First Choice
Jewels of the Bay
3 Day Guided Holiday | Auckland Return
Travel Period
This adventure may be short, but it’s certainly sweet. Think of it as a travel amuse bouche – a taster to inspire further trips to New Zealand. In just 72 hours on this NZ holiday you pack in a lot of attractions, from Auckland’s windswept harbour, dotted with yacht sails, to the gem-like Bay of Islands, its archipelago of subtropical islets ideally explored on a cruise. Wherever this NZ tour takes you, expect a dose of heritage and Māori culture. Discover how and where New Zealand became a member of the Commonwealth and explore the streets of the country’s first European settlement and seaport.
Prices From CODE: UBOI
$1210
Above lowest price is based on 2023-09-03 departure
$1505
Above lowest price is based on 2023-09-03 departure
Child prices are available on request
Secure your trip with a deposit
Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver
- • Centrally located premium 4 star hotels
- • 1 included attractions/experiences
Dining
- • 2 Full Breakfasts
- • 1 Dinner
Flight Information
- • Day Prior: Flights to arrive any time into Auckland Airport
- • Day 3: Flights to depart after 7:00pm from Auckland Airport
- • Airline schedules may change at short notice. Please consider possible flight disruption when booking your flights.
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
Jewels of the Bay (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2023 – 31 Mar 2024)
the road in the morning for a scenic sojourn to the Bay of Islands. This pocket of the country deserves its name – there are more than 140 subtropical islets off the coast here, lined with blissful undeveloped and unpeopled beaches. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical secret; this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs, officially denoting New Zealand as a member of the Commonwealth. Your guide, likely an ancestor of one of the original signatories, will explain the importance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house. These are just some of the Māori artefacts that characterize this part of the north coast. You wanted an introduction to New Zealand heritage on day one – you got it.
Hotel:
Copthorne Resort Bay of Islands, Water View Rooms,
2 Nights
Included Meals:
Dinner
If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. Today, trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps out onto the water to ride the waves on a Bay of Islands tour aboard a historic tall ship, glass of New Zealand wine in hand. Or maybe on a mini-jaunt around the romantic town of Russell, the country’s first permanent European settlement and seaport. Fun fact: the town’s streets retain their original names and layout from 1843. Just ask your Travel Director for touring tips – and places to wine and dine in between. Wherever your NZ holiday takes you today, we recommend finding somewhere special to salute the end of the day – this part of the country was made for blazing sunsets.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
If you’ve never heard of Whangarei, you’re probably not alone. But today, New Zealand’s most northerly city is well and truly on your radar. A place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums, Whangarei is the country in a tantalizing snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure – perhaps a NZ tour to Mount Parihaka, which features a war memorial and the remains of Māori fortified settlements – before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerizing commute back to Auckland.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Jewels of the Bay
First Choice
3 Day Guided Holiday
Auckland Return
This adventure may be short, but it’s certainly sweet. Think of it as a travel amuse bouche – a taster to inspire further trips to New Zealand. In just 72 hours on this NZ holiday you pack in a lot of attractions, from Auckland’s windswept harbour, dotted with yacht sails, to the gem-like Bay of Islands, its archipelago of subtropical islets ideally explored on a cruise. Wherever this NZ tour takes you, expect a dose of heritage and Māori culture. Discover how and where New Zealand became a member of the Commonwealth and explore the streets of the country’s first European settlement and seaport.
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 to acknowledge New Zealand as a member of the Commonwealth. Any visit here is humbling, particularly in the company of a signatory descendent
Local Connection
The Bay of Islands naturally attracts creatives, inspired by the bucolic surrounds. Meet them – artists, makers and producers – on an optional experience.
Cultural Immersion
Free day in the Bay of Islands? An optional mini tour of Russell takes you to iconic locations that make it so significant in New Zealand’s early history.
Wildlife and Nature
From its 20-million-year-old volcanic dome to its spectacular waterfall, Whangarei feels more like an oasis than New Zealand’s most northerly city.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
This welcoming Bay of Islands hotel commands a superb waterfront location in the heart of the Bay of Islands, offering uninterrupted bay views surrounded by 60 acres of subtropical gardens as part of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
- 42" flat screen TV with Sky channels
- Wi-Fi
- Refrigerator
- Mini Bar
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- In-room safe
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Phone
- Work Desk
Features
Need accommodation before or after your tour?
Our special discounted rates make booking accommodation with us during your holiday both easy and affordable at selected AAT Kings hotels and resorts. Ask our friendly reservations at the time of booking.
Optional Experiences
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Excursions for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The excursions can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Bay of Islands - Highlights Tour (Bay of Islands)
Adult: $195.00 NZD
Child: $97.50 NZD
Fullers Hole in the Rock Cruise (Bay of Islands)
$150.00 NZD Adult, $67.50 NZD Child
Board your cruise in Paihia or Russell and take in the stunning views as we glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’. This four-hour cruise includes an island stopover, and the Hole in the Rock. If you are lucky you may spot dolphins, which are prolific in the area.
Cape Reinga/ Ninety Mil Beach Scenic Coach Tour via 90 Mile Beach (Bay of Islands)
NZ$170 Adult NZ$85.00 Child
A visit to New Zealand is not complete without a journey to the very top of the North Island – Cape Reinga (Te Rerenga Wairua). Drive along the sand on Ninety Mile Beach as the waves crash beside the custom-built coach. Your off-road journey continues up Te Paki Stream, stopping at the massive sand dunes where you can experience the thrills and spills of sand-boarding. Clambering up and surfing down the dunes (if you dare!) is sure to get your heart pumping. Enjoy a lunch of delicious fresh fish and chips at the historic Wagener Museum at Houhora. A vegetarian option is available and can be selected when booking.
Discover Russell - Mini Tour (Bay of Islands)
NZ$35 Adult NZ$17.50 Child
This intimate one-hour coach tour visits many of Russell’s iconic locations that make it so significant in New Zealand’s early history. See Christ Church (the oldest church in New Zealand, famed for the bullet-holes in its walls); historic Pompallier House, home to Bishop Pompallier’s Catholic Mission and the oldest industrial building in New Zealand; and even the country's oldest licensed pub! Your tour will be led by an engaging guide whose combination of historical knowledge and local insight will bring the culture and history of the area to life.
Tall Ship Sailing - R Tucker Thompson (Bay of Islands)
NZ$179 Adult NZ$89.00 Child
Salt Air Scenic Flights Half Day Cape Reinga by Air (Bay of Islands)
Adult: $460.00
See some of the most spectacular scenery New Zealand has to offer in a half day tour. Fly 1 hour up the West Coast, spend 2 ½ hours exploring the very top of New Zealand in a mini bus, then 1 hour flying back down the East Coast.
