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Day 1
You have the choice of joining the tour in Picton at midday before we board the Cook Strait ferry for the scenic three hour journey to Wellington. If you want to join the tour in Wellington we will meet you late afternoon when we visit Te Papa, the national Museum, which is walking distance from your waterfront hotel. This evening we explore one of Wellington’s boutique breweries to savour a stunning crop of local and imported beers. Hosted & designed by a local beer expert who will share fascinating knowledge about beer with you. (L)
 Within the city boundary exists one of the most exciting ‘island’ conservation endeavours. Surrounded by a 3 meter predator proof fence the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary provides a full morning exploring the tracks and the wildlife. By mid afternoon we return to our coach and complete the drive to River Valley Lodge, which is nestled beside the Rangitikei River. After the long drive, you have the chance to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge and its surroundings. (B, L, D)
The Rangitikei River (home to some of the spectacular Lord of the Rings footage) is also home to some high class river rafting. Dependant on the degree of challenge sought; there are three options available. Firstly, the spectacular gorges and cliffs can be viewed from the raft as part of a sedate drift trip, i.e. minimum yelling and screaming required, and minimum wet clothing, secondly, you get up close and personal with the river amongst the white water of the upper section or the third option is for those who don’t like the water – a relaxing horse trek through the scenic countryside. You choose, no pressure! By mid afternoon it’s back on the road for a relaxing drive north to Rotorua. Tonight is free to explore Rotorua. (B, L)
After an early breakfast, we head down highway 30 for an hour and a half to Whakatane, a small seaside town, whose main industries are forestry and a distribution centre for the surrounding dairy and fat lamb farming. It is also the launching point for our 50 km launch ride to the steaming, active volcano, White Island. The launch anchors a few hundred meters from shore. Here you don your gas mask and helmet and board the small tender vessel that ferries you to the old wharf. What follows is a fascinating tour, where you learn about the forces that are twitching, belching and rumbling all around you. Also hear the tragic history of mans attempts to extract the sulphur from the island. The climax has to be the hike to the crater rim. Here you look down into the steaming, boiling Crater Lake. Back on board we have a delicious lunch as the boat begins the journey back to Whakatane. And who knows, with a little bit of luck we may even get to watch some dolphins or whales along the way. In the evening we attend a cultural experience on a marae, (the traditional centre of a Maori village) where you will experience a formal Maori welcome by your hosts. They will then entertain us with a Maori cultural performance, followed by a hangi (food cooked in an earth oven.) After the tour we return to our accommodation in Rotorua. (B, L, D)
The morning starts with a visit to the Rotorua Bathhouse museum where we explore the differing aspects of the Maori and early European cultures. We watch a short video presentation explaining the awesome forces that helped form this fabulous thermal wonderland. After the museum it’s time to try something completely different. This activity involves little 4 x 4 vehicles, lots of mud and sweaty palms. All perfectly safe, but just a little nerve racking! After this its time to let the nerves settle on the 3 hour drive through the fertile Waikato farmlands to Auckland. (B, L)
A short drive to Auckland's viaduct basin from our base at the Barrycourt Motor Inn. Here we board our yacht for a 1 1/2 hour sail on Auckland's sparkling Waitemata Harbour, which forms part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. As we leave the marina it shouldn't be too hard to see why Auckland is known as the City of Sails! Learn some sailing jargon, take the helm, or just sit back, relax and enjoy the sea breeze over a late breakfast. After the sailing it’s time for our final goodbyes, your guides will deliver you to your central city hotel or will arrange transport for you to the International Airport. (B)
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
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