Spend 7 nights in New Zealand with car rental and hotel accommodations exploring the highlights of the North Island - Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Lake Taupo.  On the way back enjoy a 2-night stopover in Hawaii for a quick taste of the world-famous Waikiki Beach!

Day 1: LAX/SFO – Auckland | Board your morning flight to Honolulu where you catch a connecting flight to Auckland.

Day 2: Auckland | Arrive at Auckland International Airport in the evening and pick up your rental car, drive a half hour to the Copthorne Hotel Auckland City, set in the heart of New Zealand’s largest and most populous city. 

Day 3: Auckland - Rotorua | Drive to Rotorua for a 2–night stay at the Kingsgate Rotorua hotel. On your way to Rotorua you can choose to visit the Hobbiton movie set and see how this beautiful piece of Waikato farmland was transformed into The Shire from Middle-earth. Alternatively you can drive through famous Waitomo caves  and take a boat ride under thousands of magical glowworms light your way. 

Day 4: Rotorua | In Rotorua you will witness turbulent geothermal activity - geysers, mud pools and thermal springs, have the opportunity to experience fascinating Maori culture.   We recommend purchasing “Essential Rotorua” excursion package which includes all major Rotorua attractions. 

Day 5: Rotorua-Wellington | You will be traveling south to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city and "the Middle of Middle Earth". If location is everything, then the Copthorne Hotel Oriental Bay in Wellington has it all. The hotel overlooks one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and offers one of the finest accommodation experiences in Wellington.

Day 6: Wellington | Today is yours to explore Wellington. Lonely Planet named Wellington ‘the coolest little capital in the world’ (2011), and the city is renowned for its arts, culture and native beauty. Relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach and delve into the many museums, art galleries and theatre shows that make up the city’s pulsing cultural scene. Stroll along the City to Sea walk where you can experience the best of Wellington's waterfront or ride the cable car up the hill to Kelburn for amazing views over the city.  For the Lord of the Rings fans, Wellington is the place to be. From Weta Cave, the shop front of the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop that created the special effects for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and many other blockbusters to the sightseeing tour (optional add-on) that reveals the key film locations within an hour of central Wellington, this city will not dissapoint you. 

Day 7: Wellington-Taupo | You will be traveling north to Taupo for an overnight stay at the Millennium Hotel & Resort offering uninterrupted views of the magnificent Lake Taupo and surrounding  mountains.

Day 8: Taupo-Auckland | Lake Taupo is one of the most beautiful and tranquil place in New Zealand. Taupo is more than a lake. It is a volcano with no top – a top that was blown off in one of the largest and most devastating eruptions ever seen on the planet. Taupo is a great lake for adventure with water-skiing, parasailing, jet-skiing and kayaking but what it’s really well known for is fishing. In the afternoon return to Auckland and the Copthorne hotel Auckland City.

Day 9: Auckland – Honolulu | Spend the day exploring Auckland. To get a towering perspective of the city, you have got to see the 360-degree view from the observation deck of the Auckland Sky Tower, the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.  If you’d rather admire the city from water level, then take a cruise on a chartered launch or classic yacht on the Waitemata Harbour. This evening, drop off your car at the Auckland International Airport and board your flight to Honolulu. Arrive Honolulu and transfer to your hotel for a 2 night stay (transfer is not included)

Day 10:  Honolulu | Honolulu, the state’s capital and Hawaii’s largest city, is the vibrant epicenter of Hawaii. Your hotel is just a few blocks from the world-famous Waikiki beach,  Oahu’s main hotel and resort area and a vibrant gathering place offering world-class shopping, fine dining, music and entertainment.  Kick back and relax on the beach or explore the surrounding area. Nearby places to check-out include the famous Diamond Head crater, a popular hiking destination with panoramic views of Honolulu, the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium and Hanauma Bay, a great snorkeling spot with lively reefs.

Day 11: Honolulu-LAX/SFO: Catch an evening flight from Honolulu back to the main land. Please note that you return home on the same date.  

Travel Dates

From 3/13/2013 thru 11/12/2013Other travel dates available for this package at a different price. Please call.

Inclusions

• Roundtrip Airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco  to Auckland on Hawaiian Airline (with connection in Honolulu)
• 8 Days car rental (Pick up and drop off in Auckland)
• 2 Nights Copthorne Hotel Auckland City in a Standard Room
• 2 Nights Copthorne Hotel Rotorua in a Standard Room
• 2 Nights Kingsgate Hotel Wellington in a Standard Room
• 1 Night Millennium Hotel & Resort Taupo Manuels in a Standard Room
• 2 nights at the Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki Hotel (or similar) in Honolulu in a Standard Room
• All hotel taxes

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