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2026

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2027

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2028

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Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
From
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Northern Spotlight (19 destinations)

8 days
From Auckland to Wellington
4.8
4 traveler reviews
From
$3,245
-8%
US $2,985 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

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2026

Jan
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Mar
Apr
May
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Aug
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2027

Jan
Feb
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May
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Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 20 - 50
All Ages Welcome
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Auckland

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre)

    Optional Activities

    • Explore Auckland's two harbours at leisure
    • Relax at a waterfront precinct
  2. Day 2

    Auckland to Bay of Islands

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)

    Included Activities

    • Guided tour of Waitangi Treaty Grounds
    • View the world's largest ceremonial war canoe
    • View carved meeting house
    Landmarks
    Waitangi Treaty Grounds
  3. Day 3

    Bay of Islands

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Copthorne Hotel and Resort)

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua via Ninety Mile Beach
    • Scenic cruise among the 144 islands with lunch and visit to hole in the rock (Fullers Cape Reinga Via 90 Mile Beach - NZ$155 Adult / NZ$110 Child)
    • Tour of Russell (own expense)
    • Discover Kerikeri tour - boutique vineyard tasting, Historic Stone Store, Kemp House, and chocolate factory (NZ$60 Adult / NZ$30 Child)
    • Discover Russell - Mini Tour with Christ Church, Pompallier House, and historic pub (NZ$30 Adult / NZ$15 Child)
    • Waitangi Treaty Grounds visit (NZ$45 Adult, under 18 free)
    Landmarks
    Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua
    Ninety Mile Beach
    Russell
  4. Day 4

    Bay of Islands to Auckland

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre)

    Included Activities

    • Explore Whangarei at leisure
    Landmarks
    Whangarei
  5. Day 5

    Auckland to Rotorua

    Meals
    Dinner (Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine at Te Puia)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Ibis Rotorua Hotel)

    Included Activities

    • Auckland city sights tour
    • Waitomo Caves guided tour including glowworm cruise
    • Te Puia Indigenous Experience with cultural performance at Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
    • Pohutu Geyser viewing
    • Buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine at Te Puia

    Optional Activities

    • Canopy Tours zipline adventure - NZ$149 Adult / NZ$119 Child
    • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - NZ$119 Adult / NZ$77 Child
    • Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park - From NZ$50 Adult / NZ$30 Child
    • Tarawera and Lakes Tour on the Rotorua Duck - NZ$89 Adult / NZ$55 Child
    • Te Puia self-guided visit - NZ$56 Adult / NZ$28 Child
    Landmarks
    Waitomo Caves
    Pohutu Geyser
    Te Puia
    Te Aronui a Rua
    Waikato River
    Itinerary Image 1
  6. Day 6

    Rotorua

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Ibis Rotorua Hotel)

    Optional Activities

    • Relax at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa
    • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - two-hour guided tour of The Lord of the Rings filming locations near Matamata (NZ$119 Adult / NZ$77 Child)
    • Canopy Tours zipline adventure with 6 ziplines totalling over 650 metres (NZ$149 Adult / NZ$119 Child)
    • Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park - 22 acres with kiwi encounter, bird show, The Big Splash, and aviaries (from NZ$50 Adult / NZ$30 Child)
    • Tarawera and Lakes Tour on the Rotorua Duck - 90 minute amphibious vehicle tour of three Rotorua lakes (NZ$89 Adult / NZ$55 Child)
    • Te Puia - Maori Culture Centre and Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley (NZ$56 Adult / NZ$28 Child)
    Landmarks
    Hobbiton Movie Set
    Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa
    Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park
  7. Day 7

    Rotorua to Wellington

    Meals
    Dinner (Drinks with Travel Director to toast the adventure)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Travelodge Wellington), Hotel (James Cook Grand Chancellor)

    Included Activities

    • View Huka Falls from panoramic viewpoint
    Landmarks
    Huka Falls
    Lake Taupo
  8. Day 8

    Wellington

    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Guided city sights tour of Wellington

    Optional Activities

    • Visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand - explore Maori culture (entrance fee applies)
    Landmarks
    Te Papa

Want to read it later?

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What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Operated by

AAT Kings

Gold Operator
Rating
4.3(116 reviews)
Response time
within 3 days
Response rate
85%
Cancellation policy

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

4.8
Overall rating based on 4 Reviews
  • Itinerary
    4.8
  • Transport
    5.0
  • Guide
    5.0
  • Accommodation
    4.8
  • Food
    4.5
  • 4.3

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  • B
    March 12th, 2023
    All excellent - loved Dexter and John - until the last day. Too much driving that day, lunch hour was rushed, and...
    Show more
    Traveled in March 2023
  • T
    January 15th, 2023
    Great tour guides. Met great people as well
    Traveled in January 2023
  • T
    October 28th, 2019
    This trip was excellent! We started in Auckland, worked our way up to the beautiful Bay of Islands where we saw heaps...
    Show more
    Traveled in June 2019
    Reply from: AAT Kings
    Hi Tammy, thanks for sharing your feedback. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us on the Northern Discovery Guided Holiday! We hope to see you again soon on another AAT Kings tour.
    Show more
  • W
    March 19th, 2019
    Good balance to tour and guides/ drivers were excellent.
    Traveled in March 2019
    Reply from: AAT Kings
    Hi William, thanks so much for sharing your feedback. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with AAT Kings. We hope to see you again soon on another AAT Kings tour! Many thanks, AAT Kings
    Show more

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

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2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Upcoming departures
Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!
Ends on 13 May, 2026
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    5 Sep, 2026
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    From Saturday
    3 Oct, 2026
    To Saturday
    10 Oct, 2026
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    From Saturday
    24 Oct, 2026
    To Saturday
    31 Oct, 2026
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  • From Saturday
    31 Oct, 2026
    To Saturday
    7 Nov, 2026
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  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    7 Nov, 2026
    To Saturday
    14 Nov, 2026
    English
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  • From Saturday
    21 Nov, 2026
    To Saturday
    28 Nov, 2026
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US $3,245 per person
  • Instant Confirmation
    From Saturday
    28 Nov, 2026
    To Saturday
    5 Dec, 2026
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    From:
    US $3,310 per person
    Multiple Room Types
  • From Saturday
    5 Dec, 2026
    To Saturday
    12 Dec, 2026
    This departure date is not available or sold out
    Sold out
    From:
    US $3,245 per person

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
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  • S

    Sally

    Asked on December 23rd, 2022

    Would you please send me confirmation email and some more details about the package. Our age is 46 and 67.

    Age Range
    Tour Details
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2022

      Tour starts from Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre in Auckland at 6:00pm. Visitors to New Zealand will require an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). They must be obtained online or via official app before departure from country of origin.

  • D

    Diane

    Asked on December 4th, 2022

    Is it possible to go on a wait list for the July 2023 please?

    Tour Details
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2022

      Unfortunately we do not have a waitlist for our tour. The only thing I would be able to suggest is to keep an eye on our website to see if your preferred departure has any cancellations and opened back up again.

  • L

    Laura

    Asked on November 2nd, 2022

    I've never been to New Zealand and in fact have never left the contiguous USA except for a trip to Hawaii. A friend has offered to take me and pay for expenses. We're looking for the @ $3500 price range. He is thinking of being in NZ at the end of January. He had to return to work in NYC on 2/16. What would you recommend we see?

    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten November 2022

      If this is your first time to New Zealand, we recommend doing both North and South Island if you have time. The New Zealand Panorama is a great option that is 7 days and does a little taste of each island. This tour starts at $2860 USD land only.

  • M

    Molly

    Asked on July 11th, 2022

    Is a boat ride through the glow worm cave an option on this tour?

    Tour Details
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten July 2022

      Yes, the itinerary shows we take a tour of the Glow Worm Caves on day 5 of this itinerary.

    • M

      Molly

      TravelerWritten July 2022

      Thanks... is that an actual boat ride through the caves?

    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten July 2022

      The itinerary states the following: Day 5 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.

    • M
      2 more answers
  • P

    Patrick

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    Do I need to advise you if I have any mobility issues or a serious medical condition?

    Travel Support
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      Its essential you advise our team of Travel Experts at the time of booking if you have any mobility issues or serious medical conditions, so that we can ensure, as much as possible, your needs are met on your tour. Unfortunately due to space considerations on this tour it is not possible to accommodate motorised scooters and non-collapsible wheelchairs.

  • D

    Daniel

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    Do you cater for special dietary requirements?

    Meals
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      If you have a special dietary requirement such as gluten-free, vegetarian etc please advise our team of Travel Experts at the time of booking to ensure the tour operator can do their best to accommodate your request.

  • S

    Stephanie

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    When will I receive my travel documents?

    Tour Details
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      Your travel documents will be posted to you in a travel wallet which will contain your documents and luggage tags to you approximately four weeks before your departure date.

  • A

    Anita

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    Can airport transfers be arranged?

    Flights / Transfers
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      Arrival and departure transfers can be arranged for you once you have a confirmed booking. Please contact our team of Travel Experts if you would like a transfer added to your tour booking or for more information.

  • D

    Darren

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    I am travelling alone, is there a single supplement?

    Single supplement
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      If you are a single traveller you can either choose to share a room with another guest of the same gender at no extra cost or if you prefer the privacy of your own room you can pay a single supplement to upgrade to a single room. If you would like to book a single room please make sure to choose this option on the booking page or simply contact our team of Travel Experts.

  • J

    Jess

    Asked on December 4th, 2018

    Am I able to bring my children on this tour?

    Age Range
    • AAT KingsOperatorWritten December 2018

      Children are welcome on all AAT Kings tours however they are required to be a minimum age of 5 years or older. It is recommended that if you are travelling with children to consider whether the itinerary is suitable and in particular the activities involved.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
From
$3,245
-8%
US $2,985 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0
Save and compare this adventure

Best price guarantee Learn More

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 137137

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before July 13th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after July 13th, 2026, a minimum payment of $200 is required to confirm your booking with AAT Kings. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and AAT Kings will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "AAT Kings" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Videos

  • AAT Kings
  • Explore New Zealand's North Island with AAT Kings
  • Explore Australia and New Zealand with AAT Kings
AAT Kings

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2026

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2028

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec