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Pukeko Tour will take you on a North Island adventure from Auckland to Wellington, exploring all the top sights, from the geothermal "Sulphur City" - Rotorua, to their favourite place to chill, Blue Duck Station.
Hike some of New Zealand's best tracks, dig a spa pool in the sand, taste a delicious traditional hangi meal, see bubbling mud pools in Rotorua, try to spot a rare Blue Duck at Blue Duck Station and finish the tour with a night out in Wellington.
Stay in high quality rooms in comfy 3-4 star hotels and high country farm or scenic lodges. Soak up the scenery and let someone else do the driving as you travel by private, air-conditioned bus with your charismatic guide.
DAY 1: Auckland to Rotorua
Our tour begins in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). We’ll head out bright and early this morning and travel down to Rotorua, the North Island’s geothermal hotspot and probably second only to Queenstown in terms of its adventure activity offerings. Fondly known as ‘Roto-vegas’ due the high volume of tourists it receives, Rotorua is a hive of activity and culture. We’ll stop at the Whakarewarewa Forest for a walk through the giant California Redwoods which were planted over 100 years ago before checking in at our hotel, the Distinction Rotorua. Centrally located and home to a spa, swimming pool and unlimited Wi-Fi (not the norm here in New Zealand) it’s a great base to explore from.
DAY 2: Rotorua
Today we have a free day in Rotorua. Have breakfast at the hotel and then head off to an activity of your choice. Go white water rafting down the Kaituna River, zipline through the trees on an ecotour, zorb through rolling hills or just relax at a geothermal spa. If you’d like to see some geothermal activity for free, head to Kuirau Park to see boiling mud pools and steaming lakes. This evening, you’ll be taken to Te Puia for a night of dramatic geysers, bubbling mud and beautiful native bush. You’ll begin with a guided geothermal walk under the stars by torchlight before eating a traditional kanga waru (GF) pudding cooked in a natural hot spring. Sit under the night skies with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and hear the stories of the past, feeling the beauty of Pohutu in an interactive journey guided by light.
DAY 3: Rotorua to Lake Aniwhenua
After a couple of days in a major tourist destination like Rotorua, you’ll probably want some time to recharge the batteries and experience a more authentic slice of New Zealand culture. After breakfast, we’ll venture ‘off the beaten track’ to the shores of Lake Aniwhenua and the incredible Kohutapu Lodge. Owned by a local Maori family who are passionate about showcasing their Maori tribal heritage, the lodge is a pillar of the local community. We’ll be taken to see sacred Maori rock carvings, play a traditional game of Mau Rakau and watch the preparation of a ground cooked 'hangi'. We’ll enjoy an afternoon tea of freshly made fried bread as we speak with the team at Kohutapu Lodge and practice our weaving and haka skills. In the evening, we’ll sit down to enjoy our lovingly prepared hangi feast - this will probably be the best meal you’ll eat in New Zealand, or dare we say, your lifetime.
DAY 4: Lake Aniwhenua to Blue Duck Station
We’ll tuck into our buffet breakfast and say goodbye to our wonderful hosts at the lakeside lodge before we depart this morning to Kerosene Creek – a naturally hot river and the perfect place for a morning soak. Afterwards we’ll drive on to Taupo to see Australasia’s largest lake and the frothy Huka Falls before heading inland to Blue Duck Station for an immersive and off the grid experience. Blue Duck Station is a 7,200-acre high country farm and is the most sustainable high-country sheep and cattle station in New Zealand, the team have made it their mission to protect their native environment for its namesake, the rare blue duck. On arrival, we’ll settle in to learn a little about daily life at Blue Duck, the station’s interesting settlement history and their sustainability efforts before cooking some dinner and relaxing around the bonfire.
DAY 5: Blue Duck Station
Good news - You have a full free day to explore this ruggedly charming destination. You'll jump on a 4WD and travel through native bush to the ‘Top of the World’ where you can see the three peaks of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe. Later, if you’d like to explore on foot, you can hike to the Kaiwhakauka waterfall and see if you can spot a rare blue duck in the flesh or simply relax around the campfire and make smores. Whatever you decide, we have no doubt this will be the start of your love affair with this lush kiwi paradise. Those holiday romances, aye!
DAY 6: Blue Duck Station to Ohakune
This morning we’re up nice and early to head straight to Tongariro National Park where we’ll tick off one of the most popular hikes in New Zealand, the epic Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Considered one of the world’s top one-day walks, this 19km hike takes us across a rocky plateau with dramatic volcanic peaks, craters, and turquoise lakes that we (and our Instagram feed) will remember for a lifetime. The Crossing is open to walk year-round (alpine gear and guide are required in winter), but it is subject to the weather conditions. If the weather prevents us from doing the Crossing, there are other awesome short walks in the area. Tonight, we’ll unwind after a big day at our accommodation, the Powderhorn Chateau. Styled like a log cabin, this boutique accommodation is so cosy and even has an indoor heated pool where we can rest our weary bones after our big walk - after all, we’re on holiday aren’t we?
DAY 7: Ohakune to Wellington
This morning after breakfast we’re going for a scenic bike ride along the Old Coach Road, an easy but epic 4-hour unguided bike trail. We’ll cycle on a unique cobbled road, past historic Viaducts and limestone cliffs and there’ll be plenty of stops along the way to take photos for the ‘gram. This is a great way to spend a morning learning about New Zealand history and seeing some pretty spectacular views as we go.
Afterwards, we’re heading down to Wellington, the ‘coolest little capital in the world’! Wellington packs a lot of character into its downtown district, with interesting restaurants and bars along Cuba Street and Courtenay Place. We’ll have an afternoon to browse through the exhibits at Te Papa National Museum, grab a craft beer at a brewery, climb to the top of Mt Victoria for panoramic views or take a stroll along the waterfront and Oriental Parade. Oh and, most importantly for those who seek 24/7 caffeination, we are happy to say that Wellington’s coffee culture and cafe scene is considered one of (if not THE) best in New Zealand.
DAY 8: Wellington Departure Day
Today your adventure comes to an end. Say goodbye (or see you soon) to your mates and go your separate ways for now. We hope you had a blast and remain close with your mates for 4ever!
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