2021 Travel dates:
- 25 - 29 April
- 5 - 9 September
- 24 - 28 October
- 21 - 25 November
Includes:
- Two nights at Distinctions four-star hotel
- Two nights at Heritage Paihia four-star hotel
- Daily Breakfast
- Two three-course Dinner
- Two Light “Kiwi Style” Lunch
- Entry Fee of The Kauri Museum Matakohe, Waipu Museum, Quarry Gardens or Claphams National Clock Museum, Hikurangi Historical Museum, Reyburn House Art Gallery, Afternoon Tea, Te Waimate Mission, Hot Springs Entry Fee, pottery workshop
- Commentaries provided by your experienced escort, drivers and local guides
- Comfortable air-conditioned coaches with panoramic windows
- Airfare to and from tour departure/arrival (departing and arriving in Wellington and Christchurch - see fine print for Auckland return flights)
Itinerary:
Day 1
Highlights of the day:
- The Kauri Museum
- Waipu Museum
- Quarry Gardens
Departs Auckland 8.30 am. You will board your coach to start our northern expedition! Today, you'll cross Auckland's Harbour Bridge and travel along the Hibiscus Coast, stopping at The Kauri Museum (Matakohe) for an insight into the pioneering history of the region.
Quick but delicious "Classic Kiwi" lunch before you head to Waipu. Come and discover how one thousand Gaelic speaking emigrants from the western highlands of Scotland escaped the notorious Highland Clearances and eventually arrived in “the virtual paradise” of Waipu.
Heading towards Whangarei, enjoy views and the fantastic storyteller Guide along the way of the beautiful Northland East Coast. Arriving at your hotel to freshen up we join an orientation tour of Whangarei finding heritage gems to ponder over. For guests fascinated with time there is the option of clocks ticking and time passing.
Day 2
Highlights of the day:
- Waro Limestone Scenic Reserve
- Hikurangi Historical Museum
- Heritage Walk
- Evening Talk
Slogan for today: There are plenty of reasons to love Whangarei.
Whangarei is full of charm with its rich variety of historic buildings, art galleries and cafes, as well as stunning water views.
After your breakfast, you will visit Waro Limestone Scenic Reserve and walk around spectacular limestone formations finding snippets of history along the grassed track. On the way back to Whangarei you visit Hikurangi Museum. You will travel back in time to when Hikurangi was a thriving mining town and get lost in the lives of the early settlers. It’s the perfect place to pop in and experience local heritage.
A highlight is an industrial quarry site now reimaged as a stunning garden with sculptural interpretations of Whangarei’s story. Perhaps you indulge in lunch at the adjoining Quail Cafe (not included in the tour programme).
After lunch (excluded) near Town Basin you'll start your heritage walk around Whangarei.
A chance to chat to new friends while you share dinner together (included in tour programme) while your guide joins you for the evening. An evening talk about Aotearoa New Zealand and its past will spark a good-natured conversation with our tour guide. Share your historical knowledge and stories with each other.
Day 3
Highlights of the day:
- Ruapekapeka Pa
- Kawakawa King Theatre Art Gallery
- Hundertwasser Public Toilets
- Russell Heritage Walk
- Afternoon Tea / Russell
- Waitangi (optional)
Heritage on steroids today. A significant military site tells us stories about the nineteenth century Land Wars. The history of Ruapekapeka is entwined with that of the Treaty of Waitangi, a living document which continues to shape New Zealand society. Then you travel into the present and visit a stunning collection of Maori art and artisans at King Theatre Art Gallery. Kawakawa is home to Hundertwasser Public Toilets. It is one of the few toilet blocks on Planet Earth seen both as an international work of art and a tourist attraction in its own right.
A short break for lunch (not included in tour programme) and revived you catch the ferry to explore traces of the hell hole of the Pacific. Today Russell is a carefully crafted visitor experience with beautifully restored heritage buildings backdropped by the spectacular Bay of Islands coastline. It’s a pleasure to indulge in afternoon tea in the earliest documented hotel (liquor licence) with an opportunity for further self guided exploration of Russell before departing back to Pahia mid afternoon.
The balance of the day is free time. Your guide will offer tips for the day.
Day 4
Highlights of the day:
- Kororipo Heritage Park
- The Stone Store
- Te Waimate Mission
- Traditional Wellness Hot Springs
A scenic drive brings you to Kororipo Heritage Park - steeped in history, this is culturally and historically one of the most important sites in Aotearoa New Zealand. The nineteenth-century witnessed cultural interaction from reciprocal trading relationships profiting both parties to armed conflict about land ownership and the rights of the traditional owners. Te Waimate Mission - New Zealand’s second oldest building narrates a story of missionary activities interlaced with farming and architecture nineteenth-century practices.
Day 5
Fly back home.
Excludes:
- Travel/cancellation insurance (highly recommended, please contact us for a quote)
- Entry visa if needed
- Accommodation not as listed in the itinerary
- Sightseeing / activities not listed in the itinerary
- Waitangi, Pompallier Mission and Printery Entry Fee
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as room service, internet charge, laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional activities, etc
- Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
- Optional day tours during free time
About Pacific Jane:
The senior travel writer is a history buff. Sharing the joy of travel inspires Sarah-Jane’s stories. The quirky, the unique experience or the narrow winding road is grist for her typing fingers. Telling a story about a place is a conversation with good friends. As with all good travel writing, the adventure is never finished. There is always something new to write about.
Itinerary building, planning the perfect trip is an art. A travel expert is passionate about making sure your accommodation exceeds her expectations. Her eye for detail means the activities and adventures are effortless. With over fifteen years of travel knowledge to draw on our risk free guarantee is assured. Crafted unique journeys start with Pacific Jane.
The sales team love nothing better than stress testing a package to ensure holiday fun is part and parcel of the travel deal. An extensive international travel background is brought into play to capture the special moments that make our holidays unforgettable.
The team has walked the great walks of New Zealand or cruised on The Murray River. They have indulged in slow travel through the wine regions Down Under and layered up to explore Tasmania in winter. They have been there, loved the adventure. The travel deals are road tested. And they do not sit on their laurels. Travel deals are monitored to guarantee you do not miss out on anything.
Conditions
Valid from Apr 25, 2021
Expires Oct 21, 2021
Limit: 1 per user and 1 as gift for others
Bookings essential. Subject to availability. Travel dates: 25 April - 29 April 2021 only. Not valid on public holidays. Book early to avoid disappointment. Valid for the number of people stipulated on coupon only. Tour departs Clyde. Includes: Flights from Wellington or Christchurch, 2 nights at Distinctions 4-star hotel, 2 nights at Heritage Paihia 4-star hotel, Daily Breakfast, Two 3-course Dinner, 2 Light “Kiwi Style” Lunch, Entry Fee of The Kauri Museum Matakohe, Waipu Museum, Quarry Gardens or Claphams National Clock Museum, Hikurangi Historical Museum, Reyburn House Art Gallery, Afternoon Tea, Te Waimate Mission, Hot Springs Entry Fee, pottery workshop, Commentaries provided by your experienced escort, drivers and local guides, Comfortable air-conditioned coaches with panoramic windows. Flights can be provided up to a value or NZD$250 return from Air New Zealand (flights depart from Auckland one day prior to tour departure and fly back to Auckland the next day after the end of the tour). Excludes: Travel/cancellation insurance (highly recommended, please contact us for a quote), Entry visa if needed, Accommodation not as listed in the itinerary, Sightseeing / activities not listed in the itinerary, Waitangi, Pompallier Mission and Printery Entry Fee, Meals not listed in the itinerary, Personal expenses such as room service, internet charge, laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional activities, etc, Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc., Optional day tours during free time. 100% Covid risk free guarantee - all deposits are 100% transferable to other dates or tours. No cashback. Not to be used with other offers.
See the rules that apply to all deals.
