FEBRUARY 2021

Day 1: Auckland-Tauranga-Whakatane (D)

Friday 05 February 2021 / Monday 22 March 2021

This morning you are picked up from your home address and transferred to join our coach and fellow travellers. Depart Auckland and head south viewing the flat expanse of the Hauraki Plains, passing the townships of Ngatea & Paeroa, through the Karangahake Gorge before arriving at the historic gold mining township of Waihi.

We make a brief stop here and take a short walk to the lookout to see great views of the open pit mine before continuing onto Tauranga for our lunch stop (own expense).    It’s then onto the Kiwifruit mecca of Te Puke where we will enjoy a guided tour of Kiwifruit Country.  Experience the wonders of the kiwifruit industry on an idyllic working kiwifruit orchard. The 60 hectare ‘Longridge Orchard’ has over 30 canopy hectares of Zespri Green and Zespri Gold kiwifruit. This is one of the larger kiwifruit properties in the Bay of Plenty. The rolling hills and plateaus provide spectacular views and vantage points. We then continue onto Whakatane for our overnight stay at the White Island Rendezvous Motel.

Day 2: Whakatane-Hicks Bay (B,D)

Saturday 06 February 2021 / Tuesday 23 March 2021

After breakfast we’ll head along the Pacific Coast Highway— an epic stretch of road where you will be greeted with a picture-postcard view at every turn.  We’ll pass through the friendly town of Opotiki, then to Te Kaha—home of the Tukaki Marae and birth place of New Zealand’s latest Victoria Cross recipient—William Apiata.  Continue on to Whanarua Bay (considered to be the prettiest bay on the coast) and then to Hicks Bay and the renowned Hicks Bay Motel Lodge.  With the sparkling Pacific Ocean at its doorstep, the views from this iconic      property are fantastic.  An idyllic spot for our overnight.

Day 3: Hicks Bay-Gisborne   (B,PL,D)

Sunday 07 February 2021 / Wednesday 24 March 2021

After breakfast we’ll continue along this rugged coastline and take in the stunning scenery.  We will stop in Te Araroa to admire New Zealand’s oldest and largest Pohutukawa tree.   It’s around 600 years old and stands proudly in the grounds of the local school.  Te Araroa is also the birthplace of Sir Apirana Ngata, a prominent NZ statesman who made it his life’s goal to uplift the Maori race spiritually,  culturally and economically.  We will visit St Mary’s church in Tikitiki built in 1926 and serves as a memorial to the Maori men who fought and died in the First World War.  It’s then onto Ruatoria,  Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay where we enjoy a picnic lunch and time to take a walk along the Wharf.  We pass Whangara which was the setting for the successful New Zealand novel and film, Whale Rider before  seeing the renowned surfing beach—Wainui Beach before arriving into Gisborne.  It’s here where Captain Cook first set foot in 1769 and the first city in the world to see the sun each day.  We unpack and spend two nights here in the heart of Gisborne City at the Quality Emerald Hotel.

Day 4:              Gisborne   (B,D)

Monday 08 February 2021 / Thursday 25 March 2021

We will enjoy some  fabulous sights today including a visit to the Eastwoodhill  Aboretum the National Arboretum of NZ and encompasses over 131 hectares planted in exotic and native trees, shrubs and climber plantings.  The collection was planted by Douglas Cook and is    regarded as the largest and most comprehensive collection of Northern Hemisphere trees south of the equator.  Enjoy a guided tour by Jeep to discover new and amazing facts about the national arboretum and the 25,000 plants and trees it contains.  Eastwoodhill is also a welcome sanctuary for a huge variety of birdlife from around the district and depending on the season it’s possible to encounter over 40 species of native and exotic birds. Today we will also visit the Botanical Gardens on the banks of the Taruheru River—such an idyllic setting in this 4 hectare park that has trees, a rose and cactus collection and aviary.  Another highlight today is a visit to the Tairawhiti Museum & Art Gallery which has a reputation as one of the best museums in NZ.  We return to our hotel late afternoon with time to relax by the pool before dinner.

Day 5: Gisborne –Rotorua   (B,D)

Tuesday 09 February 2021 / Friday 26 March 2021

Farewell Gisborne this morning as we travel onto Rotorua where we stay at the historic 19th century boutique Hotel, the Princes Gate—centrally located and situated in the historic quarter of the city and only foot steps away from the world Famous Government Gardens.

Day 6:    Rotorua-Hamilton-Auckland  (B,PMT)

Wednesday 10 February 2021 / Saturday 27 March 2021

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of St Faiths Church which has graced the same site for over 130 years.  The land it stands on is sacred to the Ngati Whakaue people and is where the first  Maori Bishop of Aotearoa is buried in a vault by the window.  We then travel back to Auckland with a stop at Tirau and then a visit to the stunning Hamilton Gardens.  Time to enjoy afternoon tea at Waikato’s best kept secret—Moondance Manor Garden.  “Its visual banquet radiates English charm and beauty”.  Moondance Manor Gardens are extensively planted with abundant flower beds, expansive lawn areas, a wealth of native and exotic trees, a large ornamental pond and island, substantial formal hedging – all set on over a hectare bordering the Waikato River. There is  always an array of colour with hellebores, fox gloves, primrose, magnolias, iris, hyacinths, geraniums, lilies, roses, camellias, wisteria and many other gorgeous plants to delight the eye. We return to Auckland late  afternoon where our transport is waiting to take us to our home address anywhere in the greater Auckland area* conditions apply.

 

We reserve the right to alter the itinerary due to any  unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to weather and road conditions

 

LOOK WHATS INCLUDED!!!

• Quality coach travel throughout
• Accommodation in twin or single rooms
• Continental or Cooked Breakfast daily
• Dinner each evening
• Picnic Lunch East Cape
• Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
• Entrance fee and visit to Kiwifruit Country, Eastwoodhill Arboretum
• Visit to Moondance Gardens with afternoon tea
• Services of a Tour Manager from Auckland back to Auckland (subject to numbers)
• FREE home pick up and return in the greater Auckland, area* conditions apply

 NO Single room Supplement !!!!

A limited number of single rooms are available at no extra cost!!

Deposit:

A deposit of $500 per person is payable to hold a seat on the tour with the balance payable 10 October 2020.

Loyalty Discount

Previous travellers receive a $30 discount off the brochured price (not combinable with any other offers)

Cancellation Charges

Deposit:  50% Refundable up to 21 December 2020

22 Dec – 10 Jan 2021:  80% of tour cost

11 Jan – 05 Feb 2021: 100% of tour cost.

*Please note that if the tour is cancelled due to any Government regulation we will refund all monies received back from our suppliers so you can book with confidence.

 Insurance

We strongly suggest you take out domestic cancellation insurance to cover for cancellation due to illness etc.  Please phone us for further details.

 

TRAVELLING FROM Christchurch or Wellington

Departs 04 Feb 2021 – From $2690 per person

Includes

 Home Pick up & Return (Conditions Apply)

• Fly to Auckland for overnight including breakfast
• 05 Feb Transfer to join your Coach Tour
• Day 6 Transfer to Auckland Airport for flight back to  Christchurch or Wellington

 

 Tour is subject to normal booking conditions of Supreme Tours and Travel Ltd