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Itinerary for Optional Cruise
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Itinerary in PDF Format
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Day 1: Sunday 21 March - Travelling to Hamilton
We meet in Palmerston North this morning, with transfers from Wellington, Kapiti Wairarapa and other surrounding areas. After a welcome cuppa we travel through to Taihape (lunch own choice and cost). This afternoon we travel the Desert Road, before skirting the shores of Lake Taupo, and follow the languid path of the Waikato River as it journeys north to our destination Hamilton. We dine in tonight.
Day 2: Monday 22 March - Hamilton to Warkworth
This morning we make our way to Auckland where we visit “Butterfly Creek”, a great indoor attraction in the Auckland area. Butterfly Creek is home to 100’s of free-flying colourful butterflies, as well as brightly coloured birds and fish. You will also be able to enjoy mingling with the friendly farm animals of Buttermilk Farm, before enjoying lunch at the café onsite (included in your tour cost). There is even time to ride on their Red Admiral Express Train. We then continue on our journey north, bypassing the vineyards of Kumeu, and through Helensville. We skirt the mangrove-lined shores of the Kaipara Harbour before taking a scenic high road, which affords us great views back down over the harbour. Our destination today is the pretty riverside town of Warkworth. We dine out tonight at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Tuesday 23 March - Warkworth to Opononi
Our journey today plots the history of the unique Northland kauri industry, with the highlight of the day a visit to the superb Matakohe Kauri Museum. This is the standard by which you will measure all others and definitely the place to pick up that kauri souvenir, as the quality, range and price are extensive. We travel on to the riverside town of Dargaville where we stop for lunch (own choice and cost). Following lunch we drive through the Waipoua Kauri Forest, the last extensive stand of kauri forest still remaining in NZ, and home of the majestic Tane Mahuta - “Lord of the Forest”. We travel on to Opononi our final destination. This is a unique opportunity to relax in its quiet coastal location on the shores of the Hokianga Harbour. Opononi is home of the statue of Opo, the dolphin who brought this small seaside town to fame with his antics in the summer of 1956.
Day 4: Wednesday 24 March - Hokianga Harbour to Kaitaia
This morning we have a leisurely start to enjoy the peace before joining the late morning Crossings Hokianga - cruise through history. This is a guided boat cruise of the historically significant Hokianga harbour, generally accepted as being the first residential place of Kupe. Our boxed lunch is included today as we make a short stop at the giant sand dunes of Hokianga Harbour before continuing on to the Mangungu Mission House (the site of the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi), finally arriving at Kohukohu. Kohukohu is an artists haven and we have time to enjoy a cuppa and visit the local Art Gallery before rejoining the coach that has come over on the Rawene car ferry across the Hokianga Harbour. This afternoon we travel up over the Maungataniwha Range to our final destination Kaitaia - home for the next two nights.
Day 5: Thursday 25 March - Cape Reinga
We enjoy the company of a local guide today who will provide us with an entertaining and informative itinerary, as we journey to the northernmost tip of New Zealand. We travel the white sands of 90 Mile Beach and there is an opportunity for the intrepid to toboggan the sand dunes of Te Paki. We visit many well known landmarks, and enjoy unparalleled views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea as we learn about the cultural and natural history of Cape Reinga - “the departing place of the spirits and the meeting place of the seas”. Our picnic lunch, included in the tour package, will be at a remote bay at the top of New Zealand.
Day 6: Friday 26 March - Kaitaia to Paihia
Leaving Kaitaia behind us today, we travel to Taipa in Doubtless Bay, where the legendary Kupe is said to have first made NZ landfall. We continue on past pohutukawa lined beaches to historic Mangonui, take a short detour into the tranquil Whangaroa Harbour - site of the Boyd shipwreck, and through Kaeo. Lunch today is at Kerikeri, “fruit bowl of the north” (own choice and cost). Here we will also visit the old Mission House - NZ’s oldest building, as well as the Stone Store, one of this country’s most recognised historic buildings. We will take a short drive to the picturesque Rainbow Falls, before continuing our journey south to beautiful Paihia in the Bay of Islands, which is our final destination today.
Day 7: Saturday 27 March - Paihia
Today we pack a small overnight bag and join a unique cruise on the newly launched “Ipipiri”. Departing just after lunch we spend the next 21 hours cruising the sheltered waters of the Bay of Islands returning to Opua mid morning the next day to rejoin the tour coach. Further details regarding the cruise are included as a separate pamphlet. (If this cruise does not appeal and you would like to alter the itinerary to include a full free day in Paihia and a second night at our Paihia hotel, please contact us to discuss further.)
Meanwhile, the morning is yours to spend at your leisure, with a number of options for you to indulge in. Paihia is deservedly one of NZ’s top tourist destinations, with many historic and scenic places for you to visit. Enjoy a Cape Brett and Hole in the Rock Cruise, or take a short journey across the waters to Russell. The local ferries operate on the half hour. Here you can stroll about this picturesque peaceful village, visit historic Pompallier House, or take the highly recommended guided mini-coach tour and learn about the fascinating and, what would seem, unlikely turbulent history of this town. You may also like to tour the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, location of the signing of NZ’s founding document between Maori and British. Opportunities abound this morning and the choice is all yours.
Day 8: Sunday 28 March - Paihia to Whangarei
This morning our idyllic cruise in the Bay of Islands comes to an end and we are met at the Opua Wharf by our tour coach to enable us to catch the vehicle ferry from Opua for a short journey across the harbour to explore more of the scenic coastline and beautiful bays of this area. After enjoying our picnic lunch (included in the tour cost) at Oakura Bay we rejoin the main highway at Whakapura and continue on to Whangarei to visit the spectacular Whangarei Falls. There is time for the intrepid to take the short bush walk to get the view from the bottom as well. We then head into the town basin just a short distance from our attraction where there may be time to enjoy its varied options, not forgetting that special fudge shop, before we take the “time” to visit the fabulous Clapham’s Clock Museum.
Day 9: Monday 29 March - Whangarei to Hamilton
As we depart Whangarei this morning, we stop off to visit the NZ Refining Company Visitor Centre, at Marsden Point. With the help of an audio-visual presentation, the 130sqm working scale model provides an insight into how the country’s only oil refinery works. After a welcome cuppa we travel to Waipu, where we divert once again off the main highway and follow the coastline through Lang’s Beach, affording great views of the Hen and Chicken Islands. We travel through Mangawhai, before rejoining the main drag and retracing our steps back through Waiteitei and Warkworth. After our lunch break (own choice and cost) along the route, we continue our journey, travelling on the new motor extension bypassing Orewa, through the “City of Sails” to our final destination, Hamilton. We dine in tonight.
Day 10: Tuesday 30 March - Travelling Home
Homeward bound today, we travel home through the King Country enjoying our morning tea stop in Taumarunui. Travelling south through National Park and Ohakune, our lunch break is in Taihape (own choice and cost), before we make our way back to Palmerston North in time to meet transfers for travellers continuing on to Wairarapa and Wellington.
Price Per Person:
Full tour: .........................................................$2,500.00
Single Accommodation Supplement ...................$570.00
Single Supplement Overnight Cruise................. $207.00
Cost of Tour Includes:
3-5 star accommodation
All breakfasts
All dinners – 2 or 3 course
All coach travel
Entry to Butterfly Creek and Attractions, including lunch
Entry to Matakohe Kauri Museum
Hokianga Harbour Cruise, including lunch
Cape Reinga Safari Tour, including lunch
Kerikeri’s historic Stone Store and Mission House
Overnight Cruise Bay of Islands
Picnic lunch - Oakura Bay
Entry to Claphams Clock Museum
Not Included:
Any activities undertaken on your free day/morning in Paihia
Great Optional Tour available free morning in Paihia
(price correct at time of printing):
(if you wish to take this great Paihia optional tour, please tick on your booking form as the price reflects a pre-booking and availability)
Hole in the Rock Cruise 31/2hrs 9am departure: $66.75
Deposit required to confirm your booking:............... $300.00
Balance payable by ................................................19 February 2010
Click here to download Booking Form in PDF format
Payable to:
TRANZIT COACHLINES WAIRARAPA LTD
PO BOX 116
MASTERTON
Phone 0800 TRANTOUR (0800 872 6868)
ali@tranzit.co.nz
Please read “Terms and Conditions ” by clicking here
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