New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound)

Discover New Zealand’s inspiring scenery and Maori culture along the Northern Trail

The legendary landscapes and natural beauty of New Zealand’s North Island are simply unbeatable, but there’s so much more to the region than its showstopping scenery. This 10-day adventure takes you from the bright lights of Auckland to creative and contemporary Wellington. Along the way, your local leader will introduce you to the beaches and forests of the Coromandel Peninsula, the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and otherworldly landscapes of Tongariro National Park. Add a hangi dinner with a Maori community, kiwi spotting and fish and chips and you’re in for a classic Kiwi adventure.

Trip code: PHKN

Start: Auckland, New Zealand

End: Wellington, New Zealand


Duration
10 days
Group size
1 to 16
Minimum age
15 years old
Style

Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders

Comfort
Theme

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Explorer
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From
USD $2,824

Why you'll love this trip

  • Swap Auckland’s city vibes for the natural beauty of the Coromandel Peninsula, including a visit to Hot Water Beach, where all you need is a spade to create your own natural hot tub.
  • Discover Rotorua’s heritage, from colourful geothermal activity to the rich Maori culture. Visit a Maori village for a hangi dinner and watch a traditional haka performance.
  • Walk through the wild landscapes of Tongariro National Park, from emerald-green lakes to soaring volcanic peaks. If you’re up for the challenge, you can even tackle the famous Tongariro Crossing.
  • Visit Hobbiton – the living set where part of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films were shot.
This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

View the itinerary for departures between 05 May 2025 - 30 September 2026

Itinerary

Map of New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound) including New Zealand

Inclusions and activities

Destinations
New Zealand
Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Private Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel/Motel (9 nights)

Included activities
  • Coromandel Peninsula - Cathedral Cove
  • Coromandel Peninsula - Hot Water Beach
  • Rotorua - Redwood Forest Canopy Walk
  • Rotorua - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
  • Rotorua - Pohutu Geyser
  • Rotorua - Hangi Dinner & Haka Dance
  • Taupo - Huka Falls
  • Wellington - Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary

Optional activities
  • Coromandel Peninsula - Cathedral Cove Kayaking - NZD155
  • Rotorua - Skyline Gondola Rotorua - NZD43
  • Rotorua - Forest Ziplining - from - NZD189
  • Rotorua - Whitewater Rafting - NZD139
  • Rotorua - ZORB - from - NZD45
  • Tongariro National Park - Tongariro Crossing (Unguided, Transport to/from Trail Head only) - from - NZD130
  • Wellington - Te Papa Museum Tour - NZD35
  • Wellington - Weta Workshop Cave Tour - NZD55

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Dates and prices

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Reviews

4.3 . 4 reviews
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Alan
Traveled September 2024
Judy
Traveled May 2024
Judith
Traveled May 2024
Alex
Traveled December 2022
New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound)
From
USD $2,824