09 January
Upon arrival in Wellington, we head straight to the Weta Workshop film production studios for a shared tour, including a visit to the famous Weta Cave store, home to an incredible range of Weta collectibles and movie merchandise. We’ll get up close to props, weapons, costumes and vehicles made for The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, District 9, The Chronicles of Narnia and more. We’ll explore a world of creativity, special effects and learn how to make props, creatures and costumes.
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state.This ground-breaking conservation project has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife to the area, some of which have been absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. We will visit Zealandia as daylight turns to dusk and we will be able to watch the birds returning to their nests. We will encounter unique species such as Wētā, Takahē, Tuatara and many more.
Overnight at Hotel QT Wellington**** port view king room.
10 January
Early this morning we head to the Kapiti Boating Club on Paraparaumu Beach where we board the ferry to Kapiti Island. During the day we will explore the small island and learn about its nature and history. We visit an archaeological site and learn the history of whaling and the region’s ancient cultural monuments. We visit the early Māori settlements, including the site of Te Rauparaha pa. A stop at Rangatira, at the tip of the island, offers the opportunity to spot the rare North Island kōkako. After a lunch hosted by a Māori family in Waiorua Bay we may enjoy a walk to the northern tip of the island, exploring its unique lagoon habitat.
In the late afternoon we will return to Wellington.
Overnight at Hotel QT Wellington**** port view king room.
11 January
After breakfast we will have a private tour of the New Zealand National Museum, Te Papa.
We will then depart for Napier, passing through the cosmopolitan capital of New Zealand to sunny Hawke’s Bay. Our route will take us through beautiful coastal scenery, first south to Cape Palliser, where we will find an 18-metre lighthouse and the largest colony of Fur Seals on the North Island, and then continue north to Napier.
Overnight at Hotel 415 Marine Parade**** king suite.
12 January
Morning exploration of Cape Kidnappers, a journey between past and present, from prehistory to the first settlements, from the barren hills to the lush coastal forest. We will discover the impact of conservation efforts, through close encounters with the primordial Ctakahē, a flightless bird and Kākāriki, the colorful New Zealand Parakeet, in danger of extinction. We will reach the spectacular cliffs of Ocean Beach from where we can enjoy the view of the coast, we will discover the importance of restoring sand dunes, coastal vegetation, the reintroduction of seabird species. Finally, we will visit the colony of Gannets, one of the largest in the world, which is home to approximately 25,000 animals.
After the excursion, we will leave the Pacific Ocean behind us to head towards the hinterland of the North Island, overcoming the gradual climb towards the Ahimanawa mountain range. The winding roads and views of the surrounding mountains make this stretch of road particularly picturesque. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Rotorua, the geothermal capital of New Zealand.
Overnight at Hotel
Sedima Lake Rotorua**** deluxe suite.
