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Auckland to Waitomo, Taupo and Rotorua 3 Day ToursOur Private Luxury Three Day Tours offer you unforgettable experiences across a diverse range of stunning landscapes in the North Island of New Zealand.
Auckland to Waitomo, Taupo and Rotorua Private Luxury 3 Day Tour: our Auckland to Rotorua Private Luxury 3 Day Tour begins at 8am on day 1 when we collect you in our air-conditioned luxury vehicle from your Auckland accommodation.
Day 1:
On the 2 ½ hour drive south we follow the mighty Waikato River through the rich, rolling farmland of the Waikato region and the King Country. We pass through a string of small, historic river towns, including Ngaruawahia, site of the famous Turangawaewae Marae (traditional Maori meeting place) and seat of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Maori King.
Waitomo Caves is an amazing natural wonderland which offers a vast range of unique sights and experiences. Your range of 3-4 hour tours (at your cost) will ensure that you experience the full magic of Waitomo. We recommend a 3-4 hour tour where you can decide on a soft adventure option to see both a Glowworm Cave and a cave with Stalactites and Stalagmites, or the more adventurous Black Water Rafting!
The soft adventure options includes:
- Huge, natural underground chambers at Waitomo Caves;
- Strange formations of stalagmites and stalactites;
- A dark, mysterious underground river that helped form some of the caves;
- Best of all, the Glowworms that light the caves like stars.
Black Water Rafting includes:
- You walking and floating through magical caves partly sitting on an inflated lorry tyre and partly walking through the caves!
- Depending on which option you choose, you can also abseil down the surfaces of the giant underground caverns in a rope harness to explore these amazing caves.
You can also explore the Otorohanga Kiwi House after seeing the amazing Waitomo Caves, where you’ll see the Kiwi, our national bird and emblem, as well as a host of other native birds and wildlife.
At about 3pm (later if we include Otorohanga Kiwi House) we set off for the Central Volcanic Plateau with the huge volcanic caldera Lake Taupo as its centerpiece and New Zealand’s largest lake. When we arrive in Taupo you can just relax or have a range of options for relaxation and activities in the evening, including some great restaurant options. You can also have a luxurious swim in Taupo’s thermal pools and/or enjoy a relaxing spa experience.
Accommodation in Taupo.
Day 2:
In Taupo you can stroll along the shores of New Zealand’s largest lake or take a dip, if you dare, in its snow-fed waters. You can browse in the town’s brilliant mix of local craft and fashion shops, or picnic in its sunny, sheltered lakefront gardens.
Here too, we offer you a range of special tour options (some at own cost):
- A scenic cruise of beautiful lake Taupo;
- Trout fishing in various locations in or around Lake Taupo, which is reputed to be the world’s best Trout fishing spot;
- Huka Jet, a thrilling Jet Boat ride;
- Huka Prawn Park, where we can also stop for lunch if you like Prawns;
- An afternoon of golf at the famous and fabulous Wairakei Course, often referred to as one of the world’s finest golf courses.
Continuing north past the Craters of the Moon, we stop at spectacular Huka Falls on the mighty Waikato River. Here, safe bush-fringed paths and viewing platforms offer stunning vistas of the river. We can also show you the impressive Aratiatia Rapids, an amazing spectacle when a lock in the Waikato River is lifted and the river is allowed to roar through at amazing force and speed a few times per day.
We then head north towards Rotorua across the volcanic plateau. The region is home to several of New Zealand’s most impressive Thermal Parks and we suggest visiting Waiotapu, Orakei Korako or Waimangu Volcanic Valley, where you can experience the full might and majesty of this unique and spectacular volcanic landscape, which Rotorua and Taupo are so famous for.
We continue on to Rotorua itself, where we catch our first glimpses of the shimmering blue lake with bush-clad Mokoia Island at its centre.
After settling into our accommodation at our specially chosen hotel (we have a range of hotel and accommodation options for you, depending on your preferences), in the evening we highly recommend a unique Maori cultural experience at Mitai Maori Village in Rotorua. Here you’ll enjoy a traditional Kai Maori (Maori food) cooked in a Hangi (earth oven) and enjoy a performance of song and dance in a traditional Maori village setting.
Alternatively, our hotel is perfectly placed close to a range of Rotorua’s finest attractions, offering you the opportunity to explore more of Rotorua on foot at your leisure.
Accommodation in Rotorua.
Day 3:
The next morning on day 3 and as part of your Auckland to Waitomo, Taupo and Rotorua Private Tour with us, we can show you:
- Rotorua City
- Government Gardens and Rotorua Museum, which not only holds some of New Zealand’s most fascinating collections but is also housed in the stunning old Victorian bath house in the centre of the beautiful Government Gardens.
- Rotorua Lake Front with view across the to magical Mokoia Island
- One of the stunning thermal areas that make Rotorua such a famous visitor attraction in New Zealand and beyond (at your cost).
- Time-permitting, Redwood Forest (widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful forests)
- Blue Lake
- Green Lake
- Lake Tarawera with the peak of Mount Tarawera towering above the lake.
We can also arrange extra tour options (at your cost) to cater for your particular preferences and abilities. They include:
- A cruise to Mokoia Island, the sacred island and bird sanctuary in the middle of Lake Rotorua, where you can walk in the pristine bush, listen to the song of some of our shy native birds (and spot some of the cheeky ones) bathe in the hot pools and hear the story of Rotorua’s legendary lovers, Hinemoa and Tutanekai.
- The Skyline Gondola, which will swing you up to the top of Mount Ngongotaha for a spectacular view and the Luge, which will spin you back down.
- The Polynesian Spa, on the site of one of Rotorua’s historic bath houses in the lovely Government Gardens, is also home to one of the world’s best spas, so here you can steep yourself in luxury and well-being as well as history. This is also a great option on the evening of day 1 instead of Mitai.
- White water rafting, on one six scenic and challenging local river courses.
- The Agrodome, where you can experience all the magic of New Zealand farming, with a fascinating range of agricultural shows and displays.
- Helicopter or floatplane flights to see both Rotorua and Lake Rotorua, as well as a huge amount of amazing volcanic sights from above. This can include a landing and tour on a currently active volcano, or flight to the most isolated (and one of the most beautiful) thermal areas in this amazing region!
We leave Rotorua at about 3pm. On our way back to Auckland we stop at Matamata, the quiet dairy town which shot to stardom as Hobbiton in Peter Jackson’s famous film “The Lord of the Rings”. The Hobbiton sign in the town centre offers a wonderful photo opportunity. “Hobbiton Tours”, of the village and countryside which featured in the film, are also available and we are happy to book one for you. We can easily do this by leaving Rotorua a little earlier and amending day 3 of your Private Tour itinerary to incorporate this attraction about an hour from Rotorua.
We return you to your Auckland accommodation at between 6pm and 7pm, later if we include Hobbiton.
All our Private Tours include pick up and drop off at your Auckland city accommodation, our comprehensive, expert and friendly guiding during your tour, as well as an extensive picnic lunch on day 1 plus snacks and hot/cold drinks for you to enjoy.
Prices for our Private Auckland to Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Luxury Private 3 Day Tours:
5+ people NZ$735 each
4 people NZ$885 each
3 people NZ$1035 each
2 people NZ$1425 each
Please contact us if you have any special requirements – we are always happy to fit in with your plans to ensure you have “the TIME of your life!”
P.S: Please note that for all our Private Tours from Auckland, you also have the option of booking 1-day or multi-day Private Tours to other stunning destinations such as the Coromandel Peninsula and the Bay of Islands. Please ask us and we’ll be able to advise you, since we know both Auckland and New Zealand exceptionally well and can arrange itineraries, tour options and accommodation to cater to your individual needs. Please email us for larger groups, which we can price individually.
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