Treasures of New Zealand: Heritage, Vines, & Vistas

Your Small Group Discovery tour begins! Welcome to Aotearoa, Maori for “land of the long white cloud.” Your room is available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Please schedule your flights to arrive by 4pm in order to attend this evening’s welcome briefing and dinner. (D)

The City of Sails Start your day with a visit to the All Blacks Experience followed by a sightseeing tour of Auckland. See bustling Queen Street, the city’s oldest park, Auckland Domain, and historic Parnell Village. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDS OF THE GAME Immerse yourself into the legacy, culture and people who have made the All Blacks rugby team an important part of the history of New Zealand. During your guided tour of the All Blacks Experience, you’ll feel the excitement and emotion of game day and be inspired by the full force of the haka. Through interactive exhibits and your guide’s enthusiastic storytelling, hear about past and present legends of the game. You’ll quickly understand how deeply this team and sport are intertwined with the heart and heritage of the country.

Home, Hobbits, Home Depart Auckland and travel through the green pastoral region of Waikato to Hamilton. Take a guided tour of Hamilton Gardens, followed by a high tea lunch. Next, stop at a picturesque farm near Matamata, which was transformed into the Hobbiton movie set of the Lord of the Rings films. Continue to Rotorua, home to geothermal wonders, adventure activities, and a thriving Maori culture. (B,L) 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. The perfect ending to your Middle-Earth adventure! TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Join your local guide for an enriching journey through Hamilton Gardens. This beautiful parkland is home to carefully curated gardens such as the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Te Parapara Garden, the ancient Egyptian Garden, and more. Journey through the collection of gardens from the surreal to the serene, showcasing diverse cultures and times. Learn the symbolism, design, and stories, then sip a glass of bubbly during high tea lunch in the Summerhouse overlooking the Mansfield Garden.

The Living Earth This morning starts with a guided tour and visit to the National Kiwi Hatchery. Next, visit Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of geothermal activity. The afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to relax in a natural hot spring, zipline through the forest, or board a floatplane for flightseeing of this beautiful region. This evening, enjoy an authentic Maori dinner and performance at Te Pa Tu. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CONSERVATION HEROES Only about 5% of all Kiwi birds hatched in the wild survive to adulthood making them endangered. At the National Kiwi Hatchery, you’ll see conservation in action. Known as the national leader in hatching techniques and kiwi chick rearing, you’ll see each stage a kiwi chick goes through before being released into the national parks. 100% of your entry goes straight back to the Kiwi hatching program. LOCAL FAVORITE CULTURE & TRADITION Experience an authentic Maori cultural performance at [LOCAL FAVORITE] Te Pa Tu, followed by a delicious Hangi dinner (roasted meats and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones). Te Pa Tu offers evening experiences that change with each season of the maramataka, the Maori lunar calendar. Feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal kai (cuisine) within the forest Pa (village) - its towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre. Kai horotai (indigenous canapes) are followed by a torch lit walk to a lavish 4-course Maori fusion feast. You might even be asked to join in a Haka, the traditional war dance of the Maori.