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New Zealand's North Island - 5 Days, 4 Nights

Post-cruise program:

This post cruise program on the North Island offers a view of an entirely different New Zealand—one of rolling hills and green pastures, of dairy farms and berry orchards. As you drive from Auckland to Wellington, roughly the distance from New York to Cleveland, you will enjoy the pastoral world of New Zealand farming, witness the geothermal fields around Rotorua, and participate in some of the cultural traditions of the indigenous Māori. This post-trip extension is a perfect land-based complement to what awaits you aboard your ship.

Day 1 – Auckland| Rotorua

After breakfast aboard, disembark the ship and board a luxury coach to begin your drive southward to Rotorua. After about two hours of travel through scenic rolling green hills and dense forests, pause for a tour of a working dairy farm, one of New Zealand's most important industries, and enjoy a typical country-style lunch of local produce. Following lunch, continue to Rotorua, a "Thermal Wonderland" of geysers, bubbling mud pools, and soothing hot springs, where you explore Waimangu Volcanic Valley, home to the intriguing Inferno Crater which rises and falls as it heats and cools.

Check-in to the Pullman Rotorua Hotel in late afternoon and prepare for the evening's activity: a Māori cultural experience in the ancient forest village at Tawa-ngāhere-pā. The evening will include a traditional welcome ceremony, an immersive guided tour through a historic Māori Village, stunning cultural performances, and a feast cooked in a traditional Māori hāngī (earth oven), a centuries-old cooking method perfect for feeding a group and bringing a community together.

Pullman Rotorua Hotel

Day 2 – Rotorua | New Plymouth

Today, your coach heads toward the west coast of North Island, stopping about mid-morning at the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Here, a boat specially designed for the purpose will take you deep into the caves where tiny worms, unique to New Zealand, radiate a fluorescent blue-green glow that illuminates the caves and underground streams that are their home.

A short drive brings you to nearby Crosshills Homestead, where the owners will serve a lunch made entirely on the premises from produce grown on local farms, including their own. After lunch and a stop for dessert at a berry orchard, drive through the Taranaki region of the country to the coastal city of New Plymouth, where you check-in to the Novotel New Plymouth hotel in late afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure for you to explore New Plymouth's waterfront and enjoy dinner on your own.

Novotel New Plymouth

Day 3 - New Plymouth | Wellington

Breakfast is followed by a walk across the street to the permanent exhibit of the works of Len Lye in the Govett-Brewster Gallery, where one of the gallery's curators will introduce you to the work of this famed New Zealand artist. After the gallery tour, board your coach for the drive to Whanganui, pausing along the way at Pukekura park and at Parihaka, where the early Taranaki Māori Wars took place. In Whanganui, explore the Museum, famous for its Taonga Māori Collection, and enjoy lunch.

Continue your drive to Paekākāriki, where a guide will lead you on a tour of the wetlands and Kahikatea remnant forest of Queen Elizabeth Park, before a stroll along the beach. A final 45-minute drive along the coast overlooking the Cook Strait ends in Wellington, where you check in to the Sofitel for the next two nights. The evening is at leisure.

Sofitel Wellington

Day 4 - Wellington |

After breakfast at the hotel set off on a 'foodie' tour of Wellington, during which you visit a craft brewery, sample good coffee and the best chocolates available in New Zealand's capital city. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the city. You may wish to explore the Te Papa Tongarewa (NZ National Museum), Wellington Cable car, Botanic Gardens, Parliament Buildings, and more. In the evening, join the group for a farewell dinner at one of Wellington’s iconic dining establishments featuring local New Zealand flavors.

Sofitel Wellington

Day 5 - Wellington | Homeward

After breakfast at the hotel, check out of the hotel and depart for the airport for flights home.

Your hotels:

The Pullman Rotorua Hotel, a 5-star property, is located in the center of the city. With 130 rooms, a gym, restaurant and bar, it is the perfect base for exploring the geothermal phenomena of the region.

Novotel in New Plymouth is a 4-star hotel in the center of the city. It is adjacent to the Len Lye Gallery and within a stone's throw of the city's finest restaurants, bars, cafes, and retail spots.

The Sofitel Wellington, located in the Parliament precinct of the capital city, is a 5-star hotel with an award-winning restaurant and La Serre Bar. Its luxury rooms and suites feature Sofitel MyBed and modern bathrooms with refined French amenities.

Your program includes:

• 1 night each in the Pullman Rotorua and the Novotel New Plymouth
• 2 nights in the Sofitel Wellington
• Transfer and luggage handling from the pier to the hotel on Day 1
• Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the airport on Day 5

• Breakfast on Days 2, 3, 4, and 5
• Lunch on Days 1, 2, and 3
• Dinner on Days 1 and 4
• Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
• Local English-speaking guides
• Gratuities for the drivers and local guides

Your program does not include:

• Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled program departure day
• Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program

Please note:

• It is imperative that your flight departure details are communicated at least 90 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the hotel to the airport.
• Late check-out is available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
• The official currency is the New Zealand Dollar. Credit cards are largely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
• This post-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
• Program is offered on a space available basis.
• Program is subject to change without notice.