Animal Encounter Auckland

New Zealand, Aotearoa is a year-round destination. This tour is designed to showcase New Zealand's culture, flora and fauna, wildlife, museums and activities offered during the winter season.


Being run outside the main tourist summer season you will enjoy New Zealand as the locals do, with less traffic on the streets and more time and tranquility. From the winterless north with Palm trees and hibiscus you’ll take a stunning ferry ride through the Marlborough Sounds to the South Island and can expect to enjoy all types of weather in this journey of a lifetime.


Wildlife is also more abundant during the winter months. You’re more likely to see humpback whales at this time of year in Kaikoura and seals are a common sight.


This stunning 11-day itinerary features some of Aotearoa New Zealand's more celebrated destinations in the North Island such as the Bay of Islands, Rotorua – a geothermal wonderland, our culturally vibrant city of Wellington, wine tasting in iconic Blenheim and Kaikoura wildlife.


Your days will be filled with a mixture of included and optional activities and at the end of each day you can relax in 3-4* Kiwi accommodation.


Please note that owing to the time of year, some included activities are subject to change. We will endeavor to incorporate a suitable replacement should this happen.


Be prepared to be awe-struck on this small group journey of New Zealand!





WHAT’S INCLUDED ON THIS TOUR Small groups – max 14 guests 10 nights in twin-share accommodation in 3-4* hotels Daily breakfast (cooked or continental) Dinners x 2 2x airport transfer shuttles (non-exclusive shuttle bus) Russel ferry transfers Visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds with guided tour and cultural performance Meet Tāne Mahuta – the oldest known living kauri tree in the Waipoua Forest Marvel at an original architecture project at Hundertwasser Art & Wairau Māori Art Gallery Discover NZ’s fascinating glowworms in Waitomo with a cave tour Visit New Zealand's most colourful geothermal park Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland Visit Te Papa Museum in Wellington, showcasing New Zealand's rich cultural and natural heritage Take the Wellington Cable Car for some of the best views in town. Iconic ferry ride between the North and South Islands across the Cook Strait Taste delicious wines in New Zealand’s world-renowned wine region, Marlborough Check out Kaikōura’s cutest residents at a local seal colony



ALL HAKA TOURS INCLUDE


ORIENTATION TOURS
We give you the low-down on every location


COMFORTABLE TRANSPORT
With plenty of room to spread out


CONTINENTAL OR COOKED BREAKFAST EVERY DAY
Heaps of options for everyone


CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
To teach you about our unique Māori culture


EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDE
Friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about NZ


SMALL GROUPS


Because you're more than just a number!





DAY 1 – AUCKLAND



Kia ora and welcome to Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Today is your orientation day, your day to ease yourself into your holiday.


A shuttle transfer will take you to your hotel. 


From here you can explore New Zealand's biggest city on your own. A number of optional activities can be booked in advance otherwise your hotel is a great base to visit Sky Tower or the Viaduct Basin, home to the Maritime Museum and a hub for eateries and bars.


This evening you’ll join your group for a Welcome Briefing and Dinner at 6pm.






DAY 2 – AUCKLAND TO RUSSELL



After enjoying breakfast, you have a short Auckland City Sights tour before travelling over the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the start of your New Zealand Winter Wonders Tour.


Driving up to the winterless north you travel to the Bay of Islands. After a short ferry trip you arrive in Russell.





DAY 3 – RUSSELL


Waking up in the pretty seaside town of Russell it is hard to imagine that Russell was once known as the hellhole of the South Pacific.


A local guide will take you on a walk to Flagstaff Hill with magnificent views over the Bay of Islands and an interesting story. Thereafter you take the passenger ferry to Paihia where you visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.  This will provide you an insight into New Zealand in colonial times and provide you with an insight into Māori/New Zealand culture.  At the Treaty grounds, you’ll will enjoy a guided tour and cultural performance before heading back to Russell.




DAY 4 – RUSSELL TO WHANGAREI


Leaving Russell you head to the west coast and the Waipoua Forest.


Here you will enter the realm of Tāne Mahuta, the King of the Forest and New Zealand's most famous Kauri tree. Led by local Māori guide you will learn about the significance of the kauri tree to New Zealand Māori and the role it played in pioneer New Zealand.


From Waipoua you continue onto Whangārei. On arrival you visit the Hundert Wasser Arts centre. A guided tour will give you a fascinating glimpse into the life and achievements of the 20th century artist and environmentalist Friedrich Hundertwasser who called Northland his home.  This gallery is a testament to Hundertwasser's vision of the world and his environmental initiatives which had international acclaim.





DAY 5 – WHANGAREI TO ROTORUA


Today, you’ll travel southwards towards Rotorua, the cultural and geothermal centre of New Zealand.


Stopping in Waikato en route, you'll visit an underground labyrinth of caves where you'll be able to spot New Zealand's iconic glowworms.


Your next stop is Rotorua, which you will most likely smell before you see!


In the evening you might like to soak in the Polynesian Spa on the shores of Lake Rotorua.





DAY 6 – ROTORUA


Rotorua has it all: natural beauty, unique geothermal landscapes, and Māori culture. We stay here a full day to make the very most of it.


This area is world-renowned for its geothermal activity, with neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, violent geysers, and bubbling mud pools galore.


For a truly epic brush with nature, the National Kiwi Hatchery Experience offers a 45-minute guided experience that takes visitors into the heart of conservation efforts dedicated to protecting unique and endangered creatures. You could also jump on the Rotorua City and Lakes Tour, where visitors can experience the thrill of riding in New Zealand's only genuine operating WW2 landing crafts and travelling through Rotorua's award-winning gardens, including the geothermal Sulphur point.


For Lord of the Rings fans, you can also choose to take a guided tour at the Hobbiton Movie Set, which is an absolute must-do when visiting NZ. On this fully guided tour of the 12 acre Middle-earth set you will see Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and even enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon Inn!


However, you choose to spend today we guarantee you won’t forget it.





DAY 7 – ROTORUA TO WELLINGTON



This morning you visit Wai-O-Tapu "sacred waters" New Zealand's most colourful geothermal park. Here you’ll have the opportunity to experience a geothermal wonderland up close. Wai-O-Tapu features geysers, mud pools and so much more. There is also a wonderful gift shop and cafe to enjoy.


Following this geothermal education, you’ll hop back on the bus and navigate your way to Te Whanganui a Tara / Wellington, NZ’s vibrant capital. Along the way you’ll journey along Desert Road, a state highway set amidst the magical national park.





DAY 8 – WELLINGTON


Discover the charm of Te Whanganui a Tara / Wellington on a delightful walking tour featuring the iconic National Museum Te Papa, scenic waterfront, exhilarating cable car ride, and the bustling government centre. In the afternoon, indulge your curiosity with further museum exploration or savour the vibrant atmosphere at one of Wellington's beloved cafes, making the most of this dynamic city.





DAY 9 – WELLINGTON TO KAIKOURA


In the morning, board the ferry to travel to the South Island. Enjoy spectacular views of Wellington from the water and the Marlborough Sounds. Upon arriving in Picton, board your bus and travel to Kaikōura, renowned for fantastic marine life including dolphins, whales and sea lions. En route, visit local NZ producers in Blenheim for a spot of wine tasting! Just before reaching Kaikōura, your guide will take you to a great vantage point for the local fur seal population.




DAY 10 – KAIKOURA TO CHRISTCHURCH


In the morning you have a choice of optional activities. You might like to go on a ziplining adventure on the ranges overlooking Kaikōura and enjoy magnificent views over this dramatic coastline! 


Alternatively, you might like to do a Whale Watching tour, travelling out on a purpose-built vessel to catch a glimpse of the whales off Kaikōura's coast.


Or, you can join a Wings over Whales flight where you will have bird's eye views of the Kaikōura coastline and with luck spot some whales from the air, so you can truly appreciate the size of the whales below.




If none of these activities sound like the adventure for you, there is also a great local museum to visit in the town centre and some great walking opportunities.


Thereafter you head on down to Christchurch. This will be the last night for some of your fellow travellers but don’t worry there will be some new faces joining too! You will enjoy a dinner at the hotel and your Haka Tour Guide will be available to all to answer any questions and to brief you all about the next days early departure.




DAY 11 – CHRISTCHURCH

Today your New Zealand Northern Wonders Tour sadly comes to an end. A transfer will have been organised for you to bring you to the airport.


We wish you safe onward travels!