On this Short Break, for a more diverse experience, you’ll travel with a different Driver Guide and group of like-minded travellers each day. As it departs at 6.45am, accommodation will need to be pre-booked for the previous night.

Day 1: Auckland – Waitomo Caves – Rotorua

Travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions. Enjoy a morning snack as you drive past Rangiriri, the location of a historic Maori Land Wars site. On arrival in the small town of Waitomo, tour with a local guide through the world-famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves with their amazing stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. Finish with a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto, a subterranean cavern lit by thousands of tiny glowworms. Later, travel on to Rotorua, the cultural centre of New Zealand.

Day 2: Rotorua Sightseeing

Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour around three of Rotorua’s iconic visitor attractions. Experience Te Puia, a place of Maori culture and a thermal wonderland of impressive geysers and boiling mud pools. Explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park. Here you’ll discover the beauty of the native bush, ferns and trees that grow around the crystal clear mineral springs and take a ‘behind the scenes’ tour through a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. Then enjoy a demonstration of New Zealand’s agricultural industry with a sheep shearing display and sheep dog trials at the Agrodome Farm Show. Tonight an evening of culture, history and scrumptious food awaits you at a local marae. Learn about Maori art forms and traditions, followed by a concert featuring local performers. Then experience an authentic Maori Hangi meal, steamed underground in the traditional way.

Day 3: Rotorua – Auckland

Spend a day at leisure in Rotorua. Late this afternoon travel through forests and lush Waikato farmlands on your way to Auckland.

Day 4: Depart Auckland

Your short break concludes this morning after breakfast. You’ll be transferred to Auckland Airport to connect with your onward flight (flights anytime).

Please note this itinerary is valid until 30 September, 2018