New Zealand

About Auckland

The Auckland urban area in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country. It is part of the wider Auckland Region, which includes the rural areas and towns north and south of the urban area, plus the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, governed by the Auckland Council. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. In Māori, Auckland's name is Tāmaki Makaurau and the transliterated version of Auckland is Ākarana.

The Auckland urban area ranges to Waiwera in the north, Kumeu in the northwest, and Runciman in the south. It is not contiguous; the section from Waiwera to Whangaparaoa Peninsula is separate from its nearest neighbouring suburb of Long Bay. Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east, the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east, the Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the few cities in the world to have two harbours on two separate major bodies of water.

The 2014 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Auckland 3rd place in the world on its list, while the Economist's World's most liveable cities index of 2011 ranked Auckland in 9th place. In 2010, Auckland was classified as a Beta World City in the World Cities Study Group's inventory by Loughborough University

Essential information about Auckland

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12° C

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Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

Airports
AKL

World-class shopping, buzzing waterfront precincts lined with restaurants, a vibrant arts and culture scene and harbour adventures right on your doorstep.
DAY 01: ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Upon arrive at Auckland Airport you will be met on arrival and privately transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the City of Sails on your own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 02: AUCKLAND – WAITOMO CAVES – ROTORUA
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel and transfer to Rotorua. Depart the “City of Sails” and travel south along the motorway and over the Bombay Hills to the lush, green, dairy farming province of the Waikato. Enroute visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The attractions include a guided tour and boat ride through the famed and mystical Waitomo Glow worm Caves. Arrive at the Thermal City of Rotorua. Check into the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 03: ROTORUA
After breakfast proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Rotorua. Visit the Agrodome and meet the many breeds of sheep that are farmed in New Zealand, view sheep shearing demonstrations, and sheep dogs working the sheep in a paddock. Next stop is Rainbow Springs where you will see thousands of Rainbow and Brown Trout in the crystal clear waters of the spring which flows into a stream through beautiful native bush. From here continue to Te Puia Thermal Reserve where you will be introduced to the Maori Culture and meet some of the indigenous Maori people. Walk through the thermal valley and view natural boiling mud pools and geysers close at hand. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or enjoy a massage at the Polynesian Spa (not included in tour cost). Overnight stay at the hotel

DAY 04: ROTORUA
Breakfast at the hotel. The day is at leisure to enjoy the various optional activities in Rotorua (not included in tour cost), such as a scenic flight over Mount Tarawera or White Island, or visit the Waimangu Thermal Valley, Hells Gate, or Te Wairoa – The Buried Village, or the Blue and Green Lakes, or take a walk in the Redwood Forest. Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 05: ROTORUA – AUCKLAND
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of the hotel and return to Auckland. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Maybe visit the Viaduct Harbour with fashionable restaurants, bars and cafes, shop on the famous Queen Street, or try bungy jumping from the Sky Tower or from the Auckland Harbour Bridge (not included in tour cost). Overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 06: AUCKLAND
Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy Wine on Waiheke Tour – a deluxe vineyard tour combining world class wine set against the backdrop of stunning Waiheke Island - barely 12 km from Auckland this is the most populated of the Gulf Islands. Cafes line the streets of the main settlement and the Island is gaining a reputation for its wine industry. After a ferry trip from Auckland downtown wharf, travel by luxury coach to enjoy premium tastings at three of Waiheke’s finest vineyards. Then further explore Waiheke Island with an All Day Bus Pass, before taking the evening ferry back to Auckland. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07: DEPART AUCKLAND
After breakfast check out of your hotel and transfer to Auckland airport to board your flight back home or onward journey
- • 03 Nights accommodation in Auckland with daily breakfast
- • 03 Nights accommodation in Rotorua with daily breakfast
- • Arrival Airport Transfer in Auckland by private vehicle with meet & greet service
- • Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour enroute from Auckland to Rotorua by seat in coach
- • Half day Rotorua sightseeing by seat in coach including Agrodome Sheep Show, Rainbow Springs and Te Puia Thermal Reserve
- • Waiheke Island wine tour on seat in coach basis including return ferry, wine tasting, and full day bus pass on Waiheke Island
- • Departure Airport Transfer in Auckland by seat in vehicle