3 Day Napier Rotorua Tour
from NZ$569.00 per person twin share

A three day tour from Wellington through the Volcanic Plateau to Auckland. Visit Taupo – the fishing capital of NZ, the art deco city of Napier, the Hawkes Bay wineries, the thermal wonderland of Rotorua and the fairy lights of Waitomo.
 Features –Hawkes Bay vineyard tour,the Maori hangi and concert show in Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves Glow-worm Grotto tour.

Trip Duration:    Three Days
Departing From: Wellington
Finishing At:        Auckland
Car Rental Type: Toyota Echo, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry or 4WD Subaru Legacy

Included in Cost: Complimentary transfer to and from car rental depot, accommodation, half day tour of the Hawkes Bay wineries, Maori hangi and concert with Tamaki Tours, a tour of the world famous Waitomo Caves and hire of a rental car for three days (unlimited kms).

Day 1   Wellington/Taupo - 320 kms    
 Travel north from Wellington to historic Kapiti Coast and then on to Palmerston North – a centre for education. From Palmerston North the road travels through the rugged Manawatu Gorge to rolling farmland of the East Coast. 
   
Accommodation: Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel, Bella Vista Motel or similar

Day 2   Napier/Taupo/Rotorua -  230 kms
This morning we have included a tour of the Hawkes Bay wineries- relax and enjoy. The first sector of your journey today is along Highway 5, a short but winding road to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. Taupo is world renowned for trout fishing and boasts many water sports and popular alpine walks.  From Taupo, head north to Wairakei, centre of geothermal power production in New Zealand. One of New Zealand’s best golf courses is to be found at Wairakei. This afternoon travel through undulating hill country to popular tourist resort of Rotorua.  This evening you will be met by a representative from Tamaki Tours and transferred to a Maori Village for an evening of song and dance and traditional Maori hangi. The hangi is a selection of foods cooked the traditional Maori way in a pit of hot stones.           

Accommodation: Park Heritage Hotel, Accolade Motel or similar

Day 3   Rotorua/Waitomo/Auckland - 350 kms
Leave Rotorua and travel up and over the forested Mamuku Hills to the Waikato noted for its intensive dairy industry.  Follow the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest river and source of numerous hydro-electric dams before leaving the main highway for the Waitomo Caves.  Here you will join a sightseeing tour to view the famous Waitomo Glow Worm Caves.  A guide will take you by small boat through the cave system explaining all the spectacular features of the caves including stalactites, stalagmites and the famed glow-worms.  Your journey this afternoon continues by travelling northward to "Rose Town" Te Awamutu.  We suggest a lunch stop at the Big Apple. Follow along State Highway  3 to Hamilton- this fertile region is famed for dairying and has some of the best known horse studs in New Zealand.  Continuing on, you follow the ancient willow lined Waikato River past Ngaruawahia (home of the Maori Queen), the Huntly Power Station and Meremere coalfield, until the market gardens of Bombay herald the great sprawl of South Auckland some 30 kilometrs from the centre of Auckland central.