12 Day Grand Loop: North Island Small Group Tour

Head southeast to the Coromandel Peninsula, home of the famous Cathedral Cove rock formation. Get out on the water for a closer look at the coastline, or walk in to the cove on foot. At Hot Water Beach, dig your own personal spa pool in the sand where the tide meets the naturally heated spring below.

Overnight: Hahei

Included Accommodation: Hahei Beach Resort (or similar)

Included Experience

• Hot Water Beach

Optional Activity

• Cathedral Cove Kayaking

• Hahei Explorer

Stop in Tairua to climb Mt Paku for sweeping coastal views, then continue to the beach town of Whangamata. From there, drive on to Waihi for a look at the old mining lookout before walking a section of the historic Karangahake Gorge. The day finishes in Tauranga, with a stop at Mount Maunganui’s beach and summit before the evening.

Overnight: Tauranga

Included Accommodation:Papamoa Beach holiday park (or similar)

Included Experience

• Mount Paku Walk
• Whangamata Visit
• Waihi Mine Lookout

Start with a stop at McLean Falls, then continue to Hobbiton for an included guided tour of the film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. On the way to Rotorua, stop at Putaruru Blue Spring, known for some of the clearest fresh water in the country.

Overnight: Rotorua

Included Accommodation: Haka House (or similar)

Included Experience

• Visit to McLean Falls
• Putaruru Blue Springs
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

A free day in Rotorua to explore at your own pace, whether that means ziplining through the treetops, rolling downhill in a giant inflatable ball, or a quieter walk through one of the geothermal parks or the Redwoods Forest. In the evening, the group heads to a traditional Maori village for a cultural performance, a hangi feast, and an overnight stay in a traditional communal sleeping house, followed by stories around the fire.

Overnight: Traditional Maori Village

Included Accommodation: Te Pā Tū Māori Village

• Glowworm Kayak Tour
• Mt Tarawera Volcanic Crater Experience
• Redwoods Treetop Walk

Before leaving Rotorua, stop at Te Puia to see the geothermal valley and its kiwi conservation center. Continue south to Taupo, with a stop at Huka Falls, one of the highest-volume waterfalls in the country, and a photo stop at the colorful Waiotapu Thermal Park. In the evening, join a sunset sailing trip on Lake Taupo past Maori rock carvings, pizza included.

Overnight: Taupo

Included Accommodation: Lakefront Lodge (or similar)

Included Experience

• Te Puia – Geothermal Wonderland
• Lake Taupō Sailing Adventure
• Waiotapu Thermal Park

A full free day in Taupo. Depending on the season, this is a good opportunity to tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a full-day hike across a volcanic landscape of colored mineral pools and steaming vents in Tongariro National Park. Otherwise, spend the day at Taupo’s lakeside cafes or book an optional adventure activity.

Overnight: Taupo

Included Accommodation: Lakefront Lodge (or similar)

Included Experience

• Huka Falls

Optional Activity

• AJ Hackett Bungy
• Huka Falls Jet

Head south through Tongariro National Park, stopping for the Taranaki Falls walk, an easy alpine trail with cascading water views. A lighthearted gumboot-throwing stop in the small town of Taihape breaks up the drive before arriving in Wellington in the afternoon.

Overnight: Wellington

Included Accommodation: Haka House Wellington (or similar)

Included Experience

• Taranaki Falls Walk
• Taihape Gumboot Throwing

Optional Activity

• Capital Bar Crawl

Spend the day exploring the capital, starting with an included visit to Weta Workshop, where props, costumes, and creature designs from major film productions are on display. In the afternoon, rent an e-bike to ride the waterfront, or head to Zealandia, a fenced wildlife sanctuary a short drive from the city.

Overnight: Wellington

Included Accommodation: Haka House Wellington (or similar)

Included Experience

• Weta Workshop Tour

Optional Activity

• Zealandia Te Mara A Tane
• Te Papa Museum

Leave the capital behind for the Rangitikei River backcountry, where River Valley offers a peaceful setting to disconnect for a night. In the evening, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.

Overnight: River Valley

Included Accommodation: River Valley Lodge (or similar)

Optional Activity

• River Valley E-Bike
• River Valley Horse Riding
• River Valley White Water Rafting

The drive west crosses the central North Island toward Waitomo, where a guided cave tour takes you through limestone formations lit by thousands of glowworms. Travelers looking for more adventure can upgrade to an underground black water rafting trip.

Overnight: Waitomo

Included Accommodation: Waitomo Chalets (or similar)

Included Experience

• Ruakuri Cave Tour

Optional Activity

• Legendary Black Water Rafting Black Labyrinth
• Legendary Black Water Rafting Black Abyss

Start with an easy walk through Ruakuri Reserve, known for its sculpted limestone cliffs and natural rock arches, followed by a guided wildlife experience at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. The route continues west to the surf town of Raglan, with a stop at Bridal Veil Falls before returning to Auckland, where the tour concludes.

Included Experience

• Lylo (or similar)
• Sanctuary Mountain
• Ruakuri Scenic Walk

Optional Activity

• Surf Lesson