Our Northern Walker tour includes a collection of popular day walks in the North Island. From Volcanos, Geothermal Parks, Rainforests to National Parks and even a walking Foodie Tour in our Capital City. This is a fantastic option for a North Island walking tour.
Highlights: Rangitoto Island Explorer, Rotorua Thermal Park Tour, Maori Hangi and Cultural Show, Whirinaki Rainforest Walk, Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Wellington Taste Tour.
Auckland city centre offers world-class shopping, restaurants, bars and galleries which are encircled by wine regions, stunning beaches, pristine rainforest and the magnificent Hauraki Gulf.
Following your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore.
Accommodation:
Auckland City Hotel, Deluxe Room with Full Breakfast *
Erected in 1912, the building has been extended and transformed into a captivating boutique Hotel. Retaining its iconic facade with its ideal combination of inventive design and traditional efficiency, Auckland City Hotel has retained the character and charm of its past enhanced with a relaxing contemporary decor.
*If you are arriving early from an International Flight, please see our team about pre-registering your room for guaranteed access on your arrival. (at additional cost).
Lion New Zealand Sailing, Auckland City
Cruise to Rangitoto Island, a volcanic Island in the Hauraki Gulf and board your Four Wheel Drive to learn about the island’s fiery past. Journey through the largest Pohutukawa forest in the world, a treasured fern glen and rugged lava terrain as you make your way to the base of the summit of Rangitoto. From there it’s a 900-metre walk along a scenic boardwalk to the top, where you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of Auckland City and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Rejoin your guide to explore the western side of the island, before cruising back to Auckland.
Accommodation:
Auckland City Hotel, Deluxe Room with Full Breakfast
Rangitoto Island, Auckland
Today’s Drive Time & Distance – Auckland/Matamata, 2 hours, 169km’s (105 miles)
And Matamata/Rotorua, 1 hour, 77 km’s (48 miles)
Collect your Intermediate Sedan rental vehicle (Holden Cruze or similar) with all-inclusive insurance
Passengers: 5 Bags: 2 x Large
Key Features:
Automatic Transmission
4 Door Sedan
Air Conditioning
Dual Airbags
If you would like to upgrade your vehicle type to a larger vehicle or SUV/4WD, please contact us for a quote.
On route to Rotorua today, we suggest visiting Wairere Falls located between Te Aroha and Matamata.
Wairere Falls is the highest waterfall in the North Island, plunges 153 metres in two steps over the Kaimai escarpment. The walk takes approximately three hours return and from the top, enjoy views of the Falls and the wider Waikato region.
Continue to Rotorua, a volcanic wonderland and a place that is rich in Maori culture and history.
Accommodation:
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Set on the shores of Lake Rotorua, adjacent to the Polynesian Spa complex, Government Gardens and only a five-minute stroll to the city centre. Offering 248 well appointed rooms, many with superb views of Lake Rotorua and a 3.5 star Qualmark Hotel grading.
Wairere Falls Stream
Learn about Rotorua’s colourful hot springs, erupting geysers, boiling mud pools and spectacular volcanoes on your half day Thermal Park Tour. You will visit Wai-o-tapu, the Lady Knox Geyser along with Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
This evening, you will experience a challenge by Maori warrior and welcomed onto the marae. Following the formal elements of this ceremony, relax and enjoy the beautiful waiata (songs), the world-renowned haka and the elegant poi dance. You will have a chance to participate before sitting down to enjoy traditional and indigenous hangi (earth oven cooked meal). Following dessert, return into the park and enjoy delicacies and a hot drink beside the Pohutu geyser.
Accommodation:
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Artists Palette at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Rotorua hiking at its best. The untouched wilderness of the magnificent Whirinaki Rainforest is regarded as one of the country’s finest rainforest walks. It is simply the best example of lowland podocarp forest left on earth. Your guide will take you right into the heart of the rainforest where you will find towering 700 year old rimu, totara, matai, miro and kahikatea podocarp tree species. Beneath the forest canopy wonder in awe at the rich diversity of native vegetation and birdlife amidst the spectacular scenery of rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls.
Accommodation:
Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Whirinaki Forest
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: 2.5 hours, 178 km’s (110 miles).
On route to Tongariro today, stop in Lake Taupo and visit the Huka Falls.
Tongariro National Park is New Zealand’s first National Park and the fourth National Park to be created in the World.
Accommodation:
Chateau Tongariro Hotel, Standard Room with Full Breakfast
The Chateau Tongariro sits majestically at the base of Mt Ruapehu and right on the doorstep of New Zealand’s volcanic plateau playground. The hotel presents 106 hotel rooms, an excellent variety of restaurants and bars, a gym, sauna and hot plunge pool, a cinema and the highest golf course in New Zealand.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s best one day walk. The track leads you up to the saddle between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro, then diverts over Mt Tongariro. Tongariro is not a single volcano but a complex of craters that have been active over different periods. The landscape on Tongariro is peppered with different coloured and shaped craters, scoured volcanic rocks, active geothermal areas, mountain springs and brightly coloured emerald lakes.
Total walking time is seven to eight hours and a medium to high level of fitness is required.
Accommodation:
Chateau Tongariro Hotel, Standard Room with Full Breakfast
Tongariro National Park
Today’s Drive Time & Distance: 4.5 hours, 315km’s (196 miles).
Called the world’s ‘coolest little capital’ Wellington is known for its vibrant arts scene, world class café and restaurant culture. An easily walk to the downtown area and attractive waterfront, Wellington enjoys more cafes, bars and restaurants than New York City. A creative, cosmopolitan city, Wellington combines the sophistication of a capital with the warmth and personality of a village.
Accommodation:
Rydges Hotel, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Rydges Wellington is in the fashionable Featherston St, overlooking Wellington’s harbour, Oriental Bay and Mount Victoria. The Superior King room boasts a king size bed and full length windows, kitchenette complete with cutlery, fridge and minibar along with free WIFI internet, flatscreen TV including complimentary SKY TV channels
Cable Car, Wellington
To finish your Northern Walker trip, enjoy a tour of New Zealand’s capital by foot with a “foodie twist”. Discover unique tastes in New Zealand’s coffee capital, as your guide introduces you to the city, architecture and history – whilst sampling local, artisan flavours. Tour may include visits to the following local food producers: local coffee roaster (coffee roasting on week days only), artisan chocolatier, award winning Gelato maker, fresh food market and other local food producers’ treats.
Accommodation:
Rydges Hotel, Superior Room with Full Breakfast
Return your rental vehicle to Wellington Airport and connect with your departure flight (flight not included).
Want to keep walking! Would you like to keep exploring?
Take the Interislander Ferry to Picton and continue to Nelson, for:
The Southern Explorer – 15 Day, Nelson to Dunedin, exploring golden beaches, glaciers, Milford Sound and Ulva Island.
Wellington Harbour
New Zealand Walking Tour
Booking Terms & Conditions:
Currency
All pricing is in New Zealand Dollars and includes 15% GST (Goods & Services Tax).
Pricing
Pricing is subject to availability and confirmation of the stated itinerary at time of booking. If we are unable to confirm the stated hotels and services, we will endeavour to confirm substitutes at similar rates, however additional costs may apply.
Rental Car Terms & Conditions:
Inclusions: unlimited kilometres, airport/ferry collection fee, full insurance (subject to reduced excess), front windscreen cover, personal accident insurance, guaranteed replacement vehicle in case of accident.
Exclusions: insurance excess reduction of $345.00 including GST (note, standard insurance excess is $3,450.00 including GST), bond, petrol costs, one way fee ($57.50), optional extras, (all additional expenses to be paid direct)
Payment Policy
We do require a non-refundable deposit of NZD$250.00 per person before we go ahead with securing any reservations.
In addition, some of our suppliers may require further deposits to cover their strict cancellation policies, in this case we would advise you at the time of quoting and confirming your itinerary.
The balance of your booking would be required 45 days prior to your travel date. If you book inside 45 days, full payment would be required at time of booking.
Payment can be made by electronic wire transfer and should include the additional NZD $25.00 bank fee. We also accept Visa and Mastercard at an additional fee of 3.1%.
Bank Account Details
Bank Name & Address: Westpac Bank, Mid City Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Account Name: Inspired New Zealand Travel
BSB Number: 03-0296
Account Number: 0011146-000
Swift/Routing Code: WPACNZ2W
Amendments
We are happy to amend your itinerary and dates, however please keep in mind that some of the original services may not be available for your new dates, which may incur additional costs for substituted services. Amendment fees may apply with multiple changes.
Cancellation Fees
Once Confirmed Non-refundable Deposit of NZD $250.00 per person
Inside 45 – 21 Days A Cancellation fee of 30% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 20 – 8 days A Cancellation fee of 50% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 7 Days Full Cancellations, 100% charge
We will however do our very best to recover and minimise these cancellation fees but recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance to cover yourself.
