NORTH
ISLAND with PREMIER HOLIDAYS
Here ’ s just a few ideas to consider : -
TOURING
See the best of North Island by taking one of our fabulous escorted or self-drive tours ( see pages 112-115 ). Alternatively , plot your own course and choose from our excellent range of touring hotels ( see pages 117-123 ). See also our Auckland Highlights tour , plus our Wineland tour experiences ( see pages 117 & 123 ).
UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCES
We ’ ve got some fantastic day trips and tours to pre-book ( see below & page 116 ). Perfect if you ’ re short on time but don ’ t want to miss the main attractions !
MIX & MATCH
Take in the best bits of North Island then hop on the ferry to South Island ( or fl y ). We ’ ve got several tours combing both or we can create a tailor-made trip for you .
Cape Reinga
Tasman Sea
Paihia Russell
Auckland
Kapiti Island
Wellington
Whangarei
Coromandel
NORTH ISLAND
Waikato Tauranga Hamilton
Whakatane Rotorua
Mt Ruapehu
Cook Stait
Waitomo Caves Taupo
Tongariro Hawke ’ s
Bay Napier Hastings Havelock North
Martinborough Greytown
Gisborne
GETTING THERE Auckland is approximately 24½ hours from the UK ( including a stopover ). Key areas on the island have domestic airports or are within an easy drive .
Lake Taupo
© Corin Walker Bain New Zealand Tourism
UNMISSABLE NORTH ISLAND EXPERIENCES Get more out of your stay . Prices are per person
WETA WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE from £ 29
Dive head-first into a world of movie magic in Wellington on a guided 90 minute tour . Explore real props , costumes and creatures from films including Lord of the Rings , Avatar and The Hobbit .
WAITOMO CAVE TOUR & THEATRE ENTRANCE from £ 39
Meet your guide at the Waitomo Glowworm Cave for a tour through the limestone chambers and passages to see stunning features and enjoy a silent boat trip through the glowworm grotto .
GANNET SAFARI from £ 52
Depart Te Awanga by 4x4 for a three hour trip to New Zealand ’ s largest privately-owned nature reserve . Come face to face with over 20,000 gannets in their natural habitat and enjoy breathtaking views . Available Sep-Apr . Also available with transfers from Napier / Hastings .
HOBBITON MOVIE SET from £ 63
This 2 hour tour from Waikato includes a fully guided walking tour at the original location where Hobbiton was created for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films .
CAPITAL BITES from £ 113
During this three hour walking tour in Wellington visit an Italian family-run pizzeria , taste awardwinning Wellington-made chocolate , and visit one of the city ’ s most awarded restaurants .
GEOTHERMAL WONDERLAND from £ 116
This morning tour from Rotorua gives you close up views of the spectacular geothermal activity . See NZ ’ s largest boiling mud lake , Lady Knox Geyser , colourful volcanic craters , hot streams , boiling hot springs , hissing fumeroles , vividly coloured silica terraces , steaming cliffs and more .
TE PA TU EVENING CULTURAL EXPERIENCE from £ 142
During this four hour evening extravaganza , feast on Māori song , tradition and divine seasonal kai ( cuisine ) within the forest Pa village with its towering Tawa trees , blazing bonfires and forestformed amphitheatre .
A TASTE OF WAIRARAPA from £ 219 ( includes lunch ) Enjoy a full day tour from Wellington which takes you to four wineries in the Wairarapa region , including Martinborough . Sample world class wines and chat to the winemakers / owners .
www . premierholidays . co . uk NEW ZEALAND 111