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

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.

From

US $3,899 per person

Great Northerner Auckland - Wellington (2026)

9 days

•

From Auckland to Tongariro

4.2 (27 reviews)

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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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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: APT
City & Culture: Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
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

Intro
Introduction
Day 1
Auckland
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
Day 2
Auckland to Bay of Islands
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
Day 3
Bay of Islands
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
Day 4
Bay of Islands to Auckland
Bay of Islands to Auckland
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Grand Millennium Auckland)
Day 5
Auckland to Hamilton to Rotorua
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
Day 6
Rotorua
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
Day 7
Rotorua to Wellington
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
Day 8
Wellington
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
Day 9
Wellington
Wellington
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Auckland Harbour Bridge
Weta Workshop
Auckland Zoo

Landmarks
Kauri Museum
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Ngātokimatawhaorua
Te Whare Rūnanga

Landmarks
Cape Brett
Hole in the Rock

Landmarks
Hamilton Gardens
Te Pā Tū

Landmarks
Agrodome
Te Puia Thermal Reserve
Hobbiton Movie Set
Wai-O-Tapu
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa

Landmarks
Huka Falls
Lake Taupō
Tongariro National Park

Landmarks
Mount Victoria
Wellington Cable Car
Te Papa Tongarewa

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

Grand Millennium Auckland
Hotel
Days 1, 4
Two Nights: Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands
Hotel
day 2
Pullman Rotorua
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Two Nights: InterContinental Wellington
Hotel
day 7

Operated by

APT

Rating: 4.2 (27 reviews)
Response time: within 1 day
Response rate: 60%
Cancellation policy: Learn more

Reviews from other tours by APT

Tour Operator
4.2

John4.0•February 2023
The tour started on a wrong note because we were not met at the airport in Auckland. After some time and effort...
The tour started on a wrong note because we were not met at the airport in Auckland. After some time and effort another gentleman unrelated to the tour drove us to our hotel and wouldn't dream of taking any money. This was the first of many interfaces with NZ people, who seem to be universally friendly and helpful. Once we met with tour director Fernando and the rest of our tour group the trip was terrific. Although this was billed as "rail tour" we spent much more time on the tour bus then on the rails. However, the two bus drivers - John and then Rob - were excellent and provided local insight into all of the areas we visited, in a knowledgeable and humorous manner. We managed to leave our passports in a hotel safe, and Fernando went all out to recover them for us. The tour group were all seniors, and we made some good friends that we hope to see again. The NZ weather was perfect for the whole tour, and we were in warm dry Christchurch when Auckland had their floods Clearly we would have needed a much longer time to see all that NZ has to offer, but what we did see was impressive - incredible greenery, roads and rail lines installed thru impossible terrain, huge cattle and sheep herds, entrepreneurship displayed every where. Terrific tour, nice folks!Show more
David5.0•March 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
Anonymous4.0•January 2012
We went on the Southern Sensation premier plus tour. It was absolutely amazing!! We live in the North Island and i...
We went on the Southern Sensation premier plus tour. It was absolutely amazing!! We live in the North Island and i can honestly say i fell in love with my country all over again. We had never been to the south island before and wanted to go and explore before we take the kids. Our bus driver and tour guide were both fantastic. Our tour guide made sure everything was perfect and any thing else we needed was not a problem. Our bus driver was just as good and helpful. They worked so well together and they both knew stories about the history of places. I highly recommend using APT, even if it is around your own country and trust me you will still be amazed. - Michelle K, New ZealandShow more

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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
- APTOperator•Written 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.

Trip essentials

Good to know

Tour ID: 234828

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Pay in installments
Spread the cost in interest-free biweekly installments of $450.
Deposit only
Book now with just a $750 deposit. The remaining balance is due 120 days before departure.
$ - New Zealand Dollar
You’ll encounter New Zealand Dollar in New Zealand.
Plug type I
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$
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New Zealand
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- Type I
  Used in New Zealand
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Payment information
Pay now
A $750 deposit
Balance due
120 days before departure
Installments
Interest-free, every two weeks
Currency
USD
Booking fee
None
Book now with just a $750 deposit and pay the rest later. The remaining balance is due 120 days before departure, charged automatically to your card, or you can split it into interest-free biweekly installments of $450 at checkout. Everything is charged in USD, and TourRadar never adds a booking fee. Any trip departing before February 3rd, 2027 will need to be paid in full at checkout.
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From

US $

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select departure month

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Great Northerner Auckland - Wellington (2026)

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Reviews from other tours by APT

Dates & Prices

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Pay in installments

Deposit only

$ - New Zealand Dollar

Plug type I

Currency

Plugs & adapters

Visa

Payment information

Accepted for APT tours

Best price guarantee

How it works

Your quote needs

What doesn’t count

Cancellation Policy

Insurance

Accessibility

People also viewed

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