Best Buys
Northern Spotlight
8 Day Guided Vacation | Auckland to Wellington
Travel Period
It’s incredible how much a tour of New Zealand’s North Island can reveal about the country. Your roll-call includes oh-so-cool cities like Auckland tours and Wellington tours, the gateways to the Bay of Islands and Rotorua. Adventure and bliss await.
Prices From Code: LABW
$2765
$3610
Child prices are available on request
Secure your trip with a deposit
Northern Spotlight
Best Buys
8 Day Guided Vacation
Auckland to Wellington
It’s incredible how much a tour of New Zealand’s North Island can reveal about the country. Your roll-call includes oh-so-cool cities like Auckland tours and Wellington tours, the gateways to the Bay of Islands and Rotorua. Adventure and bliss await.
Highlights
Flexible Vacations
Sometimes, the best meals are those you stumble upon. We can point you in the right direction in Auckland and Wellington – then go for it!
Time For You
Explore at your own pace in Rotorua. Slow? Opt for a thermal soak at the Polynesian Spa. Fast? Zipline through the rainforest.
Iconic Sites
Life becomes all the more radiant at Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a subterranean wonderland that replicates the night sky.
Natural Wonders
Ancient volcanoes, thundering waterfalls and a yacht-studded harbour are your backdrop in Whangarei, New Zealand’s northernmost city. What a wildlife wonderland.
Itinerary
Northern Spotlight (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2023 – 31 Mar 2024)
Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’. And you’ll discover why when exploring its two harbours at your leisure. Pick a waterfront precinct and find a perch to while away the afternoon with a glass of Central Otago sauvignon blanc and a backdrop of yachts darting the water. Should you need a closer look, take a cruise out to the wineries of Waiheke Island. Meet fellow travel companions over a few local tipples tonight.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
Your journey north on a Bay of Islands tour from Auckland is not short of drama – discover 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea at the top of the country. 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. Your guide, likely an ancestor of one of the original signatories, will explain the significance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.
Hotel: Copthorne Resort Bay of Islands, Garden Rooms, 2 Nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. And today, you can do just that. At your leisure, venture up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an historic tall ship, enjoy local drops on a wine tour of the region, or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands. The choice is yours.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Northern exposure is a thing today, when you journey toward the top of the country to visit Whangarei – NZ’s northern-most city, and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Explore at your leisure before sinking back into your seat for the mesmerising commute back to Auckland.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
Included Meals: Breakfast
There’s no bad day in Auckland – today, your Auckland tour is filled with expeditions to the War Memorial Museum and Waitemata Harbour, before you set your GPS for the Waikato River and a Waitomo Caves tour. This place is radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousands of glowworms. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. Tonight, delve deep into Maori culture and traditions at Te Puia. Your dinner, a hangi cooked underground, is served while you overlook the spectacular geothermal valley. The highlight is a Maori cultural performance in the beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua.
Hotel: Ibis Rotorua Hotel, 2 Nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Explore at your own pace today, but with plenty of tips from your Travel Director. Want a bit of down time? We wouldn’t blame you for simply blissing out at in the steamy thermal springs at Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa. Animal lover? Go behind the scenes on a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings movies at Hobbiton. These beautiful landscapes are not only a bucket list tour for Hobbit fans, but a gorgeous countryside getaway.
Included Meals: Breakfast
You’ll hear Huka Falls well before you see it – at this natural wonder, a staggering 220,000 litres of water thunder over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, its waters so vivid and blue you’ll think someone has taken the glasses off your nose and cleaned them for the first time. Traverse the Kapiti Coast to New Zealand’s cool little capital, Wellington, where there are so many restaurants and bars to choose from, you’ll need a guidebook. Wait, you have an in-the-know Travel Director to talk to.
Hotel: Travelodge Wellington
Included Meals: Breakfast
The best way to begin a Wellington day? With a coffee. The city is known for its uber-cool cafés, designed to fuel you through a session at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. After lunch – read: a lunch that changes lives – it’s time to bid farewell to your NZ crew. What a week.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Holiday Inn Express, Auckland is 3 km from Auckland Airport. Featuring balconies or direct garden access, rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod docks and minifridges. All have tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms and/or whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Amenities also include a casual restaurant, bar, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.
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
- Hair Dryer
- Iron / Ironing Board
- In-room safe
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Phone
Features
Holiday Inn Express, Auckland is 3 km from Auckland Airport. Featuring balconies or direct garden access, rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod docks and minifridges. All have tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms and/or whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Amenities also include a casual restaurant, bar, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.
Situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Rotorua, this hotel offers tranquil surroundings with sensational views. Our central location is easily accessible to cafés, restaurants and the Energy Events Convention Centre. Stunning natural scenery and geothermal wonders makes this the ultimate destination.
- Ensuite
- Air-conditioning
- Telephone - Voice Mail
- Soundproofed Windows
- TV
- In-house movies
- Pay TV
- 220/240 V AC
- Data port in room
- High speed transmission line (pay)
- Work Desk
- Manual temperature control
- Iron
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Hairdryer
- Automatic wake up call
Features
With close proximity to the city’s financial hub as well as many Wellington attractions, such as Wellington Zoo, the Wellington Cable Car, the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, and the Wellington Botanic Gardens, Travelodge Hotel Wellington is perfectly located for both business and leisure travel.
- Hair Dryer
- Pay TV
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Individual heater control
- LCD TV
- Refrigerator
- Internet Access
- Microwave
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.
Adult: $155.00 NZD
Enjoy a guided Bay Of Islands Tour.
The Bay of Islands is a popular tourist destination in New Zealand. With an abundance of breathtaking, picturesque views, there are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. Create lasting memories with a Bay Of Islands Highlights Tour
NZ$159 Adult
NZ$129 Child
Canopy tours zipline adventure activity is an experience of a lifetime. You’ll be transported to a long forgotten ancient forest just like the whole of New Zealand once was. Experience a low impact mode of transport to get you high in the ancient canopy! In total there are 6 ziplines totalling more than 650 metres, the highlight for most being the jawdropping 220 metre tui song zipline that departs from 22 metres up a 1000 year old tree. Beat that for a setting! There are numerous treetop platforms at varying heights above the forest floor where you can observe and take in the magic of the environment around you.
$122 Adult, $61 Child
This is the most popular dolphin watching cruise in the Bay of Islands, and for good reason! 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, dolphin viewing and the Hole in the Rock.
NZ$179 Adult NZ$179 Child
Travel from Rotorua to Matamata then onto Hobbiton for your tour of the move set with Hobbiton Tours. Experience the real Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. You will be fully guided around the 12-acre set; past Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where you will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit South-farthing beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth adventure.
Optional Experiences indicated are Australian or New Zealand dollars. Please note that occasionally weather or seasonal conditions may not permit their operation. Some also depend on a minimum number of participants and suitable time being available. Please see your Travel Director for a full list of experiences.
Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver
- • 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fiordland National Park
- • Centrally located premium 3.5-star hotels
What to Bring
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
Fitness Requirements
- • Low level of fitness required
Dining
- • 7 Full Breakfasts
- • 1 Lunch
- • 1 Dinner
- • 1 Highlight Dinner
Flight Information
- • Day 1: Flights to arrive by 4:00pm into Auckland Airport
- • Day 8: Flights to depart after 2:00pm from Wellington Airport
- • Airline schedules may change at short notice. Please consider possible flight disruption when booking your flights.
Northern Spotlight
Best Buys
8 Day Guided Vacation
Auckland to Wellington
Maori culture is celebrated across the North Island, whether through traditional hangi feasts or in galleries in Wellington and Auckland. Delve into the rich Indigenous culture of New Zealand with this North Island tour. History of another kind is revealed in the Bay of Islands, a blissful archipelago of 144 islets, the landing point of the first European fleet. A wonderland of attractions awaits in between, from thermal springs to waterfalls, immense lakes to national parkland.
Highlights
Flexible Vacations
Golden sandy beaches, charming towns, fishing, and boating all await in the Bay of Islands. Enjoy a full day here at your leisure.
Iconic Sites
Huka Falls thunder over an escarpment into the Waikato River, leaving a lasting impression. Lake Tekapo is calmer, but equally memorable.
Time For You
Free nights in Wellington and Auckland are well spent in the country’s most innovative restaurants and bars. Hundreds of options await.
Sustainable Travel
Enjoy your packed lunch today knowing that a donation is being made on your behalf to local charity, Auckland City Mission, where real change can start with just one meal.
Itinerary
Northern Spotlight (Travel Period: 01 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023)
Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand’s City of Sails. Flights can arrive any time prior to 4.00pm. After check-in, you can explore Auckland. Take a walk down Queen Street, to the main shopping precinct or to the Viaduct Harbour and the Auckland Waterfront region. This recently developed area of central Auckland has cafes and restaurants galore. Take a seat in the sunshine, enjoy a glass of one of New Zealand’s famous Sauvignon Blanc’s and watch the maritime activity on Waitemata Harbour. This evening, meet your fellow travelling companions and your AAT Kings Travel Director at a welcome reception back at your hotel.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
This morning, depart Auckland City and travel north over the Harbour Bridge past the sprawling suburbs of the North Shore of Auckland. Our travels then take you through Northland’s lush farmland scenery before arriving into the beautiful Bay of Islands. This afternoon discovers the stories, people and events that shaped the past, present and future of Aotearoa New Zealand at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. During your tour you will view the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, the historic Treaty House and carved Meeting House. Stand on the spot where New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was first signed in 1840. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Hotel: Copthorne Resort Bay of Islands, Garden Rooms, 2 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a completely free day for you to experience the beauty of the Bay of Islands. Perhaps take a coach trip up to Cape Reinga - the very top of New Zealand via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Experience a day of sailing aboard a historic tall ship, enjoy wine tasting on a wine tour of the region, or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands. Tonight, you are free to dine as you wish. Your AAT Kings Travel Director will assist you in booking all your optional experiences.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a leisurely morning in the Bay of Islands before you travel back to Auckland. Our journey south takes us to Whangarei, the northern-most city in New Zealand, where you can wander around the art galleries and through the marina in the Town Basin. Enjoy a scenic drive through the Rodney District before arriving into Auckland late afternoon.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Auckland
Included Meals: Breakfast
A city sights tour will start your morning in Auckland. Travel to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for views across Auckland City and the Waitemata Harbour. After leaving Auckland you will follow the meandering trail of the Waikato River to Waitomo Caves. Tour the amazing limestone caverns and sail through the still waters of the sparkling Glow Worm Grotto. From Waitomo to Rotorua you will venture through the King Country region which was at the centre of the New Zealand Wars in the 1860s. On arrival in Rotorua an orientation tour takes in views of Lake Rotorua. Tonight, we experience Te Puia's world-famous hāngī buffet dinner. Enjoy spectacular geothermal views while dining on a range of delicious New Zealand flavours. The menu is smartly sophisticated – infusing Māori flavours, with an array of global cuisines and cooking styles. After dinner you will get to enjoy a cultural performance that will take place in their beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Witness a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant) poi and haka. The evening culminates with hot chocolate and steamed pudding surrounded by steam and the geyser terrace bathed in coloured light.
Hotel: Ibis Rotorua Hotel, 2 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Highlight Dinner
Today is your chance to experience the scenic wonders of the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. You could explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park & The National Kiwi Hatchery, take a ‘behind the scenes’ tour through the working kiwi nursery and hatchery. Visit Te Puia and join a guided tour through the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, home to famous Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling beauty of the mud pools. Later, why not spend a little more time experiencing the thermal wonders, with a soak in the hot mineral waters of the Polynesian Spas? Your AAT Kings Travel Director will assist you in booking all of your chosen optional experiences.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Say Haere Ra (goodbye) to Rotorua this morning and journey out through pine forests and farmland to a little hidden spot, the turquoise torrent of rapids known as Huka Falls. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. The stunningly blue fresh water of Lake Taupo is home to some of the best trout fishing in the world. You will then journey south over the Central Plateau, New Zealand’s main volcanic area. In a country of contrasts, perhaps nothing is more striking than the three peaks of Tongariro National Park rising starkly from the surrounding plateau of tussock and near desert. Pass through several small towns along the road to Wellington, each with their own personality and quirks. Probably the quirkiest of all would have to be Taihape… the self-proclaimed gumboot capital of the world. Travel along the Kapiti Coast, the traditional summer playground of the inhabitants of Wellington city. And as you follow the state highway, the Kapiti Coast becomes New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
Hotel: Travelodge Wellington
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a city sights tour of Wellington taking in New Zealand’s parliament buildings, and a visit to Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, enjoy some time at leisure. Indulge in Wellington’s renowned coffee culture or take a walk along Lambton Quay - the heart of the central business district of Wellington. Your AAT Kings New Zealand holiday concludes this afternoon. Your flights will need to depart after 2.00pm.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Holiday Inn Express, Auckland is 3 km from Auckland Airport. Featuring balconies or direct garden access, rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod docks and minifridges. All have tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms and/or whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Amenities also include a casual restaurant, bar, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.
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
- Hair Dryer
- Iron / Ironing Board
- In-room safe
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Phone
Features
Holiday Inn Express, Auckland is 3 km from Auckland Airport. Featuring balconies or direct garden access, rooms provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, iPod docks and minifridges. All have tea and coffeemaking facilities. Suites add living rooms and/or whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Amenities also include a casual restaurant, bar, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.
Situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Rotorua, this hotel offers tranquil surroundings with sensational views. Our central location is easily accessible to cafés, restaurants and the Energy Events Convention Centre. Stunning natural scenery and geothermal wonders makes this the ultimate destination.
- Ensuite
- Air-conditioning
- Telephone - Voice Mail
- Soundproofed Windows
- TV
- In-house movies
- Pay TV
- 220/240 V AC
- Data port in room
- High speed transmission line (pay)
- Work Desk
- Manual temperature control
- Iron
- Coffee/tea making facilities
- Hairdryer
- Automatic wake up call
Features
With close proximity to the city’s financial hub as well as many Wellington attractions, such as Wellington Zoo, the Wellington Cable Car, the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, and the Wellington Botanic Gardens, Travelodge Hotel Wellington is perfectly located for both business and leisure travel.
- Hair Dryer
- Pay TV
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Individual heater control
- LCD TV
- Refrigerator
- Internet Access
- Microwave
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.
Adult: $155.00 NZD
Enjoy a guided Bay Of Islands Tour.
The Bay of Islands is a popular tourist destination in New Zealand. With an abundance of breathtaking, picturesque views, there are plenty of fantastic photo opportunities. Create lasting memories with a Bay Of Islands Highlights Tour
$122 Adult, $61 Child
This is the most popular dolphin watching cruise in the Bay of Islands, and for good reason! 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, dolphin viewing and the Hole in the Rock.
NZ$159 Adult
NZ$129 Child
Canopy tours zipline adventure activity is an experience of a lifetime. You’ll be transported to a long forgotten ancient forest just like the whole of New Zealand once was. Experience a low impact mode of transport to get you high in the ancient canopy! In total there are 6 ziplines totalling more than 650 metres, the highlight for most being the jawdropping 220 metre tui song zipline that departs from 22 metres up a 1000 year old tree. Beat that for a setting! There are numerous treetop platforms at varying heights above the forest floor where you can observe and take in the magic of the environment around you.
NZ$179 Adult NZ$179 Child
Travel from Rotorua to Matamata then onto Hobbiton for your tour of the move set with Hobbiton Tours. Experience the real Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. You will be fully guided around the 12-acre set; past Hobbit Holes, the Mill and into the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where you will be presented with a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit South-farthing beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth adventure.
Optional Experiences indicated are Australian or New Zealand dollars. Please note that occasionally weather or seasonal conditions may not permit their operation. Some also depend on a minimum number of participants and suitable time being available. Please see your Travel Director for a full list of experiences.
Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver
- • 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fiordland National Park
- • Centrally located premium 3.5-star hotels
What to Bring
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
Fitness Requirements
- • Low level of fitness required
Dining
- • 7 Full Breakfasts
- • 1 Lunch
- • 1 Dinner
- • 1 Highlight Dinner
Flight Information
- • Day 1: Flights to arrive by 4:00pm into Auckland airport
- • Day 8: Flights to depart after 2:00pm from Wellington airport
- • Airline schedules may change at short notice. Please consider possible flight disruption when booking your flights.
