AAT Kings Escorted Brochure 2017 | Page 76

As this Short Break departs at 6.45am , accommodation will need to be pre-booked for the previous night .

Day 1 : Auckland – Rotorua Travel through the lush farmland past Rangiriri , the location of a historic Maori Land Wars site . On arrival in Waitomo , tour with a local guide through the worldfamous Waitomo Caves . Finish with a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto , a subterranean cavern lit by thousands of tiny Glowworms . Later cross the Central North Island and enter Middle-earth ! Just outside the rural township of Matamata is the private farm that was transformed into The Shire for Peter Jackson ’ s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies . Visit Hobbiton , home to Bilbo , Frodo and friends , for a guided tour and find out how the sets were created . You ’ ll get the chance to see Hobbit holes , the Mill , the Green Dragon Inn and many other structures created for the films . Afterwards , continue to Rotorua . Hotel : Copthorne Hotel ( R ) or Millennium Hotel ( S ), Rotorua , 2 nights . L

Day 2 : Rotorua Sightseeing Your first stop is Te Puia , one of New Zealand ’ s foremost cultural venues . Immerse yourself Maori tradition , see master carvers and weavers at work , then enter the neighboring Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley , an extraordinary landscape of geysers , steam and bubbling pools of boiling mud . At Rainbow Springs Nature Park see kiwi in the nocturnal viewing house and learn about conservation efforts to protect these endangered birds . You can also get up close to a wide range of native and exotic birds , fish and reptiles . Then get a taste of New Zealand ’ s agricultural industry at the Agrodome , a working farm where you can see all kinds of rural action ! Your tour concludes with a one hour lunch cruise around Lake Rotorua on board the historic paddle boat , the Lakeland Queen . Take in the sights of Sulphur Bay , Hinemoa ’ s Point , Mokoia Island and Kawaha Point . Tonight enjoy a unique Maori Hangi feast and concert on a local Marae . B L D

Day 3 : Rotorua – Auckland Spend a free day in Rotorua before returning through lush forests to Auckland . Hotel : Scenic Hotel ( R ) or The Langham ( S ), Auckland . B

Day 4 : Farewell from Auckland You ’ ll be transferred to Auckland Airport for your onward flight ( flights anytime ). B

2017 / 1 : 01 Apr 2017 – 30 Apr 2017 . 2017 / 2 : 01 May 2017 – 30 Sep 2017 . 2017 / 18 : 01 Oct 2017 – 30 Apr 2018 . 2018 : 01 May 2018 – 30 Sep 2018 . All prices are per person , land only . Single price is available on request .

As this Short Break departs at 6.45am , accommodation will need to be pre-booked for the previous night .

Day 1 : Auckland – Bay of Islands Travel to the Bay of Islands and visit the Waitangi Treaty Reserve to learn about New Zealand ’ s early Maori and European history . Then board the Dolphin Seeker , a purpose-built catamaran , and meet your skipper for a cruise through the beautiful clear waters . Watch for bottlenose dolphins , whales and other marine life as you get up close to the action . Cruise past Cape Brett Lighthouse to the famous ‘ Hole in the Rock ’. Hotel : Copthorne Resort , Garden View ( R ) or Copthorne Resort , Water View ( S ), Bay of Islands , 2 nights . D

Day 2 : Bay of Islands ‘ Free Time ’ The day is at leisure . Perhaps take a coach to Cape Reinga , via Ninety Mile Beach , enjoy a day of sailing , or even a guided sea-kayaking trip . B

Day 3 : Bay of Islands – Auckland This morning relax in the Bay of Islands before returning to Auckland . Hotel : Scenic Hotel ( R ) or The Langham ( S ), Auckland . B

Day 4 : Auckland – Waitomo Glowworm Caves – Rotorua Travel to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves , to tour its amazing limestone formations . Take a silent boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto , a cavern lit by thousands of tiny Glowworms . Later , travel to the Maori heartland of Rotorua . Hotel : Copthorne Hotel ( R ) or Millennium Hotel ( S ), Rotorua , 2 nights . B

Day 5 : Rotorua Sightseeing Experience Te Puia , Maori cultural center and a thermal wonderland of geysers and mud pools . Discover Rainbow Springs Nature Park ’ s native flora and fauna . Then at Agrodome Sheep Show see a sheep shearing display and dog trials . Tonight enjoy a unique Maori Hangi dinner and concert on a local Marae . B D

Day 6 : Rotorua – Auckland Spend a day at leisure , then we return to Auckland through lush farmlands . Hotel : Scenic Hotel ( R ) or The Langham ( S ), Auckland . B

Day 7 : Farewell from Auckland You ’ ll be transferred to Auckland Airport for your onward flight ( flights anytime ). B

2017 / 1 : 01 Apr 2017 – 30 Apr 2017 . 2017 / 2 : 01 May 2017 – 30 Sep 2017 . 2017 / 18 : 01 Oct 2017 – 30 Apr 2018 . 2018 : 01 May 2018 – 30 Sep 2018 . All prices are per person , land only . Single price is available on request .