The Top Of The North

Day 1 - Start Tour. (Optional free evening visit to the Whakarewarewa Forest)‍

Welcome to your ZigZag Tour in the adventure capital of the North Island - Rotorua.

Rotorua has so much to offer. There is everything here from adrenaline pumping activities like guided volcano climbing, ziplining and zorbing to more relaxed activities like having a massage in the many spa and wellness centres or walking amongst the giant redwood trees in the amazing Whakarewarewa Forest.

Taking a stroll around the vibrant town centre you’ll find yourself walking amongst geothermal natural springs and bubbling mud pools, through the beautifully manicured government gardens, onto the pristine new lakefront walkway, and back towards Eat Streat, a pedestrianized road full of cafes and restaurants, not to mention fantastic ice cream parlours. There are kilometres of lake, river and forest paths and trails to explore on foot or bike and a visit to Rotorua is not complete without experiencing our unique Māori culture too.

Rotorua is a unique and special place and with so much to see and do, you won’t be disappointed.

Tonight after dark, you have the option to join us at the Whakarewarewa Forest where you can enjoy the magical light display amongst the enormous redwood trees. (The elevated tree walk – additional cost - can be booked at the ticket office on site.)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping (Rotorua)

Day 2 – The ‘Hobbiton’ Day. (Included activity)

Experience the magic of the Hobbiton movie set, situated in the heart of the Mighty Waikato region. Here you will explore the real ‘middle earth’ and the lush pastures of the ‘Shire’ with a guided walking tour of Hobbiton as featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Wander amongst the ‘Hobbit Holes’, past the Mill and down to the Green Dragon Inn for a refreshing complimentary drink. Even if you’re not a fan of the books or films, we are sure you will still find this Tolkien tour endearing, interesting and very photogenic.

After our adventure here, we head to the City of Tauranga where we drive past New Zealand's biggest port and one of its largest natural harbours before ending up in the popular seaside resort of Mount Maunganui. Its long sandy main beach stretches right up to the base of the ‘Mount’ which can then be climbed to gain spectacular views across the city, harbour and coastline.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping (Mount Maunganui)

Day 3 | Free Day

Enjoy a walk along the beach, watch the surfers ride the waves and the ships coming into the harbour, indulge in the numerous cafes, juice and coffee shops along the sea front, or take the walk up the Mount.

If you fancy a day in the city, you can take the bus into Tauranga and shop til you drop.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Mount Maunganui)

Day 4

We start today by driving to the little inland town of Waihi, New Zealand's 'Heart of Gold', with a gold mining history spanning three centuries and a local open pit mine that is still fully operational.

We then drive further north to the stunning Mount Paku peninsula. The 360° panoramic views at the top of the summit walk are not to be missed, looking down over Tairua harbour, Pauanui Beach, the beautiful turquoise blue estuary waters, and out along the coast to the Alderman Islands.

We now find ourselves in The Coromandel, a popular holiday region renowned for its 400kms of pristine white sandy beaches and relaxed vibes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Hot Water Beach, Coromandel)

Day 5 | Free Day

This is your chance to get out and explore the beautiful Coromandel's east coast with its pristine beaches, beautiful bays, caves and islands.

From our camp at Hot Water Beach, you can opt for one of the many scenic boat tours, kayak adventures, diving and snorkelling trips on offer, or simply walk down to the beach, dig yourself a hole and sit in it! Yes, Hot Water Beach is exactly that – a hot pool waiting for you to sit and relax in.

Voted one of the most picturesque spots in the Coromandel, Cathedral Cove is home to a soaring limestone rock arch that separates two beautiful white sandy beaches. It can be accessed via kayak, boat tour, or the scenic walkway.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Hot Water Beach, Coromandel)

Day 6

Today, we zigzag across and around the Coromandel Peninsula to Coromandel Town.

Along the way we visit the harbour town of Whitianga, Kūaotunu (home of the 10 scoop ice cream!), and beautiful white, empty Otama beach.

We then cross the ranges over to the west and check in to our campsite where we stay for 2 nights.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Coromandel Town)

Day 7 | Free Day (optional free day road trip around the Coromandel)

You have a free day to explore Coromandel Town, a unique little settlement with character, soul and ambience. As well as galleries and craft shops, the town has many restored Victorian buildings and a small mining museum. There are many bush and beach walks nearby too.

Weather permitting, you have the option to join us for a drive north to explore the remote beauty of the northern tip of the peninsula. We will also attempt to access part of the Coromandel Coastal Walkway – one of New Zealand’s premier day hikes with its beautiful scenery and remote location. It borders the northern Coromandel coastline between Stony and Fletcher Bays and follows an old bridle path formed by early pioneers.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Coromandel Town)

Day 8

‘Relocating’ from the Coromandel to the Northland region, we head down the ‘Thames Coastal Road’, which offers magnificent views along the shoreline here.

We then take the scenic route north via the Firth of Thames. This quiet, pretty road is also known as ‘The Seabird Coast’. On the way, we pass through bays, beaches, and lush reserves bordered by marshes, wetlands, tidal flats and mangroves that are home to over sixty different avian species and in excess of 40,000 individual birds.

Next, we navigate our way through Auckland, ‘the City of Sails’, with its impressive skyline and iconic Sky Tower looming in the distance, before heading toward the surf, sea, sand, and rugged coastal scenery of our first destination in Northland, beautiful Mangawhai Heads.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Mangawhai Heads)

Day 9 | Free Day

Whether its relaxing on the beach, walking beside the sand dunes or having a go at fishing, kayaking or the many other water-based activities on offer, Mangawhai Heads is a beautiful spot to spend your day.

You might also wish to explore the excellent Mangawhai Coastal Cliff walk. This 2-3 hour round trip offers spectacular elevated ocean views up and down the coast and out to the many offshore islands, and can be accessed by foot from our campground beside the sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Mangawhai Heads)

Day 10

Today we travel north through stunning Langs and Waipu Beaches, before stopping at Whangarei Falls. This 26m high waterfall on the Hatea River in the Whangarei Scenic Reserve makes for a pleasant lunch stop.

Continuing up through remote rural countryside, we arrive at our base for the next 3 nights - the charmingly historic town of Russell in the Bay of Islands.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Russell)

Day 11 | Free Day

Spend today exploring Russell itself and/or take a boat trip out around the Bay of Islands.

The Bay of Islands comprises of 144 islands, so this is your chance to get out on the water and see them. Embark on a cruise, charter a yacht, hire a sea kayak or join one of the jet boat safaris that are on offer here. These unique excursions will take you to islands with white sandy beaches, secluded coves, stunning marine and bird life, and the famous “Hole in the Rock”.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Camping (Russell)

Day 12 | Free Day

Today, why not take the frequent foot ferry across to Paihia (the Bay of Islands’ main tourist town) and visit historic Waitangi.

Situated just a short walk from Paihia, Waitangi is one of New Zealand's most important cultural sites, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Māori chiefs. At Waitangi, visitors are given an in-depth introduction to the early history of New Zealand and Māori culture. You can visit the Treaty House, marvel at the intricately carved Māori meeting house and traditional Waka (canoes), experience a live cultural performance, and explore the two museums and beautiful grounds.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Russell)

‍Day 13

Today we head north to Kerikeri, home to New Zealand’s oldest stone buildings. Within a pretty riverside setting, the Kerikeri Mission Station (Kemp House – 1822) stands adjacent to the Old Stone Store (1832). We take time here to visit the museum* and store, walk through the gardens and orchards, and enjoy some lunch at the cafe on site.

This afternoon, we drive through the rolling hills of Northland to the picturesque beach settlement of Matauri Bay. Climb the hill to the Rainbow Warrior Memorial for stunning views across to the Cavalli Islands, or just relax on the beautiful beach.

We end today’s adventures on the northern end of Doubtless Bay in a small settlement called Whatuwhiwhi.

*at your own cost

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Whatuwhiwhi)

Day 14 | Free Day

With our campsite only a stone’s throw from Perehipe Beach, you might just want to relax here today. With safe swimming and water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding, it is truly a paradise to enjoy, relax and unwind in. If you're feeling energetic, take a walk along this stretch of coastline - Tokerau Beach has 18km of uninterrupted sandy beach to discover.

Weather permitting, we’ll explore some of the further bays, scenic reserves and lookouts situated around this peninsula, including stunning Maitai Bay, Waikato Bay, and Karikari Beach. Come along for the ride around the largely unexplored KariKari Peninsula.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Whatuwhiwhi)

Day 15

There’s no need to take down your tents this morning as we are off on a full day trip to Cape Reinga.

Today’s tour takes us all the way to the top of New Zealand - the northernmost point of the country. It is a scenic drive to get there, but the main attraction is at the end of the road.

After passing through green pastures, we are then greeted with large rolling sand dunes on both sides of the road. Then as we get closer to the very top, we wind our way up steep hills and are rewarded with dramatic views of the roiling ocean, where the two distinct colours of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. On arrival at Cape Reinga, we have time for a stroll down to the iconic lighthouse and its outstanding panoramas across the northern coastline.

Soon after starting our drive back to Whatuwhiwhi, we make a stop at the Te Paki sand dunes - a vast area of sand with native bush on one side, and Ninety Mile Beach and the Tasman Sea on the other. They are quite incredible to see. You’ll have time to walk across the desert-like landscape or hire a sandboard and have a go at ‘boarding’ down the dunes!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Whatuwhiwhi)

Day 16

Today, we drive down the west coast and take a ferry ride over the Hokianga Harbour to Opononi, a small town that became world-famous in the 1950’s for its friendly dolphin called ‘Opo’. She was a young Bottlenose dolphin that enjoyed playing and spending time with humans in the harbour here.

We’ll make our lunch stop today at Arai Te Uru on the southern head of the Hokianga Harbour. This headland offers spectacular views of the Tasman Sea and the giant sand dunes on the opposite side of the harbour entrance.

We’ll then head further south and meander our way through the Waipoua Kauri Forest, before making a stop at majestic Tāne Mahuta - the ‘Lord of the Forest’ - New Zealand’s largest living Kauri tree. A short walk through the rainforest brings us to this magnificent 2000+ year old specimen towering over the other tall trees here.  

We spend our last night in this densely forested area of Northland.

Tonight, as an optional (included) activity, we take a short drive to the Trounsen Forest to search for Kiwi once the sun has gone down. This is a very special experience - most New Zealanders have never seen a Kiwi in the wild. We will have a 50% chance of seeing one. Whilst walking amongst a forest of enormous Kauri trees in the darkness, we will quietly search for these elusive nocturnal birds with our red torch lights (provided). The flightless Kiwi bird is a ‘taonga’ (treasure) to Māori, who have strong cultural, spiritual and historic associations with it. It is also an icon here in this country, symbolising the uniqueness of New Zealand's wildlife and natural heritage.

‍Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping (Kauri Coast)

Day 17

Upon leaving the Kauri Coast, we travel south through Dargaville and alongside the Wairoa River before heading over to Matakana.

Matakana offers craft outlets, markets, boutique stores, galleries, country cafes, and numerous vineyards and breweries – the perfect place for our farewell lunch.

After lunch, we will drive into Auckland city and sadly say our final goodbyes, before dropping you off either in the central city or at the airport.

‍Meals Included: Breakfast