Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: Arrive Auckland
Explore Auckland at your leisure before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a tour briefing and drink tonight.
Day 2
Day 2: Depart Auckland for the Bay of Islands
Travel north from Auckland over the Harbour Bridge and through Northland’s farmland to the Bay of Islands. At the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, a Local Specialist introduces the ceremonial war canoe, Treaty House and carved Meeting House. Stand where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, visit the Carving Studio to learn about Māori wood carving, and explore Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi. Stay overnight in the Bay of Islands and join your Travel Director and group for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 3
Day 3: Bay of Islands is All Yours
Explore the Bay of Islands at your leisure. Optional activities include a Hole in the Rock boat ride to Cape Brett, passing beaches and secluded bays with opportunities to spot dolphins, seals and penguins, or a Russell Mini Tour exploring the port town’s history and historic buildings. Later, visit a waterfront restaurant and watch the sunset.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Day 4: Depart Bay of Islands and Auckland
Enjoy a morning beach stroll and coffee before travelling south. Stop in Whangarei to see local art and walk along the marina in the Town Basin. After an independent lunch, continue through the Rodney district, learning about local stories, legends and connections to nature. Arrive in Auckland, where the tour ends; flights should depart after 7:00 pm.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Hole in the Rock & Cape Brett Wildlife Cruise
Cruise the turquoise waters of the Bay of Islands to Motukokako’s Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett, skirting sheer cliffs and sandy coves. From the open deck, watch for bottlenose dolphins, little blue penguins, and New Zealand fur seals in these nutrient-rich currents.
Glide past the Cape Brett Lighthouse and remote islands as your crew shares maritime lore and ecology. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, offering superb photo opportunities and a fresh-sea-air perspective on the subtropical archipelago.
Russell Historic Township Mini Tour
Join a guided drive and short walks through Russell/Kororareka, once called the “Hell Hole of the Pacific” for its whaling-era revelry. Visit Christ Church (1835), New Zealand’s oldest church, and stroll the waterfront past weatherboard cottages and shady pohutukawa.
Ascend to Flagstaff Hill for harbour panoramas and stories of Hone Heke’s symbolic protests, or step into the Pompallier Mission and Printery, a French Catholic outpost famed for tanning and printing. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Auckland Welcome Reception & Tour Briefing
Meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers over a welcome drink in central Auckland. Gather near the Britomart waterfront with glimpses of the Waitemata Harbour as introductions are made and the journey is outlined.
Use this relaxed forum to ask about optional experiences and local customs. Expect friendly Kiwi hospitality and practical tips. This hosted event typically occurs on day 1 and is included.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds Guided Visit & Te Kongahu Museum
Explore the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with a Local Specialist, standing where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Walk between the Treaty House, the carved meeting house Te Whare Runanga, and the mighty ceremonial waka Ngatokimatawhaorua amid sweeping Bay of Islands vistas.
Continue into the Te Kongahu Museum of Waitangi to encounter taonga and multimedia exhibits on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Your visit supports the Waitangi National Trust’s stewardship as a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER experience, deepening understanding of Aotearoa’s bicultural foundations.
Operated By
AAT Kings
Dining Summary
- 3 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner (D)
