Day 9 - Coromandel Peninsula

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast explore the peninsula for the day with your private guide, a picnic lunch is included. Experience the history of the region and the Kiwi lifestyle.

Travel along the Pacific coast with panoramic views of the offshore islands and stroll along one of the many glorious white sandy beaches for which the Coromandel Peninsula is renowned. Visit Hotwater Beach and see the boiling water bubbling out of the sand (tide dependant). You can hike into majestic Cathedral Cove – sheer peace and tranquillity – if you do not wish to take the hike, enjoy an hour’s boat trip aboard the Hahei Explorer. Learn about the Maori medicines and foods of the forests, visit a private bush reserve that has a majestic Kauri tree approximately 500 years old.

Day 10 - Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua

Return to Kopu. Travel via Paeroa. Te Aroha, Matamata and over the Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua (approx 3.5 hrs)

Rotorua is renowned as New Zealand’s heart of Maori culture and is at the centre of the country’s thermal and volcanic activity of geysers, boiling mud pools and spectacular and interesting landforms..

This afternoon we suggest the following optional activities in and around Rotorua:

• Visit Rainbow & Fairy Springs to view the rainbow trout
• Visit Te Puia and the Maori Arts & Craft Institute at Whakarewarewa where there is the opportunity of attending a Moari Concert Party
• Visit the Bathhouse Museum
• Take a helicopter flight over the Rotorua Lakes with a landing on Mount Tarawera

Accommodation (1 night) in a double/twin room including dinner and breakfast at:
The Springs , Lake Rotorua

Day 11 - Rotorua to Hawkes Bay

This morning before departing Rotorua we suggest a drive to the picturesque Blue and Green Lakes and onto – The Buried Village, Te Wairoa Village was New Zealand’s premier tourism attraction, a bustling village of two cultures. The village was an important staging post offering meals, accommodation, transport, entertainment and guides for international tourists viewing the Pink and White Terraces prior to the eruption of Mt Tarawera in June 1186. Today you can enjoy living history at The Buried Village, inspect the place where nature displayed her most fierce and unforgiving forces.

Later this morning drive via Lake Taupo to Hawkes Bay (approx 3.5 hrs). We suggest a stop shortly before entering the township of Taupo to view the magnificent Huka Falls and the mighty Waikato River.

In Hawkes Bay the sparkling Pacific Ocean forms a stunning backdrop to internationally renowned vineyards that produce award-winning wines. Hawkes Bay wineries are among the oldest in New Zealand and have a proud tradition.

In 1931 a two and a half-minute earthquake hit the region, destroying most of Napier’s inner city. The majority of rebuilding that followed adopted the Art Deco style. As a result, Napier features a large concentration of working Art Deco buildings and is regarded as an ‘Art Deco City’.

Accommodation (2 nights) in a double/twin room including breakfast at:
Cardonness Lodge , Napier

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The Springs , Lake Rotorua

The Springs was purpose built in 1998. The design is that of a 1930's New Zealand bungalow ensuring the property complemented the already established neighbourhood. It is set in a simple yet elegant garden of white Iceberg roses and sasanqua camellias evoking a sense of restful contentment.

Step into the impressive entry hall and immediately you sense the attention to detail.

Cardonness Lodge, Napier

Cardoness Lodge is situated on the edge of the Gimblett Gravel/Ngatarawa Triangle. Close to five world renowned wineries and within easy reach of Hawke’s Bay/Bridge Pa, Hastings, Napier and Cape Kidnappers golf courses. We offer luxury accommodation, privacy and a friendly haven in which to unwind and enjoy this spectacular, yet unspoiled area.

Cardoness Lodge has three Ensuite bedrooms, each with private external access and personal private deck. Choose from either Superking/ King Single beds or a Queen bed. All rooms have a TV, tea and coffee making facilities and hairdryers.

The Art Deco cities of Napier and Hastings, plus the café society and boutique shopping at Havelock North are easily accessible from Cardoness Lodge, and a leisurely drive will take you to the sandy beaches of Waimarama and Ocean beach. Also a visit to the Gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers should not be overlooked, finishing with a glass of wine on your deck watching the sun set after a memorable day in the Bay.