry and combat and be amazed by the spine tingling Haka finale. Truly an experience to remember.

You will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Rotorua Intercity Coach Depot.

Enjoy this tour from Rotorua to Auckland including a guided tour of the fascinating Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Leaving Rotorua in the morning you travel through lush farmland including the intriguing Fitzgerald Glade where the roadside trees arch overhead to form a tunnel of natural greenery. On arrival in the small town of Waitomo enjoy a guided tour through the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. You finish the tour with a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - a subterranean cavern lit up by the lights of thousands of tiny glowworms. At the conclusion of the Glowworm Cave tour we take a break at the magnificent Waitomo Caves visitor complex and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch. You continue this afternoon by driving to Auckland, through the beautiful King Country and Waikato regions.