AAT Kings 10 Day New Zealand’s Northern Gems Tour – Small Group 

Experience the gems of New Zealand’s North Island on this immersive 10-day guided coach tour from Wellington to the beautiful Bay of Islands
10 Days
Coach Tour
4 Star Accommodation

Operated by

This tour includes

Experiences

  • 9 Nights Accommodation
  • Award Winning Tour Operator
  • Experienced Travel Director, Driver Guide and local Guides
  • Optional activities available
  • Travel with likeminded travellers
  • Superb quality coaches with high vantage point seating
  • Fully air-conditioned coaches
  • Reclining seats, seatbelts and restrooms
  • Top-notch carefully selected comfortable accommodations
  • Classic tours have a maximum of 48 guests, while Small Group tours are capped at a maximum of 24 guests
  • On board drinking water (bring a bottle)
  • Start your day right with daily breakfasts daily and enjoy curated meals as highlighted in each trip itinerary
  • Immerse yourself in your destination with included sightseeing and activities in iconic spots, as detailed in your itinerary

Meals

  • 9 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners

Attractions

  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Guided tour and cultural performance at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
  • Explore the Bay of Islands, a stunning coastal paradise with golden beaches, and lush islands
  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Immerse yourself in Māori culture at Te Puia, with traditional performances and storytelling
  • Explore the Geothermal Wonders of Rotorua
  • Marvel at the powerful Huka Falls
  • Behind the scenes experience at Pounamu (Jade) carving workshop tour, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Visit the art deco and wine region of Hawkes Bay including an Art Deco Walking Tour of Napier
  • Guided tour of the Interactive All Blacks Experience in Auckland

Overview & Itinerary

From Wellington’s vibrant charm to Rotorua’s geothermal wonders and Auckland’s harbour-side sparkle, every day brings new discoveries on this guided coach tour brings new discoveries. Take a tour through Napier’s Art Deco streets, visit Rotorua, where bubbling mud pools, a traditional pounamu carving workshop, and a Māori cultural performance under the glow of the Pohutu Geyser, await. Discover an immersive All Blacks Experience in Auckland before heading to the breathtaking Bay of Islands and then celebrate it all at dinner with your new-found friends.

Check out why we love AAT Kings here and read their booking terms and conditions here.

Arrive and settle into your hotel in New Zealand’s cool little capital of Wellington. You may like to visit Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, home to an extraordinary collection of artefacts, including an eye-opening exhibit dedicated to Māori history (entrance fee applies). Later, meet up with your fellow adventure-seekers for drinks before you tour the North Island of New Zealand.

Wellington is known for its uber-cool cafes, so grab a coffee before you head out on your city sights tour. Later, travel to the Art Deco capital of New Zealand, Napier. Napier’s striking Art Deco architecture is a direct result of the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, which remains New Zealand’s deadliest natural disaster. Napier was rapidly rebuilt in the style of the era – Art Deco, Spanish Mission and Striped Classical. Today, Napier is regarded as one of the world’s best-preserved Art Deco cities.

Join a private walking tour of the Art Deco quarter, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Your local expert guide from the Art Deco Trust will regale you with stories of the people and events that shaped the iconic art deco buildings. Later you may choose to partake in a wine tour of Hawkes Bay wineries, or a tour of the local Gannet Colony, the largest nesting colony of its type in the world (both own expense).

Today on your tour of the North Island visit the mighty Huka Falls, where approximately 220,000 litres per second of water surge through a narrow volcanic gorge plunging 11 metres to a foaming pool below. Continue to the geothermal wonder of Rotorua, renowned for its bubbling mud pools, erupting geysers, rich Māori culture, and the unmistakable scent of sulphur that fills the air. This afternoon, visit a traditional Pounamu workshop for a fascinating insight into the art of jade carving, where you will witness skilled artisans at work, and learn about the cultural significance of pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) in Māori tradition. Tonight, delve deep into Māori culture with the Te Pō Indigenous Experience at Te Puia. It begins with an exhilarating cultural performance
in a beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua, followed by views of the Pohutu Geyser, one of New Zealand’s geothermal wonderlands, and ends with a delicious buffet dinner of hāngī-inspired cuisine – both MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences.

Today is Rotorua tour day of many decisions, but with plenty of tips available from your Travel Director. Want a bit of down time? We wouldn’t blame you for simply blissing out at in the steamy thermal springs at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa. Hobbit fans will want to take advantage of the opportunity to tour the sights featured in The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit movies on the Hobbiton Movie Set tour. Or board a scenic flight for a bird’s-eye-view (all own expense).

From New Zealand’s longest waterway, the Waikato River, to its largest city: welcome to Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’. You’ll understand how it got its moniker when you glimpse yachts gliding around its two harbours on your city sights tour. But today your sights are firmly set on New Zealand’s national game: rugby. As part of your Auckland tour you’re kicking about at the interactive All Blacks Experience. Journey through the sporting team’s remarkable history via various displays and presentations before you witness a performance of a traditional haka with you front and centre.

140 – that’s how many droplets of land ringed by turquoise sea comprise the Bay of Islands, your tour destination today. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance: this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs. Your guide, perhaps a descendent of one of the original signatories, will explain the significance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house.

If there’s a travel destination that inspires wanderlust, the Bay of Islands is it. Today, trip the light fantastic and head off in whatever direction you please. Perhaps travel up to Cape Reinga, the very top of New Zealand, via idyllic Ninety Mile Beach. Or cruise to the Hole in the Rock with an idyllic island stopover enroute or join a tour of Russell and learn more about the settling of the Bay of Islands (all own expense).

For a little more northern exposure, make your way to Whangarei, the island’s most northerly outpost and a place where waterfalls meet beaches, galleries meet museums. It’s like the country in a tantalising snapshot – a union of nature and forward-thinking culture. Sink back into your seat for the mesmerizing commute back to Auckland for your dinner and drinks.

The only bad day in your Auckland tour is the one where you have to bid farewell. On your journey home, just remember how much pleasure you have packed into this last 10 days.

Why we think you’ll love this tour:

For those looking to see some of the best sights in the north island but enjoy small group tours (max 24 passengers) more than the large ones then this one with the team from AAT Kings is well worth checking out.

Price Estimate

Start Date
End Date
Solo pricing (pp)
Twin pricing (pp)
2026
12 October 2026
21 October 2026
$10,088 NZD
$7,584 NZD
30 November 2026 Special
9 December 2026
Was   $9,644 NZD
Now   $9,099 NZD
Was   $7,435 NZD
Now   $6,840 NZD
7 December 2026 Special
16 December 2026
Was   $9,644 NZD
Now   $9,099 NZD
Was   $7,435 NZD
Now   $6,840 NZD
21 December 2026
30 December 2026
Sold Out
2027
1 February 2027
10 February 2027
Sold Out
8 February 2027 Special
17 February 2027
Was   $9,937 NZD
Now   $9,375 NZD
Was   $7,660 NZD
Now   $7,047 NZD
15 February 2027 Special
24 February 2027
Was   $9,937 NZD
Now   $9,375 NZD
Was   $7,660 NZD
Now   $7,047 NZD
1 March 2027
10 March 2027
$10,394 NZD
$7,813 NZD
15 March 2027 Special
24 March 2027
Was   $9,937 NZD
Now   $9,375 NZD
Was   $7,660 NZD
Now   $7,047 NZD
29 March 2027
7 July 2027
Sold Out
3 May 2027 Special
12 May 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD
11 October 2027 Special
20 October 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD
8 November 2027 Special
17 November 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD
29 November 2027 Special
8 December 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD
6 December 2027 Special
15 December 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD
20 December 2027 Special
29 December 2027
Was   $10,490 NZD
Now   $9,441 NZD
Was   $7,885 NZD
Now   $7,097 NZD

Similar Tours

Get your FREE copy of our 115 page New Zealand Touring Handbook today!

Packed with lots of tips, highlights, activities and helpful information of our diverse country. 

Downloading this brochure adds you to our email list, you can unsubscribe anytime with one click. Copyright Urban Napflin.

Let us know a few details below and our New Zealand based team will be in touch.

Let us know a few details below and our New Zealand based team will be in touch.
Let us know a few details below and our New Zealand based team will be in touch.