Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart US

Day 2 - Cross International Date Line

Day 3 - Arrive Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand! Spend your first day in Auckland - explore or relax. Don't think of Auckland as a city, even though it's New Zealand's largest. Think of it as half urban, half marine - a cosmopolitan experience wrapped up in a fascinating water world and surrounded by over 50 islands.

Day 4 - Auckland
Explore Auckland at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Explore NZ – Americas Cup Sailing Experience
Join us for an unforgettable two hours sailing. A unique opportunity to participate as crew on an actual America's Cup yacht. Take the helm, exert energy on the grinders or simply sit back and enjoy the ride as we sail the beautiful Waitemata Harbour. No experience necessary.

Auckland Bridgeclimb
Lasting for 1 1/2 hours, this climb will have you wondering whether to look at your feet or focus on the spectacular views. Custom engineered walkways provide a safe, enjoyable and easy-going experience while you enjoy Auckland to the fullest with 360 degree views.

Bush and Beach - Coast and Rainforest Tour
Visit Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, panoramic views from the sweeping decks extend from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean Next ou guides walk you through Auckland's coastal rainforest to the West Coast beach with the soft black sand, enjoy a kiwi style picnic lunch before onto untouched original rainforest with mature 1000 year old kauri trees.where 70 percent of our native plants are found nowhere else in the world.

Waiheke Island - Wine Tour
All day tour of three vineyards with pickup from and return to Auckland ferry or Waiheke Island accommodation . This tour includes commentated scenic tour of the Island with time to stop for photographs. One vineyard may be replaced with an olive oil visit and tasting.

Day 5 - Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua
Collect rental vehicle and drive south

Explore Waitomo at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Inside the ancient limestone caves live tiny insects whose iridescent light has amazed visitors of the Glowworm Grotto for over 100 years. Guided walks lead visitors through the amazing Cathedral, a high ceiling cave with acoustics to rival the most modern arena, to a small boat. From here the boat is towed across the water to where hundreds of tiny lights flicker on the cave roof above.

Black Water Rafting
The Black Labyrinth is the original classic adventure. Tube down the 'hidden' waterfall, through rocky chutes and vaulted limestone galleries and emerge in the Waitomo forest.

Lost World - Abseiling
Abseil 100m into this unique and spectacular chasm - the descent takes around 30 minutes and is followed by a dry caving trip exploring huge chambers en route to the surface. See giant speleotherms, including flowstone and spagatites, the famous glowworms and all manner of weird and wonderful rock sculptures. There's a 30m ladder climb and walking along narrow ledges, at all times protected by specialist safety equipment and systems. Unbelievable
NOVOTEL ROTORUA - Situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Rotorua, the property offers tranquil surroundings and sensational views.

Day 6 - Rotorua
Explore Rotorua at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Discover Rotorua
Experience Te Puia, a place of Maori culture and a thermal wonderland of impressive geysers and boiling mud pools. Explore Rainbow Springs Nature Park, which showcases native flora and fauna as well as the New Zealand Kiwi. Then see NZ's agricultural industry in action with a sheep shearing display and sheep dog trials at the Agrodome.

Cultural Performance & Hangi
Experience the warmth of the Maori people during an evening of ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance, storytelling and hangi feasting! Share in the Powhiri; the ancient ceremony of welcome, enter the ancestral Meeting House, world famous “haka” – Maori War Dance and the traditional hangi buffet feast, followed by our New Zealand dessert.

Zorb
Zorbit - you are safely harnessed inside the Zorb® before being sent rolling head over heels down the straight track. Like an astronaut in training you will have a sense of weightlessness and G-force as you make your way down hill. In the Zydro (Hydro) ride we add water (warm in winter, cool in summer) into the Zorb® so you can slip, slide, or spin (no tumbling) inside as the Zorb® hurtles down the hill.

Day 7 - Rotorua to Napier
A day at leisure to explore the parks, gardens and enjoy lunch at one of Hawkes Bays’ famous wineries.

Day 8 - Napier
Napier at your leisure. Explore the vibrant world of Hawke’s Bay wine. Visit some of the best of the wineries and taste their award winning wines.

Day 9 - Napier to Martinborough

Day 10 - Martinborough
A day at leisure to perhaps explore the wineries or the Marlborough Sounds area.

Day 11 - Martinborough to Wellington

Day 12 - Wellington - Picton (Inter-islander ferry) - Blenheim

Day 13 - Blenheim
Blenheim at your leisure. Visit some of the best of the wineries and taste their award winning wines

Day 14 - Depart Blenheim for US (via Auckland)

More information from Aspire Down Under:

• View trip on provider's website
  www.aspiredownunder.com/new_zealand_wine_trail.html…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips