New Zealand Revealed

The Heritage Auckland is an ideal place to stay for both leisure and business travellers. The hotel is positioned overlooking Waitemata Harbour in the heart of Auckland's business district. The hotel is within walking distance of the city's many attractions, including the Sky Tower Casino, the shops of Queen Street and Auckland city's finest cafes and restaurants. It includes two distinctive accommodation wings, The Hotel (reflects delightful ornate touches carefully preserved from the building's past) and The Tower (offers a more contemporary design). They are connected by a walkway enabling guests to access the range of facilities available. Both have their own entrance and reception areas.

Experience the best sights of Auckland City in the morning combined with an afternoon Wilderness Experience -- a day of contrasts. Auckland is set on 52 dormant volcanic cones and between two harbours, the sparkling Waitemata and the brooding Manukau. Known as the City of Sails, it's New Zealand's largest and busiest city. The morning tour is a journey of discovery designed to explore the history and sights as well as see how Aucklanders live and play.

A 30 minute drive from downtown Auckland brings you to the Arataki Centre, the gateway to the rain forest, where the sweeping decks give breathtaking panoramic views from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Absorb the local history and admire the traditional Maori carvings that stand guard there. Head further west and experience the power of the wild and rugged west coast. Feel the black sand beneath your feet as you stroll along some of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer.

With your knowledgeable and experienced guide, your eco-tour continues on to the lush rain forest where you hear native birdsong as you walk the easy bush tracks amongst New Zealand's famous kauri trees and giant tree ferns.

Take a journey into the heart of the Central North Island, taking in the Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set on a full-day sightseeing tour. Setting off from Auckland, travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions, enjoying your driver guide's entertaining and informative commentary. Take a guided tour of the famous Hobbiton Movie Set, located inside a picturesque 1,250 acre sheep and beef farm near Matamata. Here, the village of Hobbiton was carefully created in amazing detail as a film location for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies. During your guided tour of this amazing location you'll see sights like Hobbit holes, the Mill and the Green Dragon Inn, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth. After exploring Hobbiton, tuck into a delicious lunch at the Green Dragon Inn.

At the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, take a 45-minute guided tour through impressive underground caverns and learn how stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone structures were formed over millions of years. Your tour includes a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - glide silently along an underground river as you gaze at the twinkling glowworms overhead. After visiting Waitomo and Hobbiton, continue to Rotorua, arriving in the early evening.

This popular hotel in Rotorua is centrally located just a brief stroll to Lake Rotorua, Rotorua's International Convention Centre, world famous Polynesian Spa, the town centre and only minutes from Rotorua's key tourist attractions and adventure activities. At Millennium Hotel Rotorua, you will find 227 rooms offering you a wide choice of accommodation styles.

Today on your morning tour you will visit Te Puia and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where you can view mighty geysers, boiling mud pools, and the traditional arts and culture of the Maori People. You will also experience Rainbow Springs which is a unique showcase of New Zealand's flora and fauna including New Zealand's national icon, a kiwi bird. Last but not least, you will have a hands on experience at the Agrodome Sheep Show, giving you an animated insight into New Zealand's farming history.

This evening you will engage in a wonderful experience at the Tamaki Maori Village. Enroute your guide will instruct you on the rules and protocol for visiting Marae (meeting grounds). On arrival at the venue, nobody must enter the fortified village until the Powhiri (formal welcome) has been performed. The host tribe will send out a toa (warrior) who will challenge the guests, via their elected chief to ascertain if they come in peace. A Teka (peace offering) is placed and received by one of the visiting chiefs. At the Village, the Karanga, or "welcome call" will echo across the courtyard, followed by the Powhiri (welcome dance). You will then be able to enter onto the village grounds where the Tangata Whenua (people of the land) will demonstrate different activities such as poi twirling, hand games, weaponry displays, reciting chants and displaying activities of an era gone by.

The buffet style dinner will be held in the meetinghouse dining hall and will have everyone enjoying a succulent Hangi feast. The evening ends with the Poroporoaki, the official closing ceremony and you will be safely transferred back to your accommodation.

Overlooking stunning Lake Wakatipu with its majestic mountain backdrop, Crowne Plaza Queenstown offers contemporary, stylish accommodation in an outstanding in-town location perfect for leisure to business travellers. Located in the heart of Queenstown's attractions, the hotel is a 5 minute stroll from Skyline gondola and the airport is only 15 minutes away. The hotel presents 139 superbly appointed rooms over seven graduated floors.

Travel by luxury coach on an unforgettable journey from Queenstown into Milford Sound. Located within the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, this region is rich with dense rainforest, lakes and waterfalls cascading from rugged mountain peaks. Journey through the Southern Alps via the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through a solid mountain of rock. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, board your luxury catamaran vessel for a spectacular cruise where you will see the wonders of Mitre Peak, glacier scarred rock walls that rise 1,200m vertically from the sea, and waterfalls that tumble from hanging valleys and crash into the sound far below. Return by coach to Queenstown.

Today is totally free and at leisure. You can take advantage of any optional activities available or simply relax.