EAST CAPE PANORAMA ALSO DEPARTS:  07 FEB 2022,  08 MAR 2022,  04 APRIL 2022

 

Day 1: Auckland-Tauranga-Whakatane (D)

Monday 15 Nov 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,LL,D)

Tuesday 16 Nov 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 for morning tea (own expense), then to Te Kaha—home of the Tukaki Marae and birth place of New Zealand’s latest Victoria Cross recipient—William Apiata.  We will enjoy a light lunch at the Nut House Café at     Pacific Coast Macadamias with its spectacular view of Whanarua Bay (considered to be one of the the prettiest bays on the coast).   We will make a stop at Raukokore – it’s most noted feature being the Anglican church, Christ Church, a landmark of the East Cape region, which stands isolated close to the shore of Papatea Bay.  It’s then on 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,LL,D)

Wednesday 17 Nov 2021

After breakfast we’ll continue along this rugged coastline and take in the stunning scenery.  Not far the our Motel is the East Cape café & Visitors Centre where we will make a brief stop to learn about    Manuka products before continuing on to Te Araroa.  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 where will enjoy a light lunch at the Te Puka Tavern with its stunning views.   Next stop is Tolaga Bay and time to walk to the end of New Zealand’s longest wharf and back.  At 660 metres in length, this is no ordinary pier.

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)

Thursday 18 Nov 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.   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)

Friday 19 Nov 2021

Farewell Gisborne this morning as we travel via the Waioeka Gorge to Rotorua.   Enroute we will stop at the historic Tauranga Bridge.  It’s one of only two harp-strung suspension bridges left in New Zealand and an easy five minute walk down the track and five minute walk back, where you can embrace the views of native bush and river scenery.   We will stop at Okere Falls on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, at the inlet to the Kaituna River.  This section of the Kaituna River is extremely popular with rafters and kayakers due to its frequency of rapids and waterfalls, and also lays claim to having the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, at 7 metres.  Arrive in Rotorua late afternoon where we stay at the Novotel Lakeside Rotorua Hotel for our overnight.

 

Day 6:    Rotorua-Hamilton-Auckland  (B)

Saturday 20 Nov 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.   Our next stop is the vibrant town of Tirau—famously dubbed the the “Corrugated Capital of the World” for our morning tea stop (own expense) and time to enjoy the variety of boutique shops and cafes.  We then travel back to Auckland with a visit to Waikato’s most visited attraction—the stunning  Hamilton Gardens where we will explore at your own pace, the enchanting world of secret gardens.   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.

 

TRAVELLING FROM TAURANGA COST IS:  From $2499 per person twin share

Includes:

 Home Pick up & Return (Conditions Apply)

• Join coach in Tauranga on Day 1
• Day 6 At end of tour transfer to Auckland Airport for flight back to Tauranga

 

TRAVELLING FROM CHRISTCHURCH or Wellington cost is: From $2690 per person twin share

Departs 14 November 2021

Includes

• Home Pick up & Return (Conditions Apply)
• Fly to Auckland for overnight including breakfast
• 15 November Transfer to join your Coach Tour
• Day 6 Transfer to Auckland Airport for flight back to Christchurch or Wellington

 Please note we only have a limited amount of airfares from these centres. We reserve the right to alter the price based on availability at time of booking.

 

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
• Light Lunch Nut House Café Whanarua Bay
• Light Lunch Te Puka Tavern Tokomaru Bay
• Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary including Hamilton Gardens
• Entrance fee and visit to Kiwifruit Country, Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Tairawhiti Museum, St Faiths Church
• 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 non refundable deposit of $500 per person is payable to hold a seat on the tour with the balance payable 27 August 2021.

 

LOYALTY DISCOUNT:

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

 

CANCELLATION CHARGES:

Deposit:  NON REFUNDABLE

From 28 August:  100% of tour cost.

 

*Should the tour be cancelled due to Government regulations, you will be offered an alternative date of travel.  If this is unsuitable, your deposit will be refunded.  Where there is an airfare component, this may be in the form of a credit.

 

INSURANCE:

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

 

 

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