Discover the best of New Zealand's North Island on a seven-day premium tour, travelling in a small group of no more than 14. From geothermal wonders and spectacular beaches to glowworm caves and rich Māori culture, we take in this enchanting region at a relaxed, personal pace.
We visit the Hobbiton Movie Set with lunch at the Shire's Rest Cafe, marvel at the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland, watch the power of Huka Falls, explore the glowworm-lit caverns of Waitomo, wander the themed Hamilton Gardens, and finish on the surf coast at Raglan before returning to Auckland.
Days
- 7 days, 6 nights
Age
- 18+ (16 and 17 year olds with a supervising adult)
Group size
- Maximum 14 guests
Start / finish
- Auckland / Auckland
- Auckland airport, mid-afternoon on day 7
Return
- Auckland airport, mid-afternoon on day 7
Accommodation
- 6 nights in 3-4 star accommodation, twin share — one at Mount Maunganui, two in Rotorua, two in Taupō and one in Raglan.
Transport
- A Mercedes Sprinter with your guide throughout, finishing with an airport drop-off in Auckland mid-afternoon on day 7.
Meals
- A group dinner on the first night, and lunch at the Shire's Rest Cafe on the Hobbiton day. No other meals are listed as included.
Route
Included experiences
- Hobbiton — a guided tour of the Shire, with lunch at the Shire's Rest Cafe
- Waitomo Caves — a guided tour through limestone formations and glowworms
- Huka Falls — the sheer power of the water on the Waikato
- Wai-O-Tapu — the geothermal wonderland outside Rotorua
- Rotorua — a free day for rafting the Kaituna, the Polynesian Spa, the Redwoods Treewalk or Mount Tarawera
- Taupō — a free day, with the Tongariro Crossing, jet boating, fishing or the hot springs
- Mount Maunganui — an afternoon on the beach, then a group dinner
- Hamilton Gardens — themed gardens representing different civilisations and periods
- Raglan — beaches and surf culture on the final morning
- Optional — a sunset cruise across Lake Taupō
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 5 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
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Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
On the North Island leg of this premium tour, guide Ben was punctual, organised and friendly from the start. With a knee injury to work around, the reviewer appreciated how he offered options to keep enjoying the sights at her own pace. Ben also threw in some extras that weren't expected — a glowworm cave walk and stargazing under the Milky Way — plus a lucky spot of three wallabies on the drive home one night.
Eva rated Tom as an outstanding guide and driver on a tour packed with highlights that were hard to single out. Lord of the Rings fans in particular shouldn't miss the Hobbiton stop. The small group size meant lasting friendships were made along the way.
“North Island Escape 🫶🏽”
Jasmine did the North Island Escape Premium tour for her birthday with three friends, in a small enough group to get to know the other travellers. Guide Tom was knowledgeable and timed the stops well, and sunny weather made it easy to pull over for extra sights. She plans to return for the South Island tour and praised Tom's recommendations and attentiveness.
“Dec 2023 North Island Tour with Tegan”
An absolutely amazing North Island tour with guide Tegan, who is described as knowledgeable and easy-going. Highlights included caving at Waitomo, Hobbiton, Huka Falls, the geothermal vents at Rotorua and various Maori cultural experiences. The reviewer felt safe and comfortable as a solo traveller throughout, rating the trip a full 10/10 despite one so-so hostel.
“North island, New Zealand- Wild Kiwi tours”
A great tour for solo travellers or first-timers, with a stress-free booking process and comfortable accommodation including breakfast and one dinner included. Guide Jordie was relaxed, funny and shared plenty about New Zealand culture and history, while pointing the group toward optional activities such as Hobbiton, the Waitomo glowworm caves, bungy jumping, kayaking and a Māori village visit. Already looking forward to doing the South Island tour next.
