Inspiring Journeys
The Endless Shores
8 Day | Wellington to Auckland
Travel Period
Embrace the traditional greeting of your Māori hosts, whose relationship with this unspoilt land is revealed on this journey. Experience natural wonders, from the luminous glowworms of the Footwhistle Cave and the native forest redwood giants, to the fantasy-land of The Lord of the Rings 'Shire'.
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$3866
Above lowest price is based on 2024-02-09 departure
$4976
Above lowest price is based on 2024-02-09 departure
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Trip Details
What's included
- • Small group (16 guests max)• 7+ Unforgettable experiences• 12 included meals• 7 Nights premium accommodation
- • Small group (16 guests max)• 7+ Unforgettable experiences• 13 included meals• 7 Nights premium accommodation
Dining
- • 1 Welcome Reception
- • 7 Full Breakfasts
- • 2 Local Dining Experiences
- • 1 Dinner with Wine
- • 1 Lunch
- • 1 Celebration Dinner
Flight Information
- NZNI: WELLINGTON TO AUCKLANDFlights are not included in holiday price.Flight Information:Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 4.00pm into Wellington AirportDay 8 – flights to depart anytime from Auckland Airport
Return airport to hotel transfers are included in the holiday price
What to Bring
- • Warm layers in cooler months
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
Fitness Requirements
Low level of fitness required.
Itinerary
The Endless Shores (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2025)
Upon arrival at Wellington Airport you’ll be transferred to your hotel by private car. Spend some time at leisure to relax or explore on your own. This evening, join your Journey Director for a Welcome Reception, followed by dinner.
Hotel:
QT Wellington
Included Meals:
Welcome Reception
Discover Wellington your way. You could visit the urban eco-sanctuary of Zealandia/Te Māra a Tāne, home to some of New Zealand's most rare and extraordinary wildlife. Go on a guided city walking tour around Wellington or explore the country’s fascinating culture, nature, heritage and art at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand.
Hotel:
QT Wellington
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Travel through the dairy farming land of Manawatu to Napier in Hawke’s Bay. This evening, enjoy dinner with wine at Craggy Range winery, in the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak. Spend the evening in your accommodation surrounded by the area’s majestic hills.
Hotel:
Porters Boutique Hotel
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Local Dining Experience
Relive the glamour and style of the jazz era with a luxurious vintage car tour. Your driver will provide fascinating commentary as you are driven in style through Napier and surrounding areas. You’ll learn about the earthquake that destroyed the city in 1931 and hear stories of the people that led the rebuild of Napier in the Art Deco style.
Hotel:
Porters Boutique Hotel
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Enjoy a leisurely start before continuing the journey to Rotorua. This afternoon you will have a guided cultural Eco-tour of Whirinaki Forest. Armed with a packed lunch and with your local expert guide discover this vast, Jurassic, podocarp rain forest on a guided cultural walking tour, including Rongoa trail, rakau rangatira, history, possibly sight some native and endangered birds, whakatauki, forest bathing and hot kawakawa tea to end.
Hotel:
Pullman Rotorua
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Ascending to the breathtaking Redwoods Treewalk, enjoy an elevated bird’s eye view of the 120-year-old redwood giants and view the beautiful surrounds of the forest from a unique perspective. Next stop is the
National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, the national leader in kiwi husbandry, and learn about their kiwi hatchery programme that is proudly supported by TreadRight. Tonight, visit Te Pā Tū Māori Experience. Tū Te Rā is celebration of the abundant harvest of this season, and explores concepts, rituals, and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine. Enjoy a forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and complementary chef choice aperitif, and a seasonal three-course dinner.
Hotel:
Pullman Rotorua
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Local Dining Experience
Make your way to the famous Caveworld Waitomo for an exclusive 5-star Eco Glowworm experience. Your guide sets the scene for a cave experience where you will see glowworms, cave formations and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave. Later, travel through the dairy farming district of Waikato, and on to Auckland. This evening, toast your tour together at a Celebration Dinner.
Hotel:
QT Auckland
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Celebration Dinner
Say farewell to your fellow travellers as your Inspiring Journey comes to an end and we transfer you by private car to Auckland Airport for your onward flight.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
The Endless Shores
8 Day
Wellington to Auckland
Embrace the traditional greeting of your Māori hosts, whose relationship with this unspoilt land is revealed on this journey. Experience natural wonders, from the luminous glowworms of the Footwhistle Cave and the native forest redwood giants, to the fantasy-land of The Lord of the Rings 'Shire'.
Highlights
Indulge
In the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak, enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at Craggy Range winery in Hawke's Bay, a region blessed with fertile soils.
Explore
Walk high among giant 120 year old Redwood trees, and discover the luminous shimmer of the breathtaking Waitomo Glowworm Grotto.
Relax
Cruise the streets of New Zealand's Art Deco capital in style in the comfort of a luxurious vintage car driven by your expert guide.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Day 1 - QT Wellington
90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Surprise yourself at QT Wellington, a significant fusion of expressive and luxurious art, technology and indulgence. Loosely based in the new creative capital of the South, QT Wellington is a warm invitation to explore and define one of New Zealand’s most eclectic collections of art and character.
Features
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant and In Room Dining
- 24-hour front desk
- Non-smoking rooms
- Swimming Pool
- Gym facilities
1/4
Day 3 - Porters Boutique Hotel
4 Te Aute Rd, Havelock North 4130, New Zealand
Step into a world of luxury, comfort, and relaxation. Nestled in the heart of the charming Havelock North village and surrounded by the majestic hills of Hawke’s Bay, Porters Boutique Hotel offers unique luxury accommodation. Relax in elegantly appointed guest rooms, complete with plush, classic furnishings and adorned with original local artwork. Enjoy attentive luxury service and full amenities within a stylish, intimate space that reflects the beauty and grandeur of the breathtaking Hawke’s Bay region.
Features
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- TV
- Desk & chair
2/4
Day 5 - Pullman Rotorua
Arawa Street
Pullman Rotorua is expected to be popular with international and domestic business and leisure travellers, due to its exclusive 5-star offering and prime central CBD location and within 500metres from the Rotorua lakefront.
3/4
Day 7 - QT Auckland
4 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Westhaven, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Find yourself in the heart of the extraordinary. Welcome to your time to shine. Drumroll please. The heart is beating, and we’re dancing to our own tune. With a glint in the eye, we’re serving shoreline shimmer. The waterfront beckons and the bar is set for self-discovery. Here we make space to celebrate individual style and unearth hidden treasures.
Features
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant and In Room Dining
- Gym facilities
- Non-smoking rooms
- 24-hour front desk
4/4
Optional Experiences
Please note, prices for Optional Experiences are subject to change.
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Experiences for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The experiences can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Weta Workshop - There and Back Again Guided Tour (Wellington)
NZ$89 Adult NZ$55 Child
This movie-based experience provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of Weta Workshop, the home of the special effects wizards whose work features in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies. The tour invites you to view the creative processes of a Weta technician and to touch, feel, and hold real props, weapons and models from the films the creative Weta team have worked on. Return transfers from the Wellington i-Site are included.
Zealandia (Wellington)
Adult: $60.00NZD
Child: $30.00NZD
ZEALANDIA has some of the most unique biodiversity and advanced conservation techniques in the world. Join an experienced guide on an engaging and informative walk through the picturesque sanctuary to witness the native wildlife that is once again living on the mainland. With everything in ZEALANDIA living wild, nature-guru guides use their knowledge of birdsong, habitats, and local flora to track down even the rarest of our unique animals.
Trip Details
What's included
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Journey Director and Driver Guide
- Local Specialists (Guides)
- Mixture of boutique, unique and 5-star hotels
Dining
- • 7 Full Breakfasts
- • 2 Dinners with Wine
- • 2 Highlight Dinners
- • 1 Celebration Dinner
Flight Information
- Day 1: Flights to arrive by 4:00pm into Wellington Airport
What to Bring
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
Fitness Requirements
- •
Itinerary
The Endless Shores (Travel Period: 01 Oct 2023 – 31 Mar 2024)
Upon arrival at Wellington Airport you'll be transferred to your hotel. Spend some time at leisure to relax or explore on your own. This evening, join your Journey Director for a Welcome Reception, followed by dinner
Hotel:
QT Wellington,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Dinner with Wine
Today see Wellington your way! Perhaps visit Weta Workshop, home to the creative wizards behind ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogies or learn about New Zealand history and culture on a visit to Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand. Your Journey Director can assist in booking your optional experience.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Continue north today, travelling through the dairy farming land of Manawatu to Napier in Hawkes Bay. Tonight, enjoy dinner with wine matching at Craggy Range Winery, one of the regions world famous wineries situated in the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak.
Hotel:
Porters Boutique Hotel,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Enjoy a relaxed start before we venture out to explore the Hawkes Bay region. Relive the glamour and style of the jazz era with a luxurious vintage car tour. Your driver will provide a fascinating commentary as you are driven in style, through Art Deco Napier and surrounding areas. You’ll learn about the earthquake that destroyed the city, hear stories of the people that led the rebuild, and discover the Art Deco style. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Enjoy a leisurely start before continuing the journey to Rotorua. This afternoon visit Waimangu Volcanic Valley where you will connect with the beating heart of the world’s youngest geothermal valley, it’s unique history and legacy. Along the guided walk you’ll experience geothermal activity, hot springs, volcanic craters, nature and wildlife. Followed by a relaxing 45-minute cruise around the tranquil waters of Lake Rotomahana see stunning geothermal activity only accessible by boat as well as rare native birdlife. Immerse in the stories of the Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption and the resulting dramatic landscape changes that created this amazing part of the world.
Hotel:
Pullman Rotorua,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Ascending to the breathtaking Redwoods Treewalk, enjoy an elevated bird’s eye view of the 115-year-old redwood giants and the beautiful surrounds of the forest from a unique perspective. Next stop is Rainbow Springs Nature Park for a behind the scenes look at the National Kiwi Hatchery. Tonight, an evening of culture, history and scrumptious food awaits you at Te Puia. Wander through the ancient forest village and learn about Maori art forms and traditions, followed by a cultural performance. Experience an authentic Maori Hangi meal, steamed underground in the traditional way.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Begin your day with a dazzling show during an exclusive five-star Eco Glow Worm experience at Caveworld Waitomo. Your guide sets the scene for a cave experience where you will see glow worms, cave formations and appreciate the beauty of Footwhistle Cave. Later, travel through the dairy farming district of Waikato, and onto Auckland. Tonight, Toast your trip together tonight at a Celebration Dinner.
Hotel:
QT Auckland
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Celebration Dinner
Say farewell to your fellow travellers as your Inspiring Journey comes to an end and we transfer you to Auckland Airport for your onward flight.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
The Endless Shores
8 days
Wellington to Auckland
Embrace the traditional greeting of your Māori hosts, whose relationship with this unspoilt land is revealed on this journey. Experience natural wonders, from the luminous glowworms of the Footwhistle Cave and the native forests’ redwood giants, to the fantasy-land of The Lord of the Rings’ ‘Shire’.
Highlights
Immerse
Connect with the beating heart of the world’s youngest geothermal valley, and embrace the traditional greeting of your hosts at Te Puia
Indulge
In the shadow of the spectacular Te Mata Peak, enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at Craggy Range winery in Hawke’s Bay, a region blessed with fertile soils.
Explore
Walk high among giant 120 year old Redwood trees, and discover the luminous shimmer of the breathtaking Waitomo Glowworm Grotto.
Relax
Cruise the streets of New Zealand’s Art Deco capital in style in the comfort of a luxurious vintage car driven by your expert guide.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Day 1 - QT Wellington (2 Nights)
90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Surprise yourself at QT Wellington, a significant fusion of expressive and luxurious art, technology and indulgence. Loosely based in the new creative capital of the South, QT Wellington is a warm invitation to explore and define one of New Zealand’s most eclectic collections of art and character.
Features
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant and In Room Dining
- 24-hour front desk
- Non-smoking rooms
- Swimming Pool
- Gym facilities
1/4
Day 3 - Porters Boutique Hotel (2 Nights)
4 Te Aute Rd, Havelock North 4130, New Zealand
Step into a world of luxury, comfort, and relaxation. Nestled in the heart of the charming Havelock North village and surrounded by the majestic hills of Hawke’s Bay, Porters Boutique Hotel offers unique luxury accommodation. Relax in elegantly appointed guest rooms, complete with plush, classic furnishings and adorned with original local artwork. Enjoy attentive luxury service and full amenities within a stylish, intimate space that reflects the beauty and grandeur of the breathtaking Hawke’s Bay region.
Features
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- TV
- Desk & chair
2/4
Day 5 - Pullman Rotorua (2 Nights)
Arawa Street
Pullman Rotorua is expected to be popular with international and domestic business and leisure travellers, due to its exclusive 5-star offering and prime central CBD location and within 500metres from the Rotorua lakefront.
3/4
Day 7 - QT Auckland
4 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Westhaven, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Find yourself in the heart of the extraordinary. Welcome to your time to shine. Drumroll please. The heart is beating, and we’re dancing to our own tune. With a glint in the eye, we’re serving shoreline shimmer. The waterfront beckons and the bar is set for self-discovery. Here we make space to celebrate individual style and unearth hidden treasures.
Features
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant and In Room Dining
- Gym facilities
- Non-smoking rooms
- 24-hour front desk
4/4
Optional Experiences
Please note, prices for Optional Experiences are subject to change.
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Experiences for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The experiences can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Rotorua Duck - Tarawera and Lakes Tour (Rotorua)
Adult: $105.00 NZD
Child: $60.00 NZD
Discover Rotorua’s spectacular lakes area from the comfort of a fully restored World War II amphibious vehicle, able to travel on land and water. A 90 minute fun-filled and scenic journey that ventures onto the three Rotorua lakes, and is accompanied by an entertaining and informative commentary.
Weta Workshop - There and Back Again Guided Tour (Wellington)
NZ$89 Adult NZ$55 Child
This movie-based experience provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of Weta Workshop, the home of the special effects wizards whose work features in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies. The tour invites you to view the creative processes of a Weta technician and to touch, feel, and hold real props, weapons and models from the films the creative Weta team have worked on. Return transfers from the Wellington i-Site are included.
Zealandia (Wellington)
Adult: $60.00NZD
Child: $30.00NZD
ZEALANDIA has some of the most unique biodiversity and advanced conservation techniques in the world. Join an experienced guide on an engaging and informative walk through the picturesque sanctuary to witness the native wildlife that is once again living on the mainland. With everything in ZEALANDIA living wild, nature-guru guides use their knowledge of birdsong, habitats, and local flora to track down even the rarest of our unique animals.
