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New Zealand Explorer - North Island, a tour by Explore Worldwide

Tour · 10 nights · with Explore Worldwide

New Zealand Explorer - North Island

An 11-day escorted tour with Explore Worldwide, venturing from Auckland through the North Island of New Zealand with a pace that balances nature, culture, and local encounters.

Duration
10 nights
Departures
3 dates
Choose a month below
Countries
New Zealand
Operator
Explore Worldwide
From
£3,855
per person

Highlights

What makes this one worth it

  1. Hobbiton movie set at Matamata

  2. Māori cultural experiences near Murupara

  3. Volcanic features at Wai-O-Tapu

  4. Gannet colony and vineyard near Napier

  5. Queen Charlotte Track walk in Marlborough Sounds

About the trip

This small-group tour begins in Auckland, a city balanced neatly between two harbours, where volcanic cones rise above the urban sprawl. The journey then leads inland to Matamata, home to the Hobbiton movie set, with original film locations dotted across relaxed farmland.

Further into the heart of Māori land, visitors spend time with the ToeToe family near Murupara, learning about tribal heritage and wandering through the ancient podocarp forest of Whirinaki. Along the way, volcanic features like Wai-O-Tapu's bubbling mud pools and geysers show the geological forces shaping the landscape.

Coastal regions offer a contrast, from viewing vast gannet colonies near Napier to walking the Queen Charlotte Track through native beech forest with panoramic views of the Marlborough Sounds. The itinerary finishes in Christchurch, following stops in Wellington and Kaikōura, where a seal colony provides a final reminder of New Zealand’s wildlife alongside dramatic coastal scenery.

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The route in outline: places are joined in the order visited, not by the roads or sea lanes taken.
  1. 1 Auckland
  2. 2 Matamata
  3. 3 Rotorua
  4. 4 Taupo
  5. 5 Napier
  6. 6 Wellington
  7. 7 Picton
  8. 8 Kaikōura
  9. 9 Christchurch

Itinerary

The route

  1. Auckland

  2. Matamata

  3. Rotorua

  4. Taupo

  5. Napier

  6. Wellington

  7. Picton

  8. Kaikōura

  9. Christchurch

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.

When to go

Departures and prices

Lowest price each month, per person.

Explore Worldwide confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.

Need to know

Before you book

Price based on
Per personThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
Travelling alone
Check with Explore Worldwide
Flights
Not included: you book your own to the start
What’s included
Check with Explore Worldwide
Accessibility
Check with Explore Worldwide

For full details of what’s included, check with Explore Worldwide. See the full details on their site

Questions people ask

How long is New Zealand Explorer - North Island?
New Zealand Explorer - North Island is a 10 nights tour holiday.
Who operates New Zealand Explorer - North Island?
New Zealand Explorer - North Island is operated by Explore Worldwide.
How much does New Zealand Explorer - North Island cost?
Prices for New Zealand Explorer - North Island start from £3,855, subject to availability.

The operator

Explore Worldwide

Small-group adventures, walking and wildlife

Small groups with local leaders, and a fondness for the places at the end of the road. Trips are graded so you know how active they are.

You book with Explore Worldwide directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.

New to New Zealand? Our New Zealand guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

Journeys

Reading for the trip

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