Spring Garden Tour - North Island, New Zealand

1. Wednesday 28th October 2015 - This morning you will depart Australia and fly to the beautiful Auckland, ‘City of Sails’, New Zealand. Upon your arrival at Auckland International Airport, we will meet you and transfer you to our accommodation for the evening.

2. Thursday 29th October 2015 - This morning, after a lovely breakfast we will depart the hotel for a few lovely local gardens, including:  Wood Bridge, Twin Lakes and Pinelee. After viewing these gardens we will return to the hotel for a rest before departing for dinner.

3.  Friday 30th October 2015 - This morning after breakfast, we will view some more local gardens including Eden Gardens, Ayrlies Garden (where we will have lunch) and Joy’s Plants. We then depart Auckland for Hamilton.

4. Saturday 31st October 2015 - Today after breakfast we depart Hamilton and make our way to Hobbiton - When Peter Jackson spotted the Alexander Farm during an aerial search of the North Island for the best possible locations to film The Lord of The Rings film trilogy, he immediately thought it was perfect for Hobbiton. Nevertheless, a lot of work was still needed to be completed before it was up to the director’s high standards. Site construction started in March 1999 and filming commenced in December that year. A truly iconic New Zealand tourist destination, this is a must see! From here we travel to New Plymouth where we stay for the evening.

5. Sunday 1st November 2015 - After breakfast this morning we are depart the hotel for an exciting day of viewing beautiful local gardens including: Armstrong Garden, Magnolia Grove, Waiongana & Villa Heights – all gardens in the Taranaki Garden & Fringe Festivals.  

6. Monday 2nd November 2015 - This morning we awaken to a beautifully cooked breakfast before departing for another exciting day in the wonderful gardens of New Plymouth, including: Pukekura Park, Schreiber, Honeyfields, Tupare & Pukeiti.

7. Tuesday 3rd November 2015 - After breakfast today we make our way to Wanganui (Whanganui), viewing more lovely gardens along the way! Including: Stanleigh, Greenhills, Okaleys & Mary’s Place. We spend the night in Wanganui (Whanganui).

8. Wednesday 4th November 2015 - This morning after a lovely breakfast, we depart Wanganui (Whanganui) for Palmerston North, stopping in at several great gardens along the way, including; Bason Botanic, Paloma Garden & Cross Hills Garden. Staying in Palmerston North for the evening.

9. Thursday 5th November 2015 - Departing Palmerston North for Wellington, we’ll stop off at Government House, Karori Wildlife Botanic Gardens, Mt Victoria and Parliament Buildings.

10. Friday 6th November 2015 - This morning we will take a quick trip to Te Papa – New Zealand’s most renowned museum, after this visit today is yours to do as you see fit, shop to your heart’s desire, relax on the waterfront with a glass of bubbly, explore the local art or find somewhere nice and quiet to read a book – you are more than welcome to do as you please!

11. Saturday 7th November 2015 - After breakfast this morning, we will depart Wellington for Masterton, view gardens along the way including: Efil Doog, Richmond Garden & Awaiti Garden.

12. Sunday 8th November 2015 - This morning we enjoy a lovely breakfast before departing Masterton for Napier – upon arrival in Napier we make our way to Pukeora Estate Winery, where we will have a tour of the winery and of course, sample the products!

13. Monday 9th November 2015 - After a beautiful breakfast, we depart Napier and make our way to wonderful Gisborne, viewing Eastwood Hill Garden on the way. This evening is yours to spend as you see fit, relax for the afternoon and go somewhere nice for dinner, shop around the local stores, etc.

14. Tuesday 10th November 2015 - Today we make our way from Gisborne to Rotorua, one of, if not, New Zealand’s most cultural locations!  Rotorua is well known for many things, one of them being the smell – Rotorua is a township brought up on the foundations of thermal/mud hot pools, one of the main ingredients in this mixture is sulphur, (don’t be too worried, most people adjust to the smell within 10-30 minutes). Whakarewarewa Village is our first stop in Rotorua, the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao people have a proud heritage which they have shared with visitors from all around the world for over two hundred years. Since the early 1800’s they have been hosting and welcoming visitors into their homes and backyards, demonstrating the utilization of the natural geothermal wanders for cooking and bathing and sharing their geothermal existence continues to fascinate tourists visiting Whakarewarewa today -  “It is our goal to continue the legacy and to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors”. From here we make our way to the Agrodome, in 1970, world champion sheep shearer Godfrey Bowen was asked to produce a show to represent New Zealand at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. The ‘Sheep Show’ was such a hit that Godfrey - together with his friend and fellow farmer George Harford – decided to create a permanent home for it. The Agrodome opened its doors to tourists and Kiwis alike in 1971. Godfrey and George were ultimately both awarded MBEs from the Queen for outstanding service and achievement. Over the years, the show has been delivered by some of New Zealand’s very best sheep shearers. Like Ivan Bowen, 5 times world champion! The Agrodome became so well loved that another show, a cattle show, was created on a site by Queenstown’s beautiful Shotover River. It ran for almost 20 years. In 1980, a devastating fire completely destroyed the first Agrodome building. But in true Kiwi ‘she’ll be right’ style, while the building was still smouldering, Ivan Bowen said, “the show must go on” and performed his famous sheep show on a hillside, to an audience of over 100! We will enjoy a lovely dinner in Rotorua and a great nights sleep as tonight is our last night in New Zealand.

15. Wednesday 11th November 2015 - After a wonderful
breakfast, we pack up our gear and board the Kiwi Tours Coach for the last
time, making our way to Auckland International Airport to catch your flight
home!

This itinerary is written for our Australian customers, for the New Zealand version of our itinerary, please email us: tours@kiwitours.kiwi.nz

This price does not include airfares.