Highlights of the South Pacific with Uluru and the Outback

Kia Ora! Welcome to Auckland! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4pm in order to attend the evening’s welcome meeting and dinner. Tonight, enjoy 360-degree views of Auckland below as you dine atop SkyCity at the Orbit Restaurant. (D)

New Zealand Treasures Enjoy an orientation tour of Auckland, including bustling Queen Street, historic Parnell Village, and the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain. Then, take a ferry to beautiful Waiheke Island and visit an olive grove and a winery for a tour, tasting, and lunch. Return to Auckland where the evening is yours to explore. (B,L) LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES A hidden gem known to local New Zealanders and discriminating travel lovers, Waiheke Island is known to many as the jewel of the Hauraki Gulf. Just 40 minutes by ferry from Auckland, this oasis of white sand, rolling hills, olive groves, and world-class vineyards is yours to enjoy! Tour this island paradise and sample wines at Stonyridge Vineyards – named one of the top 10 must-visit wineries in the world. After all – queens, kings, and world dignitaries can’t be wrong!

Home, Hobbits, Home Depart Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Experience a guided tour through the limestone chambers and passages of the cavern. Take a silent boat trip through Glowworm Grotto as you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms suspended from the cave ceiling. Next, stop at a picturesque farm near Matamata, which was transformed into the Hobbiton movie set of The Lord of the Rings films. Continue on to Rotorua for a 2-night stay. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM Step into the lush pastures of the Shire with a guided walking tour of Hobbiton, as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. With the mighty Kaimai Mountain ranges towering in the distance, your guide will escort you through the 12-acre movie set, recounting details of how this location was transformed and how movie magic was made here. As you meander down the paths of the enchanted village, see the most iconic sites, the Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and the world-famous Green Dragon Inn, where you’ll enjoy a cold beverage. It’s the perfect ending to your Middle-Earth adventure!

The Living Earth This morning visit Te Puia, Rotorua’s most prominent thermal area with New Zealand’s largest geyser, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces. Next, visit Agrodome to experience New Zealand’s sheep industry. There’s time to watch a sheep shearing demonstration, visit the farmyard nursery, and see the remarkable farm dogs as they demonstrate their ability to respond to commands and keep the sheep in line. This evening, enjoy a traditional Hangi dinner. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITE CULTURE & TRADITION Explore the ancient culture of the Maori. You’ll learn the history of the area, hear storytelling, be captivated by songs and dance, and experience the famous Haka (war dance). Afterward, sit down in the Wharenui (ancestral meeting house) for an authentic Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones).