5 Day Adventure Trip, North Island

Trip of a lifetime in North Island

New Zealand's North Island, named Te Ika-a-Maui by the Maori, is remarkably different to the South Island. It is a land of active volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, and unique flora and fauna.

Favoured by the Maori people for its bountiful natural resources, the North Island has a rich cultural history that has been shaped by this dynamic and surprising land. Our Kauri trip packs loads of adventure into just five days & from hiking and soaking in hot pools to biking and caving & you'll be amazed by the diversity and culture of our northern island.

The Kauri allows you to see the ‘other side' of New Zealand, and we have arranged the departure dates to link up with our South Island trips.

1-800-661-9073 (from USA/Canada), 0808 234 7780 (f

Itinerary / Highlights

Tuesday Arrive, hike at Orokawa beach and Mount Maunganui
Most people leave the Northern Hemisphere on a Sunday evening and arrive in Auckland early on Tuesday morning. You'll lose a day to the dateline & but you get it back on the way home! We'll pick you up in central Auckland at 9.30am, or at the airport at 10am on our way out of the city. Once we're out of the city limits, we'll hike around a series of headlands clad in native Pohutakawa trees to the impressive and secluded Orokawa Beach where, if the weather's nice, we'll have a swim in the warm South Pacific waters. Then we'll head to Mt. Maunganui, a scenic seaside town and popular summer vacation spot for locals, for a hike up Mt. Maunganui itself. This an extinct volcano, creates an almost perfect dome on the horizon and offers unsurpassed views of the surrounding coast. After the hike, we'll travel further south through kiwifruit-growing country to Rotorua. There's a great deal of geothermal activity beneath Rotorua, so you'll see steaming pools of mud, fumaroles and smell the distinctive whiff of sulfur that characterises this town.
ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua lodge, Rotorua (L,D)

Wednesday Hike Lakes Okataina and Tarawera, Maori feast and culture
Today we'll explore the virgin forest around Lake Okataina and hike alongside its deep blue waters to explore the site of an ancient Maori settlement. We'll then continue over the ridge to Lake Tarawera. The entire area has been sculpted by intermittent volcanic activity, which continues in various forms to this day. Mt. Tarawera was the scene of an enormous eruption in the late 19th century and we'll see the effects of this cataclysmic event during our time here. Tonight you'll get to know a bit more about the local Maori culture and share a traditional Maori feast & called a hangi & prepared by the Ngati Rongomai tribe. The meal is prepared by wrapping the food and burying it in the earth to cook over hot stones. This method is very healthy & akin to steaming & and hangi food has a wonderful smoky flavour. Vegetarians, of course, are well catered for.
ACCOMMODATION: Rotorua lodge, Rotorua (B,L,D)

Thursday Mountain bike Whakarewarewa Forest, hike to Huka Falls
Rotorua is the centre of Maori culture in New Zealand and the influence of the Maori people can be seen everywhere. Although it's a well-known tourist spot, there's plenty going on behind the glitz that is worth checking out. We'll show you our favourite highlights of Rotorua before heading out for some biking on the trails in Whakarewarewa Forest. We have biking options to suit all abilities, and the biking is a real highlight on the Kauri trip. If you prefer not to bike, there are other options available, such as visiting the local mineral spas for a relaxing soak. We then go hiking along New Zealand's longest river & the Waikato & to the impressive Huka Falls before heading south to Turangi. We'll follow the shores of Lake Taupo, the biggest volcanic crater in the world, to this evening's accommodation. Our hosts, John and Lyn, are a lovely local couple who'll point out some of the best walks and fishing spots in the area. We're right next door to the Tongariro River, New Zealand's most famous trout fishing river, so this is a great chance to cast a line! Tonight your guide will prepare a good old Kiwi BBQ dinner.
ACCOMMODATION: Local lodge, Tongariro (B,L,D)

Friday Hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing, soak in hot pools
Just south of Turangi are three massive volcanoes & Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu & as well as Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest park and the fourth oldest national park in the world. Here you'll have the opportunity to do what is considered the best mountain day-hike in the country, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Not an easy day, this hike takes around seven hours unguided through arid volcanic terrain. Mount Tongariro offers remarkable volcanic landscapes including emerald lakes, cold mountain springs, lava flows, active craters and steam vents, so it's unlike anything else in New Zealand. If you prefer to do an easier hike, you can walk through native tussock to a waterfall at the base of the highest active volcano in New Zealand, Mount Ruapehu, and around an isolated mountain lake in the middle of the virgin prehistoric rainforest. However you choose to spend your day, we'll all head to some thermal springs tonight to soak tired muscles in natural hot water. Dinner tonight is a Kiwi favourite & fish and chips with plenty of fresh salads for our last night together.
ACCOMMODATION: Local lodge, Tongariro (B,L,D)

Saturday Caving at Waitomo Caves, depart for home
For our last day together, we'll head over the spectacular Pureora Forest Range through groves of huge native trees, then into sheep farming country, before arriving at Waitomo Caves. After lunch, it's an afternoon of caving (a.k.a. spelunking). Or if you prefer to stay dry, you'll take a walk through Ruakuri cave to learn more about the geological significance of the area. For the more adventurous, you'll head ‘down under' to explore an underground cave system. You'll be fitted with a wetsuit, helmet, headlamp and rubber tube in order to float down a subterranean stream, slide down waterfalls and at one point, switch off your headlamp to check out the incredible glow worms that live on the limestone ceiling of the cave. After a shower and some hot soup, we'll head back to Auckland, where we'll have you at the airport in time to catch evening flights back home, or down south for one of our South Island trips. (B,L)

Other Details

Accommodation Details

ACCOMMODATION: We've chosen interesting and comfortable accommodations for all of our trips. Some places are quite civilised, but many of the other locations we visit are off-the-beaten-track -- and don´t have many accommodation options --“ but they are really, really spectacular. We think you´ll love the places we stay! We prefer to stay in comfortable bed and breakfasts, lodges and apartments. Rooming is based on twin-share, although single room upgrades are available on request. As there´s such a variety of accommodation on our trips, some places will have ensuite bathrooms and some will have shared bathrooms, so we may ask you to share a bathroom with other group members on occasion.

FITNESS: You must have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself on our trips. You don´t have to be young and extremely fit (although if you are, you won´t be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some exercise. Age and experience are not important, but our trips are not passive scenic tours of New Zealand. For example, a person in their 50s who hikes every couple of weeks will be happier than a 22-year-old couch potato. If you´re concerned about your fitness level, have a chat with us so we can help you choose between our trips.
Our focus is on getting you out of the vehicle, out of stress-mode, and into the scenery.

EXPERIENCE: You don´t need any outdoor experience at all to enjoy our trips. All our trips allow you to make the most of New Zealand´s incredible environment. Our experienced guides are highly trained and will look after you!
You don´t have to carry a heavy pack on hikes and you don´t have to have been kayaking or rafting to enjoy taking to the water. You don´t even need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy some of the rides we have available. In fact we have so many options available that you don´t need to ride at all if you´d rather hike, fish, or just laze around!
All we ask is that you be energetic, in reasonable shape and we guarantee you´ll have an incredible time. The challenges are there though, if you´re looking for them. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience and we have an impeccable safety record. We hold all relevant government licenses and permits.

FLEXIBILITY: Because of the off-the-beaten-path and non-commercial nature of some of our accommodation, we sometimes need to change a night stop. When we do this the daily activities don´t change and we use accommodation of a similar level. We try Informationto make as few changes as possible, but we ask that you know we retain the flexibility to make sure your trip is as good as it can be.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Oct 18 11 - Oct 22 11
Oct 25 11 - Oct 29 11
Nov 1 11 - Nov 5 11
Nov 15 11 - Nov 19 11
Nov 22 11 - Nov 26 11
Nov 29 11 - Dec 3 11
Jan 3 12 - Jan 7 12
Jan 10 12 - Jan 14 12
Jan 17 12 - Jan 21 12

See our website for more dates & availability!

1-800-661-9073 (from USA/Canada), 0808 234 7780 (f