Cruise Auckland Harbour for a view of the City of Sails from the water. Watch boats cross the Waitemata and see how the waterfront, sheltered bays and city skyline fit together.

Auckland grew between two harbours, and a cruise brings its maritime setting into focus in a way that a land-based tour cannot. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; its route and duration depend on the cruise available.

AAT Kings

• 3 Dinner (D)
• 6 Breakfast (B)

• Comfortable walking shoes
  Warm layers
  Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
  Water bottle
  Camera

• Medium level of fitness required.

• Day 1 – flights to arrive by 4.00pm into Auckland AirportDay 7 – flights to depart anytime from Wellington Airport
  Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request.
  Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price.

Meet your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner at The Grill in Auckland. Share first impressions of New Zealand and get to know the people travelling with you over a hosted meal.

The gathering offers an introduction to the City of Sails, whose harbours have shaped its maritime identity. It is a social experience rather than a sightseeing tour, with conversation at its heart.

Explore the America’s Cup exhibition on an exclusive after-hours guided tour of Auckland’s New Zealand Maritime Museum. Discover the skill, design and teamwork behind a sailing competition closely tied to the city’s identity.

Set beside Waitemata Harbour, the museum places competitive sailing within a broader story of voyaging, migration and boat-building. Look for a replica of the America’s Cup trophy while gaining a deeper understanding of why Auckland is called the City of Sails.

Take in Auckland’s harbourfront sights on an organised sightseeing outing towards Mission Bay. See the city’s waterfront character up close, with yachts on the water and views across the Waitemata Harbour.

Visit Bastion Point and the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial for a panorama of the harbour and city. The headland is also an important place in New Zealand’s Maori and political history, giving this scenic viewpoint significance beyond its coastal setting.

Explore Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on a private after-hours guided tour near Rotorua. See the vivid mineral colours of the Devil’s Bath and watch mud pools bubble as an expert guide explains the geothermal activity beneath the landscape.

Enjoy a mocktail and canapés near the Champagne Pool, named for the bubbles rising through its heated water. The private visit offers space to appreciate the steam, colour and distinctive sounds of this active volcanic environment.

View Huka Falls from a panoramic lookout near Lake Taupo and hear the Waikato River surge through a narrow channel. Around 220,000 litres of water pass over the 11-metre-high falls each second, producing a roar that carries beyond the viewpoint.

The river’s striking blue-green colour contrasts with the white turbulence below. This is a chance to pause and take in the force of the water, rather than simply glimpse the falls from the road.

Discover Wellington on a city sights tour taking in highlights such as the capital’s distinctive cable car, Parliament precinct and Mount Victoria. See how the compact city sits between steep hills and a sheltered harbour.

The tour concludes at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum, making it easy to identify a place for further independent exploration. This sightseeing experience introduces Wellington’s civic landmarks and landscape; museum admission is not included.

Go behind the scenes of All Blacks rugby in Auckland for an optional look at one of New Zealand’s best-known sporting institutions. Learn about the preparation, teamwork and competitive culture behind the national team’s international reputation.

Rugby holds a prominent place in New Zealand life, and this experience offers insight into its significance beyond the match itself. This optional activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Soak in the thermal waters of Wai Ariki in Rotorua, a city shaped by geothermal activity. Choose a restorative spa experience and spend time in warm pools rather than viewing the region’s geothermal landscape from afar.

Wai Ariki draws on the area’s natural hot springs and offers a quieter way to experience Rotorua’s distinctive environment. This optional spa visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour; specific treatments may carry separate charges.

Explore Rotorua by amphibious Duck aboard a vehicle modelled on a Second World War-era craft. Travel on roads and across the water for a different perspective on the area’s lake scenery.

The shift from land to lake is the defining moment of this light-hearted sightseeing experience. See Rotorua’s volcanic landscape from the water while learning about the places along the route. This optional tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Te Papa Tongarewa independently in Wellington to explore New Zealand’s national museum. Its exhibitions offer perspectives on the country’s natural environment, history, art and Maori culture.

Set on the waterfront, Te Papa provides a deeper look at subjects introduced by the city sights tour. This is an optional visit at additional cost, with an entrance fee noted in the itinerary; ask about arrangements and booking while on tour.

Experience Maori culture at Te Pa Tu near Rotorua through a guided Indigenous experience, cultural performance and feast. Encounter traditions expressed through storytelling, art, music and hospitality in a setting designed for cultural exchange.

Taste seasonal forest kai horotai, or canapés, with a chef-selected aperitif, followed by a three-course dinner. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience supports a place where Maori knowledge and creative traditions are shared with visitors.

Explore Zealandia Te Mara a Tane, a fenced urban ecosanctuary in Wellington where conservation work is restoring 225 hectares of forest. Walk through a landscape managed to support native plants and wildlife.

The sanctuary offers a close look at New Zealand’s efforts to protect species from introduced predators, within easy reach of the capital. This optional nature experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Discover Lord of the Rings movie locations around Wellington and visit the famous Weta Workshop. See places connected to the films and gain a closer look at the creative world that helped bring Middle-earth to the screen.

Wellington’s filmmaking industry has made the capital an important destination for fans of the trilogy. This optional experience combines on-location interest with an appreciation of practical movie-making craft; it is at additional cost and bookable on tour.