10 day - North Island - Relaxation and Romance

Day 1: Auckland

Spend the afternoon getting to know the vibrant “city of sails”. Work as a team of two on the grinders of an America’s Cup yacht, or just relax with the cityscape passing by in the distance. Or you might want to take the afternoon to taste your way around Auckland on a gourmet food tour. End the day with dinner at one of the city’s many date-worthy restaurants in the Wynyard Quarter, the Viaduct or Britomart.

Recommended activities:

• Work as a team on an America's Cup sailing experience
• Indulge in a gourmet food tour of the "culinary gem" of the South Pacific
• Enjoy a breath-taking dining experience at the Sugar Club, at the top of the iconic SkyTower.
•  Watch the sun set over the city from Maungawhau (Mount Eden), an ancient volcano and Auckland’s highest natural landmark.

Day 2: Auckland – Waiheke Island – Auckland

Explore Waiheke Island, a relaxing haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and beaches. On a private tour, enjoy succulent fresh oysters and other local produce, accompanied by wines from some of Waiheke’s top boutique vineyards. Or visit an artist’s studio or sculpture park, before taking a stroll through native forest.

Recommended activities:

• Explore Waiheke Island on a private tour
• Impress your loved one with a helicopter ride to Waiheke – land like a VIP at a vineyard for a romantic lunch.
• Choose from one of the island's many accommodation options and stay the night

Day 3: Auckland – Whitianga

Pick up a rental car and journey south to the Coromandel. Cloaked in sub-tropical rainforest with dazzling white sand beaches, it is rustic, unspoiled and relaxed. Discover the world-famous Cathedral Cove by kayak or glass-bottom boat. At nearby Hot Water Beach, dig you own private hot pool using the natural hot springs that bubble up through the sand.

Recommended activities:

• Dig your own private hot pool at Hot Water Beach
• Discover Cathedral Cove by kayak or glass-bottom boat
• Visit The Lost Spring in Whitianga for relaxing hot pools, spa treatments and a poolside cocktail service.
• Voted one of the top 20 beaches in the world, secluded New Chum Beach is only accessible on foot, but worth every step.

Day 4: Whitianga - Tauranga

Head south to Tauranga, home to the “best beach in New Zealand” as crowned by TripAdvisor. Learn more about this sunny city with a tour of Mount Maunganui. The walking tracks to the top of the extinct volcano provide 360-degree views of the Bay of Plenty. As night falls, kayak under the stars into an enchanting glow worm canyon on Lake McLaren.
 

Recommended activities:

• Take a tour of extinct volcano Mount Maunganui
• Kayak into a glowworm canyon
• Get out on the water to spot dolphins, whales, sharks and other sealife on a wildlife cruise.

Day 5: Tauranga - Rotorua

Start your day with a drive to the heart of New Zealand’s geothermal action. Rotorua’s bubbling mud pools and spouting geysers pulse with the earth’s energy and are a sight to behold. See what lies beneath on a walk through a secluded volcanic valley. Spend a romantic evening soaking in a private natural hot pool.

Recommended activities:

• Walk through a secluded volcanic landscape at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
•  Soak in natural hot pools
• Take a break at Okere Falls en route to Rotorua – grab a picnic at the local deli and walk the short track through native forest, offering great views of thundering waterfalls.
• Be moved by a Māori cultural performance, featuring a pōwhiri (traditional welcome) and intimate concert.

Day 6: Rotorua

Slow down, connect with nature and “bath” in the Whakarewarewa Forest, where a network of trails winds through towering Californian Redwoods. Walk or mountain bike among these mighty giants, or get a bird’s eye view on a treetop canopy walk. Take a boat trip to Mokoia Island on Lake Rotorua – get an insight into Māori culture as you hear the moving love story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

Recommended activities:

• Walk among the canopies of giant Redwoods 
•  Paddle board along the shores of Rotorua's many lakes
• Escape to intimate surrounds in nature at luxury lodge Treetops

Day 7: Rotorua - Taupō

A short drive from Rotorua, Taupō is home to a vast lake, ancient forests, steaming geothermal zones and snow-blanketed mountains. Take a jet boat or cruise right up to the raging Huka Falls, then view the impressive Māori rock carvings on a sunset cruise or kayak. Enjoy a soak in some natural hot pools this evening.

Recommended activities:

• Take a jet boat or cruise right up to the Huka Falls
• View the Māori rock carvings on a sunset cruise or kayak
• Enjoy a soak in some natural hot pools
• Escape into nature together and walk the Huka Falls Walkway, a scenic trail along the clear Waikato River.

 

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Day 8: Taupō - Napier

Head towards the coast to Napier, the first stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Hawke’s Bay is among New Zealand’s leading producers of wine (notably full-bodied reds and rich chardonnays), as well as excellent fresh produce. It is also a hub of Art Deco design and architecture – explore the town on a guided walk or in a vintage car before enjoying a progressive three-course dinner at the region’s top wineries and restaurants.

Recommended activities:

• Explore Napier's Art Deco architecture on a guided tour 
• Enjoy a progressive dining experience at some of New Zealand's top vineyards
• For a wildlife encounter visit nearby Cape Kidnappers, home to the world’s largest mainland gannet colony.

Day 9: Napier - Martinborough

Follow the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail south today. Known for its carefully restored Victorian buildings, antique stores and artisan food offerings, historic Greytown is a great place to stop for a wander. Spend the afternoon cycling around Martinborough’s 20 plus wineries and olive groves, most within walking distance of the village square.

Recommended activities:

• Wander through historic Greytown 
• Cycle the vines in Martinborough 
• See the world's only white kiwi in captivity at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre

Day 10: Martinborough - Wellington

After a short drive over the Remutaka mountain range, arrive in Wellington. Ride the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens with a picnic for views over the capital city. Listen to a bird concert or spot a kiwi at dusk in Zealandia, a safe haven for rare wildlife. Enjoy a romantic meal at one of Wellington’s top restaurants before flying out the following day.

Recommended activities:

• Ride the Wellington cable car 
• Go wildlife spotting at Zealandia 
• Wine and dine in the finest restaurants 
• Take a self-guided tour of the craft beer capital