Multi-Day Tour: Northland Explorer Experience (3N/4D)

Day 1: The Kauri Museum, Hokianga & Waipoua Twilight Encounter

Leave Auckland in your private luxury vehicle and travel north with your Guest Experience Host, passing rural landscapes on the way to Hokianga. Stop at The Kauri Museum in Matakohe, where displays explore the region’s kauri forests, timber and gum industries, and the communities whose lives were shaped by these remarkable trees. Continue through Waipoua Forest towards Opononi and the sweeping shores of Hokianga Harbour.

After an early dinner, join a local Māori guide for the Footprints Waipoua Twilight Encounter. As daylight fades, follow forest paths to meet ancient kauri, including the magnificent Tāne Mahuta. Through stories, waiata and insights shared along the way, discover the enduring relationship between Māori and the forest. Listen as the sounds of daytime give way to nocturnal life, then return to your Hokianga accommodation for the night.

Day 2: Manea Footprints of Kupe, Kerikeri & Rainbow Falls

Begin with breakfast and views of Hokianga before visiting Manea Footprints of Kupe. This 75-minute cultural experience introduces the ancestral stories of Kupe through guided storytelling, large-scale artworks, film, performance and digital elements. Gain a deeper appreciation of Māori traditions and the connections between people, the natural environment and the spiritual world.

Continue to Kerikeri to explore its historic buildings and leafy surroundings. Visit Rainbow Falls, where water drops 27 metres into a bush-fringed pool, with a short walk offering scenic viewpoints and opportunities for photographs. Afterwards, travel to Paihia and settle into your accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 3: Explore the Bay of Islands Your Way

Enjoy a free day to discover the Bay of Islands at your own pace. Spend time beside the water, explore Paihia or ask us to arrange an optional activity to suit your interests, with additional charges applying. You may also choose to take the ferry to Russell for a relaxed meal and a wander along its historic waterfront. Return to your Paihia accommodation for another evening in the bay.

Day 4: Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Russell & Return to Auckland

Visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds for an introduction to the events and relationships that helped shape New Zealand. Join a guided tour, experience a Māori cultural performance and explore the two museums, heritage buildings and grounds overlooking the bay. Discover the ceremonial waka and gain a closer appreciation of Māori craftsmanship and the significance of this historic place.

Then take the ferry to Russell for a one-hour coach tour with a local guide. Hear stories of the town’s Māori and European history as you discover landmarks including Pompallier House and Christ Church. Take in the views from Flagstaff Hill before returning by ferry and rejoining your Guest Experience Host for the private journey back to Auckland.