Overview
This small group fully guided two-day trip combines the best of both coasts of subtropical Northland. Our guides will bring your journey to life by sharing their stories and background knowledge. You’ll visit the famous Hole in the Rock, Urupukapuka Island, Treaty of Waitangi Grounds, Kauri Museum and the Waipoua Forest to see the largest known living kauri tree, Tāne Mahuta. Our modern and comfortable minibuses will ensure your comfort and safety. This option includes accommodation in Paihia.
What you will be doing
Your tour starts in New Zealand's largest city. As we drive out of the city over the iconic Harbour Bridge, your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the area's top highlights. Exiting Auckland, we travel west and follow the road through the Kumara capital of New Zealand. Our first stop sees us visiting the Kauri Museum, to understand the remarkable story of New Zealand's largest and most famous native tree. Celebrating everything to do with Kauri and the people of the north, we discover how Kauri have supported lives and livelihoods for centuries. Despite their immense size and strength, however, these giants are also fragile, so you may even take the opportunity to help in the survival of this mighty taonga (treasure). Continuing north the beautiful scenery does not stop and our guide will entertain you with interesting information and stories of the area before we enter the majestic Waipoua forest. As the drive swoops and turns, embraced by New Zealand's famous ancient forest, we are finally rewarded by the presence of Tane Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest. Enjoy a lunch break in the beachside settlement of Opononi with a view over the Hokianga Harbour. After enjoying free time for lunch on the beautiful Hokianga Harbour we journey further north towards the 'birthplace of our nation', Waitangi, where we will be treated to a fully guided tour and cultural performance at Aotearoa New Zealand's most important historic site. In the evening, we arrive in Paihia and check into your hotel, before taking a relaxing walk along the beach and ending the day with dinner at a local restaurant
After breakfast, we depart on a magical cruise exploring the extensive islands of the area. During this 4.5-hour cruise, the guides will tell you all about the rich history and nature of the region while searching for the marine life that has made these cruises so famous. With a little luck, we will find dolphins or whales. The cruise continues with a visit to the iconic Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett (weather permitting). This massive ocean archway has been thrilling guests for decades. No Bay of Islands cruise can be complete without spending some time at the beach on one of the islands. In our case, we will stop at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island. Swim, stroll along the white sand beach, walk to the top of the hill for scenic views over the entire Bay of Islands or simply recharge at the island's fully licenced bar and cafe. Sadly after this day in paradise, we must start to head south again but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip to Auckland with secret stops along the way. As we arrive back in Auckland, our guide will drop you off at your hotel, marking the end of your Bay of Islands Tour with us.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Auckland, New Zealand
🗺️ Instructions: We pick up from the below hotels in Auckland: Copthorne Hotel Auckland Cordis Hotel Auckland Crowne Plaza Auckland Grand Mercure Hotel Grand Millennium Hotel Heritage Hotel Auckland Hilton Hotel Auckland Ibis Budget Auckland Kiwi International Hotel M Social Hotel Movenpick Hotel Pullman Hotel Auckland Rydges Hotel Auckland The Sebel Auckland Manukau SkyCity Hotel SkyCity Grand Hotel Sofitel Hotel Auckland SO/ Auckland If you are not staying in the above hotels, please choose the nearest pick-up location. We will meet you at the entrance. If you have not booked your hotel at the time of booking, we will set you up as picking up from SkyCity Hotel (Auckland). Please let us know once your hotel is confirmed.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Minimum age is 4
Hotel accommodation is twin share in Paihia. Extra NZ$125 to upgrade to single occupancy
Children under the age of 7 must be in a child safety seat, as it is a legal requirement in New Zealand. If you need a safety seat or booster seat these can be added during the booking process.
In the very rare event that the weather is so bad we have to cancel due to safety reasons, we will offer a full refund. Please wait for us to contact you and check your emails regularly, and if you do not hear from us then the tour is going ahead as planned.
Wear comfortable clothing, sensible footwear, a charging cable for your phone or camera, your e-ticket or booking confirmation number, and a small amount of cash for lunch and souvenirs. A rain jacket is a handy thing to have with you in New Zealand!
We have room for luggage, There is enough room for one large case and one carry-on bag per person on all tours. Additional luggage will be an additional NZ$40 per item and must be pre-arranged with us before the day of your tour Oversized items including bikes, surfboards and your pet can not be accommodated.
Inclusion ✅
Water
Snack
Pick up and drop off transport
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance ticket
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Lunch
Dinner
About your host
Cheeky Kiwi TravelWe are all about giving you a real Kiwi Adventure. Our tours and day trips have a maximum of 16 guests! We believe it's the small extra things we do, combined with being flexible, that make all the difference to your experience and give you an amazing trip. Our trips have been described as fun and informative, with, of course, a little bit of cheekiness. From the outset, our mission has been to nurture both our communities and the environment, aligning with and advocating for The Tiaki Promise. We've reduced our carbon emissions by adopting fuel-efficient vehicles and closely monitoring fuel usage. Our drivers are incentivised to follow eco-friendly practices, ensuring your journey is as environmentally responsible as possible. We pride ourselves on being a fully paperless office, and we prioritise responsible waste management during our operations. We encourage our guests to travel responsibly with Wild Kiwi and to commit to The Tiaki Promise to care for New Zealand, for now, and for future generations.
Qualmark Gold: Qualmark works with Tourism New Zealand to help the tourism industry deliver high-quality experiences and maintain a high level of visitor satisfaction. Only businesses that deliver a quality sustainable experience, ones that have undergone an independent evaluation, and showcase true New Zealand hospitality, are recognised through a Qualmark accreditation. It has three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.