Northern Spotlight

8 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
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USTOA

Cancellation Policy
Small Group Tour
It’s incredible how much a tour of New Zealand’s North Island can reveal about the country. Your roll-call includes oh-so-cool cities like Auckland tours and Wellington tours, the gateways to the Bay of Islands and Rotorua. Adventure and bliss await.
26%
$3,792
From$2,809
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

What's this trip about?

    It’s incredible how much a tour of New Zealand’s North Island can reveal about the country. Your roll-call includes oh-so-cool cities like Auckland tours and Wellington tours, the gateways to the Bay of Islands and Rotorua. Adventure and bliss await.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeGroup - max of 40 people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityAuckland
End CityWellington (Nz)

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • New Zealand

Activities

  • Culture

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 40

Trip includes

    • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide 1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Fiordland National Park Comfortable accommodation with easy access to city centres National Park entrance fees

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland

Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’. And you’ll discover why when exploring its two harbours at your leisure. Pick a waterfront precinct and find a perch to while away the afternoon with a glass of Central Otago sauvignon blanc and a backdrop of yachts darting the water. Meet fellow travel companions at a Welcome Reception tonight.

Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre

Day 2: Auckland - Bay of Islands

Your journey north on a Bay of Islands tour from Auckland is not short of drama – discover 140 droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea at the top of the country. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance: this is where the Treaty ...

Day 3: Bay of Islands Free Time

If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. And today, you can do just that. At your leisure, venture up to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or glide around on an histori...

Day 4: Bay of Islands - Auckland

Northern exposure is a thing today, when you journey toward the top of the country to visit Whangarei – NZ’s northern-most city, and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and ...

Day 5: Auckland - Rotorua

There’s no bad day in Auckland – today, yours starts with a city sights tour before you set your GPS for the Waikato River and Waitomo Caves. This place is radiant – quite literally. While cruising cavernous waterways, your route is cast in a magical light by thousand...

Day 6: Rotorua Free Time

Explore at your own pace today, but with plenty of tips from your Travel Director. Want a bit of down time?  We wouldn’t blame you for simply blissing out at Wai Araki Hot Springs & Spa. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights...

Day 7: Rotorua - Wellington

You’ll hear Huka Falls well before you see it – at this natural wonder, a staggering 220,000 litres of water thunder over an 11-metre-high waterfall every second. The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, its waters so vivid and blue you’ll think someo...

Day 8: Farewell from Wellington

The best way to begin a Wellington day? With a coffee. The city is known for its uber-cool cafés, designed to fuel you through your city sights tour. You may wish to linger in town, discovering Maori culture at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Afterwards, it’s time to bid farewell to your NZ crew. What a week.

Full Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,809
Price per day$351
Last Updated: 11/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Room (Shared)
Single Room
Availability
30 Nov 2024
07 Dec 2024
$3,175
$4,115
11 Jan 2025
18 Jan 2025
$3,275
$4,245
08 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025
$2,948
$3,821
08 Mar 2025
15 Mar 2025
$2,948
$3,821
15 Mar 2025
22 Mar 2025
$3,275
$4,245
22 Mar 2025
29 Mar 2025
$3,275
$4,245
12 Apr 2025
19 Apr 2025
$3,405
$4,404
19 Apr 2025
26 Apr 2025
$2,894
$3,743
24 May 2025
31 May 2025
$3,305
$4,275
21 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$3,305
$4,275

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

AAT Kings Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
1,294
Great
346
Average
69
Disappointing
23
Terrible
15
T

Trusted Customer

Nov 2024

Written on

Northern Spotlight

The disappointing and confusing thing was that people seemed to be joining in the tour all the time, some going on to the South Island, and we were unable to get to ...

L

Linda Day

Oct 2024

Written on

Northern Spotlight

I enjoyed the tour very much. I was able to make a couple of friends. The hongi and cultural performance was excellent. There was quite a bit of walking. The tour di...

W

Wendy Grant

Oct 2024

Written on

Northern Spotlight

Hi...wendy here...our recent bus tour holiday..my mum & me had wunderfull time...we enjoyed the scenery...& travel in the smart bus....comfortable...we enjoy...

T

Trusted Customer

Oct 2024

Written on

Northern Spotlight

All hotels were good quality except for the travel lodge...

Write a Review

Other AAT Kings Reviews

M

Melissa Bowden

Nov 2024

Written on

Tastes of Southern Australia

The tour itself was amazing but I feel I was ripped off big time. I missed my initial flight, it was Fri eve so travel agents closed. I purchased another ticket to K...

M

Melissa Bowden

Nov 2024

Written on

Visiting a local farm.

Anna the guide was absolutely brilliant and so was Rhys the driver. Can't recommend them enough.

Write a Review

Tour Operator

AAT Kings

premier
View Profile

A century ago, the Australian outback was but a twinkle in most travelers’ eyes. But thanks to visionaries like the Pyke family and Bill King, the way we explore the Land Down Under was about to change in unimaginable ways. Over the coming decades, maps were unfolded, desert cruisers and coaches were customized, and guides were trained. From humble beginnings, the company now known as AAT Kings was going places few had gone before, pioneering new paths across Australia and New Zealand and taking intrepid travelers on a wild and wonderful ride. We’ve come a long way and clocked a few kilometers in the process. But some things will never change. Like our spirit for adventure. Our oh-so-knowledgeable Travel Directors. The local characters we meet (and will never forget) along the way. The epic, goosebump-inducing stories we’re told by First Nations guides. The life-changing experiences on offer – the kind that only 100 years of exploring affords. We’ve never been more passionate about our next discovery. Join us and fall in love with Australia and New Zealand all over again. #aatkings


Why we love this operator
AAT Kings is renowned for its quality service, knowledgeable guides, and extensive network of destinations.
What they’re known for
AAT Kings is known for being one of Australia and New Zealand's leading tour operators, specializing in guided tours.

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre
  • Copthorne Hotel and Resort
  • Ibis Rotorua Hotel
  • Travelodge Wellington
Cancellation policy

Cancellation by the Traveller
Travel arrangements for any member of the party may be cancelled at any time by written notice by the person who made the booking.

If notice of cancellation is received by the Provider before final payment is due (see The Table), the deposit will be retained. If cancellation is made after final payment is due cancellation fees will apply (see The Table). These cancellation fees represent the costs incurred less any expected recoveries. Please also refer to Air cancellation Section where applicable.Notice of cancellation must be made in writing directly to the Provider or through your Travel Agent. Please also refer to the Provider's Gold Seal Additional Protection.

If a person in a party cancels and there is a room change caused by this cancellation (such as a twin share to Single, or Triple to twin share), charges for the new room type will be the responsibility of the remaining party. The charges detailed in the Summary Terms table (which includes GST), representing costs incurred by the Provider in cancelling your travel arrangements, will apply when notice of cancellation for your trip is given after the booking is confirmed. Please also refer to the Provider's Gold Seal Additional Protection.

If a guest fails to join the trip on the day of departure, cancellation fees will be 100% (unless the guest notifies us of the delay and joins the trip later at their own expense).

Cancellation fees as per The Table apply to additional accommodation and/or chargeable transfers prior to and after the trip, itinerary extensions or cruise reserved through the Provider.

Cancellation fees and charges will include any amounts that we have paid or have contractually committed to pay to third parties to deliver your travel arrangements which we cannot reasonably recover (for example payments made or due to airlines and hotels). Any payments we have made to third parties will only be refunded to you once we have deducted the above cancellation fees and charges and once we have actually recovered the amounts from the third parties.

All cancellation fees as per The Table are additional to any cancellation fees or other charges that may be levied by your Travel Agent.

Gold Seal Protection premiums are non-refundable.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance, you may be able to reclaim these charges from your insurer. You are responsible for making the claim to your insurer. We will provide you with documentation to support your claim.

Cancellation by the Provider
The Provider reserves the right, to modify or cancel any trip, accommodation, in-destination activity or arrangement, definite or not, at any time.

Cancellation due to Failure to Pay

If full payment is not received by the due date (see The Table), The Provider has the right to cancel your reservation and no refund will be made. The Provider will not be responsible for lost reservations.

Cancellation due to Force Majeure Events

If The Provider cancels a trip as a result of a Force Majeure Event, a future travel credit (FTC) to the value of funds paid to date, less any unrecoverable third-party costs incurred, will be provided. All FTCs will be valid for 24 months from date of issue.

Where a trip is terminated mid-trip due to a Force Majeure event, if we provide you with any alternative services or assistance (such as hotels or travel) then you agree to pay for these costs.

Cancellation due to Events other than Force Majeure Events

If the cancellation by the Provider is not as a result of a Force Majeure Event, the Provider will provide an alternative comparable trip (if available). If an alternative is not available, then a refund will be made. The Provider is not liable for any cancellation or change cost or penalties incurred on other travel arrangements, including air travel, that may be affected thereby.

The Provider is not responsible for other travel arrangements that you or your party have made outside the Provider and which are affected by our cancellations.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.aatkings.com/about-us/booking-conditions-published-5-august-2024/

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 7 Full Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Highlight Dinner (HD)
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
aatkin-LABW24

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