Where?
When?
2

Where to?

Traveling when?

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

Who is travelling?

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Great Northerner Auckland → Wellington (2026)

9 days
From Auckland to Tongariro
4.1
26 traveler reviews

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • Travel inspiration for similar adventures
  • Alerts of the newest adventure deals

By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy.

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter, check your inbox!

It seems you have entered this contest already! Keep an eye on your inbox for the winner.

Plan your adventure:
Explorer
Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
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 1 - 200
Ages 8+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Auckland

    Meals
    Dinner (Welcome dinner featuring local seasonal produce)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Grand Millennium Auckland)

    Included Activities

    • Airport transfer to hotel
    • Welcome dinner featuring local seasonal produce

    Optional Activities

    • Auckland Harbour Sailing Cruise - sail under Auckland Harbour Bridge on a 50-foot monohull sailboat with views of volcanic peaks and city skyline
    • All Blacks Experience - guided tour exploring the history and culture of New Zealand's rugby team
    • Weta Workshop Unleashed - guided tour of Academy Award-winning special effects workshop showcasing filmmaking for blockbuster movies like The Hobbit
    • Te Wao Nui – The Living Realm at Auckland Zoo - explore six habitats with native New Zealand flora and fauna including kiwi, kea, and 50+ native species
    • Bush and Beach Wilderness Adventure - half-day guided tour to Auckland's black sand beaches and rainforest with native plant and wildlife commentary
    Landmarks
    Auckland Harbour Bridge
    Weta Workshop
    Auckland Zoo
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  2. Day 2

    Auckland to Bay of Islands

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Two Nights: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands)

    Included Activities

    • Kauri Museum visit in Matakohe
    • Waitangi Treaty Grounds - explore Treaty of Waitangi signing location, Ngātokimatawhaorua war canoe and Te Whare Rūnanga Māori meeting house
    Landmarks
    Kauri Museum
    Waitangi Treaty Grounds
    Ngātokimatawhaorua
    Te Whare Rūnanga
    Itinerary Image 1
  3. Day 3

    Bay of Islands

    Included Activities

    • Bay of Islands Cruise - catamaran to Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock with inner islands, sandy beaches and rocky outcrops
    Landmarks
    Cape Brett
    Hole in the Rock
  4. Day 4

    Bay of Islands to Auckland

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Grand Millennium Auckland)
  5. Day 5

    Auckland to Hamilton to Rotorua

    Meals
    Dinner (Te Pā Tū - seasonal three-course dinner with Māori delicacies, chef selected aperitifs and seasonal canapés)
    Accommodation
    Hotel (Pullman Rotorua)

    Included Activities

    • Hamilton Gardens Visit - 4,000 years of gardening history across 18 enclosed gardens including traditional Māori, Egyptian, Tudor and Italian Renaissance gardens
    • Te Pā Tū - Māori Village evening with haka pōwhiri cultural welcome, haka, song and storytelling performances, seasonal canapés, chef selected aperitifs and seasonal three-course dinner
    Landmarks
    Hamilton Gardens
    Te Pā Tū
    Itinerary Image 1
  6. Day 6

    Rotorua

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Pullman Rotorua)

    Optional Activities

    • Agrodome Farm Show
    • Te Puia Thermal Reserve visit
    • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
    • Eco-Thermal Tour at Wai-O-Tapu including New Zealand's largest boiling mud pool and colourful hot springs
    • Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa - 7-step multisensory restorative journey combining Māori culture and traditional healing practices with geothermal heat, water, mud, and steam
    Landmarks
    Agrodome
    Te Puia Thermal Reserve
    Hobbiton Movie Set
    Wai-O-Tapu
    Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
  7. Day 7

    Rotorua to Wellington

    Accommodation
    Hotel (Two Nights: InterContinental Wellington)

    Included Activities

    • Huka Falls visit
    • Lake Taupō visit
    Landmarks
    Huka Falls
    Lake Taupō
    Tongariro National Park
    Itinerary Image 1Itinerary Image 2
  8. Day 8

    Wellington

    Meals
    Breakfast

    Included Activities

    • Wellington sightseeing tour - Mount Victoria, waterfront and landmarks
    • Wellington Cable Car - return journey from city centre over hillside to summit lookout

    Optional Activities

    • Te Papa Tongarewa - New Zealand's national museum
    Landmarks
    Mount Victoria
    Wellington Cable Car
    Te Papa Tongarewa
  9. Day 9

    Wellington

    Meals
    Breakfast

Want to read it later?

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

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

APT

Rating
4.1(26 reviews)
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
67%
Cancellation policy

Reviews from other tours by APT

  • John
    February 6th, 2023
    The tour started on a wrong note because we were not met at the airport in Auckland. After some time and effort...
    Show more
  • David
    March 23rd, 2020
    Our tour director, Daniel, did a really good job and made our 6 days very enjoyable. The bus driver was also very...
    Show more
  • Anonymous
    January 28th, 2012
    We went on the Southern Sensation premier plus tour. It was absolutely amazing!! We live in the North Island and i...
    Show more

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
We couldn't find results
Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts
  • M

    Marlene

    Asked on August 3rd, 2023

    Can you advise what meals make up the 12 meals. Also what are the experiences and then the two optional experiences.

    Meals
    Tour Details
    • APTOperatorWritten August 2023

      There are breakfasts on day 2-9. Dinner is included in day 2,4,5 and 7. Freedom of Choice optionals: Day 4: -Cruise on Waitemata Harbour, -Enjoy a unique All Blacks experience, -Auckland Zoo, -Weta Workshop Experience, -Tour to Auckland's wild, black sand beaches and lush rainforest. Day 6: -sheep show at the Agrodome followed by a visit to Te Puia Thermal Reserve, -Wai-O-Tapu, -Tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at APT with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

  • Travel inspiration for similar adventures
  • Alerts of the newest adventure deals

By submitting this form, I agree to the TourRadar T&Cs and Privacy policy.

You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter, check your inbox!

It seems you have entered this contest already! Keep an eye on your inbox for the winner.

Plan your adventure:

Earn while you share

With TourRadar RISE, you can earn commission when someone books a tour through a link you share — like this one.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 234828

  • 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 September 11th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after September 11th, 2026, a minimum payment of $750 is required to confirm your booking with APT. 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 120 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • The following cards are accepted for "APT" 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.

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