You can visit the home of the Hobbits, have a bath at the beach, or be wowed by incredible scenery on a North Island touring route. And Agents can WIN!
New Zealand is well-known for its natural beauty, but to have it all so easily accessible on a variety of North Island driving routes means you don’t have to choose – you can see it all! Make a bucket list just for this trip, you’ll need it! And if you test your knowledge of New Zealand’s North Island over at Tourism New Zealand you can be in the running to win one of five $A250 gift vouchers.
You can marvel at our volatile world visiting volcanoes, geysers and hot springs, then enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the rolling hills of Waikato, or the verdant vineyards of Hawkes Bay.
Here are four beautiful itinerary suggestions for you and your clients to enjoy the North Island of New Zealand:
The heat is on
New Zealand’s Thermal Explorer Highway offers Maori Villages, a treewalk in a redwood forest and the hot and steamy geothermal features that give the route its name.
Start out from Auckland and travel south where you can deep dive into the local culture at the Waikato Museum or checkout the native animals in Hamilton Zoo, then it’s off on a drive to Rotorua. This is geothermal Ground Zero sitting on the Pacific Rim of Fire. There are forest cycling trails and lots of adrenaline-fuelled fun.
Then when you arrive in Taupo it’s more geothermal action with a Geothermal Park right near Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in Australasia and home to some delicious freshwater prawns. Dive in!
Double trouble
On the Twin Coast Discovery route you can explore Northland and see unspoilt coastline, wild dolphins and New Zealand’s famous kauri tree. On the early stages of this drive you can discover Waipoua forest, home to New Zealand’s famous kauri tree Tane Mahuta; then continue to Hokianga Harbour, said to be where the Maori first arrived in Aotearoa.
Tour the rugged coastline of the aptly named Shipwreck Bay where the wrecks of seafaring vessels are visible at low tide; grab fish and chips at Doubtless Bay or spend the night in the Bay of Islands – before catching a cruise to the outer island to search for marine life.
Coastal crawl
The Pacific Coast Highway runs from Auckland to Napier and allows you to get away from it all with some remote coastal beauty, such as the dramatic coastline of Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Then you can try out the hot springs-infused sands of Hot Water Beach where you can dig in the sand and then kick back in the warm water, heated by area’s geothermal activity; it’s a bath at the beach!
There is more of the earth’s volatility on display at White Island where you can walk on the surface of an active volcano then head off to the untouched beauty of Lake Taupo.
Then the trip wraps up in Hawke’s Bay, in valleys of lush vineyards and with a touch of gannet spotting at Cape Kidnappers.
An underground world and spectacular famous walks
Things are heating up on the Volcanic Loop Highway too, where you can take a day walk across the barren but beautiful volcanic terrain, skydive from 15,000ft or go jet boating on the Whanganui River. This touring route takes in the home of the Hobbits, glow worm caves and bucket loads of adventure.
Starting in the beautiful hills of the Waikato, home to the Hobbiton™ movie set that was used in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies filmed in New Zealand. Change pace in the afternoon when you take a thrilling jet boat ride in the raging waters of Huka Falls, or jump out of a plane at 15,000ft and experience the adrenalin pumping sensation of freefall.
Next, traverse the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and take in the unforgettable lava flows, steam vents and emerald-coloured lakes.
Finally make a stop at Waitomo Caves and explore an underground world of stalactites and glittering glowworms on your way back to Auckland.
SELL NEW ZEALAND AND WIN!!
Already sold on New Zealand? Let us help you sell your clients into a holiday they will remember forever, one full of fun, excitement and unrivalled beauty. Visit New Zealand’s Trade Website for more details. DON’T FORGET, if you test your knowledge of New Zealand’s North Island you can be in the running to win one of five $A250 gift vouchers.
READ: 5 thrills you HAVE to try in Rotorua, New Zealand
READ: REMARKABLE!: New Zealand’s bumper ski season starts for 2018
Where is the one place on the North Island you HAVE to go?
Written by Paul Chai, KarryOn contributor
This article brought to you by:
