New Zealand

Navigating the North Island

Mountain Biking, Hiking and Caving

(5 Days)

Slide Show

New Zealand's North Island is quite different from its South Island. It is a land of volcanoes, hotsprings, waterfalls and unique combinations of flora and fauna. It's also home to most New Zealanders and is especially known for its Maori culture. This active 5-day jaunt allows you to see the "other side" of New Zealand, and we have designed it with departure dates that link up with most of our south island Land of the Long White Cloud departures, so you can experience the whole package.

Trip Highlights

• Mountain biking in Roturua, the centre of Maori Culture
• Tubing through the underground caves of Waitomo
• Hiking through a volcanic crater on the Tongariro Crossing

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Auckland, Karangahake Gorge and Orokawa Beach (Hiking)

Most people leave the Northern hemisphere on a Sunday evening and arrive in Auckland early on Tuesday morning. You'll lose a day to the dateline - but you get it back on the way home! We'll pick you up in central Auckland at 8am, or at the airport at 9am on our way out of the city. If you join us in town, we'll immediately head up Mount Eden to check out the spectacular views from the top of this volcano. We'll be able to see the point where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea are less than a mile apart. Here the North Island narrows to a strategic isthmus, which gave Auckland great importance to both the Maori and the early European settlers. After picking up folks from the airport, we travel east across the Hauraki Plains to the historic Karangahake Gorge (we'll teach you the pronunciation!) for a hike through this historic gold mining area, followed by a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we'll head out to the coast near Waihi to hike around a series of headlands clad in native Pohutakawa trees to the impressive and secluded Orokawa Beach. We'll look out over the sweeping coastline and scattered islands of the Bay of Plenty, which was aptly named by Captain Cook when he visited in 1777. After the hike we'll head south through kiwifruit-growing country to Rotorua. There's a great deal of geothermal activity beneath Rotorua, so you'll see steaming pools of mud, fumaroles and smell the distinctive whiff of sulfur that characterizes the town. Overnight at the Cedar Wood Lodge, Rotorua (L,D)

Day 2: Lakes Okataina and Tarawera (Hiking)

Today we'll explore the virgin forest around Lake Okataina, an area sacred to the Maori but still unknown to many New Zealanders. We'll hike alongside its deep blue waters to explore the site of an ancient Maori settlement. We'll then continue over the ridge to the shores of Lake Tarawera. The entire area has been sculpted by intermittent volcanic activity, which continues in various forms to this day. Mount Tarawera was the scene of an enormous eruption in the late 19th century, and we'll be able to see the effects of this cataclysmic event during our time here. Tonight we'll head out to a Maori cultural experience and traditional hangi feast where we'll experience the Ngati Rongomai tribe's method of cooking. Food is prepared by wrapping the items and burying them in the earth over hot stones several hours beforehand. This method is very healthy - akin to steaming - but hangi food has a wonderful smoky flavor. Vegetarians, of course, are well catered for. Overnight at the Cedar Wood Lodge, Rotorua (B,L,D)

Day 3: Rotorua - Waikato River (Mountain Biking and Hiking)

Rotorua is the centre of Maori culture in New Zealand and the influence of the Maori people can be seen everywhere here. Although it's a well-known tourist destination, there's plenty going on behind the glitz that is well worth checking out. We'll spend a couple of hours showing you some of our favorite highlights of Rotorua, before heading out for some biking on the smooth trails in the pine forests that girdle the town. We have biking options to suit all abilities and levels of interest. We think you'll find the biking to be a highlight of your Navigating the North Island trip, although you're welcome to stay in Rotorua if you prefer. We then go hiking down the Waikato River (New Zealand's longest) to the impressive Huka Falls. After this we head south for the short drive down the length of Lake Taupo, the biggest volcanic crater in the world, to Turangi which is on the southern shore of the lake. You'll have time to take a walk alongside one of the country's most famous trout fishing rivers, the Tongariro, while your guide cooks up a great Kiwi barbeque dinner. Overnight at the Creel lodge, Turangi (B,L,D)

Day 4: Tongariro National Park (Hiking)

Turangi is nestled between Lake Taupo and three massive volcanoes in the central plateau of the North Island; Mount Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. We have two options here - if the weather is good, we can hike the well-marked Tongariro Crossing, a 7-hour unguided trek known as the best one-day mountain hike in New Zealand. The Crossing is an awesome hike on a less than perfect day, but it's even better on a clear one! If you prefer, you and your guide can do a couple of shorter walks in Tongariro National Park. Firstly, you'll hike through the native tussock to a waterfall at the base of Mt Ruapehu, the highest active volcano in New Zealand. Then, you'll hike around an isolated mountain lake in the middle of the virgin prehistoric rainforest. However you choose to spend your day, we'll all head to some thermal hot springs tonight to soak tired muscles in natural hot water. Later, we'll enjoy a well-earned al fresco dinner! Overnight at the Creel Lodge, Turangi (B,L,D)

Day 5: Waitomo Caves and Departure (Caving)

This is the last day of the trip. We'll head over the spectacular Pureora Forest Range through groves of huge native trees, then into sheep farming country, before arriving at Waitomo Caves for some caving. After a cafe lunch, it's an afternoon of caving (a.k.a. spelunking)! You have two options here. For the more adventurous, you'll head "down under" to explore an underground cave system. You'll be fitted with a wetsuit, helmet, headlamp and floatation device to float down a subterranean stream, slide down waterfalls and at one point, switch off your headlamp to check out the incredible glowworms that live on the limestone ceiling of the cave. If wet-caving is not really your thing, you can take a more leisurely boat ride through one of the larger caves to see the glowworms and amazing rock formations. After a shower and some hot soup, we'll head back to Auckland, where we'll have you at the airport in time to catch evening flights back home, or down to the south island to join The Land of the Long White Cloud Adventure. (B,L)

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