5 Days
HIGHLIGHTS
Historic Karangahake Gorge

Day 1: Explore Auckland
 
Consistently voted one of the world's most liveable cities, Auckland is a vibrant city with a vast array of experiences to enjoy. Sample some of New Zealand's best wine on a vineyard tour of Waiheke Island, a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown. Or drive north to taste home-grown delights in Matakana, a quaint town known for its popular farmers' market.
Beneath its cosmopolitan exterior lies a rich cultural heritage. Visit Auckland Museum to explore the world's most extensive Māori and Pacific Island Collection, all housed in one of New Zealand's most outstanding historical buildings.

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Day 2: Historical Highlights 

Make your way to the sunny beach town of Whakatane today, stopping off at the historical Karangahake Gorge on the way. Stretch your legs on a short loop walk that brings you over bridges, through tunnels and past old mining relics.
Once you make it to the beautiful coastal town you can go swimming with dolphins, relax on nearby Ohope Beach or visit Mataatua Marae, a beautifully carved ancestral house that offers authentic cultural experiences.

Day 3: Combine Culture and Adventure
 
Journey inland today to experience diverse Rotorua, known for its Māori culture, geothermal wonders and adventure activities. Take a thrilling zip-line tour through the trees, tumble down a hill in an inflatble ball or try luging - a gravity-fulled go-kart. Relax in a naturally heated mineral pool before tasting a traditional hāngī at Te Puia. This key part of Māori culture is not only a means of cooking food, but also an important social occasion.

Day 4: Discover Lake Taupo
 
Created by a massive volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake (the size of Singapore). Go swimming in geothermal waters at the Wairakei Terraces, enjoy a picnic at the lakefront or fish for a trophy-sized rainbow trout. Visit the thundering Huka Falls, where 220,000 litres of water blast by every second, or cruise to the huge Māori rock carvings at Mine Bay.

Day 5: Visit the Art Deco Capital
 
Step back in time in Napier, famed for its Art Deco architeture. After an earthquake ruined the city in 1931, the reconstruction reflected the style at the time; sunbursts, fountains, and geometric shapes. Take a self-guided tour of the picturesque city centre or do it in style, on a vintage car tour.

One of New Zealand's top wine regions, Hawke's Bay's vineyards can be explored by car, bike or tour bus. Part of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, you can't leave the region without sampling its famous syrah.