Top North Island Holidays

Discover the wines of Waiheke on a day trip from Auckland with a small-group tour that visits boutique vineyards. It’s easy to hop a morning ferry and cross the Hauraki Gulf for the short ride to the island. Your guide meets you upon arrival and shares lively commentary as you head to local vineyards for tastings. Afterward, choose to have lunch in Oneroa with a transfer to the ferry, or stay longer and make your own way back to the ferry. Ferry tickets are excluded.

Indulge in the succulent tastes of Waiheke Island on a 5.5-hour food and wine tour. An informative guide picks you up from your island accommodation or the wharf — if you’ve taken the ferry from Auckland — and takes you to boutique wineries. Taste wine accompanied by locally produced specialties such as award-winning olive oil, fresh-shucked oysters and artisan cheese. Then settle in for a platter lunch at a vineyard restaurant. If you like, stay longer and make your own way back to Auckland at your leisure.

Be driven around sunny Hawke’s Bay and get a taste of the region’s well-regarded wines on this small-group tour. There’s no need to choose a sober driver as you'll be chauffeured around a handful of wineries, leaving you free to sample as many wines as you want. Learn how to translate winemaking jargon and enjoy wine-tasting like a professional.

Discover the flavours of Waiheke Island, a stunning Island of wine, on a vineyard tour with lunch included at an award-winning restaurant directly across from the beach; you don't get to eat right across the beach every day! So Enjoy along the way the stunning views of the island's beaches, villages, and homes while learning about the local culture, people, history, geography, Maori Culture, and Waiheke produce. Try Waiheke wines from Rose, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wine, and Syrah and Bordeaux blends. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at an award-winning restaurant on the white-sand beach in Onetangi, on the north coast of Waiheke Island with incredible views out toward the Hauraki Gulf with a glass of wine to compliment your meal. After lunch, we will continue to Onetangi Valley where we will stop and taste more award-winning wines. These tours are shared with other guests and are a great way to meet new friends from all over the world. See less

Experience the real Middle-earth™ at the Hobbiton™ Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Fall in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, just as acclaimed director Sir Peter Jackson did, as you journey through the unequivocal beauty of the land with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Your guide will escort you around the set, showing the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations and explaining how the movie magic was made. You will be fully-guided around the 12-acre set: past the colourful Hobbit Hole™ doors that scatter the hillsides, before arriving at Bagshot Row™ for a glimpse of the interior of a humble Hobbit’s home. Finally, you will arrive at the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn where you will receive a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth™ adventure.

Visit a pair of New Zealand's must-see attractions with this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit Holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a Kiwi-style lunch. In the afternoon, explore Maori myths and history on a boat ride through mesmerizing caves lit by thousands of glowworms, and finish with a drive through some of the North Island’s most majestic scenery.

The fictional, yet globally famous, village of Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves rank among the most popular sites of interest in New Zealand. On this tour, visit both sites in one day—see the home of Bilbo Baggins and explore Waitomo’s subterranean caverns—and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this limited to 15 people.

Visit the Hobbiton Movie set on a full-day tour from Auckland that explores New Zealand's 'Middle-earth,' where 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' came to life on film. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12-acre (4.8-ha) Hobbiton Movie Set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the Green Dragon Inn. With free time to shop and explore, this tour includes transport from selected locations in Auckland, and it's limited to 16 travelers to ensure personalized service.

Come visit a New Zealand attraction that’s sure to have you ‘glowing’ during this 45-minute small-group guided boat ride through the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Glide by boat through this underground complex, enjoying a light show put on by the millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above. As an added bonus, many of the trip guides are of Maori descent, adding unique historical context to your visit.

For fans of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, visiting the official Hobbiton Movie Set is a truly unforgettable experience. On this tour, enjoy comfortable round-trip transport from Auckland without having to organize a rental vehicle. On arrival, enjoy the opportunity to explore the famous film set, have a drink at The Green Dragon Inn, and see Hobbit Holes, and the Double Arched bridge up close.

Visit the “Lord of the Rings” movie set on this small-group Hobbiton tour from Auckland. At the Hobbiton Movie Set, visit the home of Bilbo Baggins and peer inside other hobbit holes of the Shire—filming site of “The Hobbit” and the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogies. No worries about bringing a packed lunch with you as a buffet lunch and a drink at the Green Dragon Inn is included.

Go Waitomo black-water rafting (cave tubing) for a memorable adventure in the Waitomo Caves. Choose a 3-hour Labyrinth experience that takes you floating underground on an inner tube, including a small waterfall jump. Or upgrade to the 5-hour Black Abyss for an exhilarating abseil (rappel) down limestone walls; instruction and equipment included. The resident glowworms, stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you! Finish with a hot shower, soup and bagel.

Visit two of the North Island’s most popular attractions in one day on this small-group tour from Auckland. First, hear behind-the-scenes stories from the making of "The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films on a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set. In the afternoon, continue to Rotorua to explore the city and visit the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland where highlights include geysers, volcanic mud pools, and geothermal craters.

While in Rotorua, see a cultural performance and take part in a 3-course seasonal fusion feast at Te Pā Tū, featuring lesser-known delicacies. A local guide escorts you by coach to the “marae” (Māori village) for an immersive evening that begins with a welcome ceremony by New Zealand's Indigenous people. Learn about local customs based on the Māori lunar calendar and watch a powerful display of song and dance.

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are among the most visited attractions of New Zealand’s North Island and Ruakuri Cave is the longest of the underground caves. Explore the magnificent cave on this 75-minute guided walking tour and marvel at the unique rock formations, subterranean rivers, and thousands of glittering glowworms.

Hop on a complimentary shuttle from the cruise terminal when your ship pulls into port, and meet your guide at Napier for a 3-hour sightseeing tour of the CBD and surroundings. This guided shore excursion includes highlights such as the sailing yachts at Ahuriri Marina, the orchards of the scenic Esk Valley, and panoramic views of Hawke’s Bay. Vsit my colorful garden and enjoy complimentary wine cheese and crackers out amongst the vines

Kumeu Wine Country is one of New Zealand’s oldest wine regions and lies just a 30-minute drive from Auckland. On this small-group tour, visit three family-run wineries in the Kumeu region; sample a variety of red, white, or rosé wines during guided wine tastings; and enjoy a delicious lunch of seasonal cuisine and regional wines.

Volcanic beaches, native rain forest, and vineyards abound on this full-day tour of West Auckland. Begin with a wine tasting in Henderson Valley, then continue to the Waitakere Ranges, where more than 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) of coastline and forest await you. Get elevated views of the reserve from the Arataki visitor center, explore the black-sand beaches of Piha and Karekare, and get close to the Karekare waterfalls. Then, enjoy an included lunch before finishing your tour with more wine tastings.

Black sands, native wildlife, and award-winning wine awaits you on this tour of Auckland’s wild west coast. Following pickup from your central hotel, you’ll travel to Muriwai, a coastal enclave whose windswept beach and waves draw surfers and visitors from miles around. Stroll the beach and visit the cliff-top gannet colony, then continue to a nearby wine estate, where you’ll taste a selection of local varietals and blends.

Discover the wine scene of Waiheke Island on a wine-tasting tour that introduces you to some of the island's best spots. With a small group and guide, taste world-class boutique wines and meet local producers who provide the chance to get to know the island's culture a little better. Along the way, admire the native bush and vineyard scenery.

Explore pretty Waiheke Island's beaches, vineyards, and rolling scenery on a full-day, small-group tour that includes tastings at three boutique vineyards. You'll get an overview and orientation of the island, stopping for great views and sandy beaches, and learn about local wine production as you sip Waiheke vintages. Group size is limited to six people to ensure personal service, with pickup and drop-off at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal or island hotels.

Visit three wineries and a beloved local ale house on a half-day tour that’s all about Napier wine and beer. Taste wines at each destination, from the country’s oldest winery to a boutique winery, learn about wine-making techniques on a comprehensive tour, then visit a wine museum built into underground wine fermentation tanks. The small-group tour wraps up with three glasses of cider or beer at an ale house in Napier’s historic center, and it includes round-trip transportation from the city center.

Indulge in New Zealands local wine with this wine tour around the Bay of Islands. Start at the Ake Ake Vineyard to explore a family-run operation located just outside Kerikeiri. Tour the vineyard, learn about grape production, and sample drinks including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Travel to the Marsden Estate Winery & Restaurant. Enjoy a lunch platter while admiring the lake view.