New Zealand North Island 4 Days • Legendary Middle-earth (Round Trip from Auckland)

Itinerary details

Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city and the “City of Sail”! Your guide will meet you at the airport before taking you on a city sightseeing tour. Head up Mount Eden, the city’s highest point, for views over Auckland and its volcanic landscape. Drive past the Harbour Bridge, a symbol of the city’s energy, then stroll along bustling Queen Street and Princes Wharf to soak up the atmosphere of this South Pacific city. If time allows, you’ll also visit scenic Angel Bay to enjoy the harbor sunset and tranquil views where sea and sky meet. *The city sightseeing schedule will be adjusted according to your flight’s arrival time. Please book a flight arriving during the 10:00–17:30 airport pickup window. City sightseeing cannot be guaranteed for flights arriving after 14:00.

Meals

Breakfast: At your own expense Lunch: At your own expense Dinner: At your own expense

Accommodation

Copthorne Hotel Auckland City or equivalent 4-star hotel

Attraction details

City of Sail

City of Sail

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Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, surrounded by the ocean and volcanoes. With its beautiful harbors and spectacular bridges, it is a quintessential sightseeing destination. Auckland enjoys a sunny, pleasant climate and is a paradise for outdoor activities. Its terrain and climate are ideal for sailing. The city’s many harbors are packed with yachts and sailboats; their endless rows of masts create a spectacular sight. Auckland sailors won the America’s Cup in 1996 and 2000, and the city has hosted the race twice. New Zealanders proudly call Auckland the “City of Sail.”

Itinerary details

Leave Auckland in the morning for a journey exploring the wonders of the central North Island. First, visit one of New Zealand’s famous natural wonders: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, a cave system of limestone formations and glowworms. First discovered in 1887 by a Māori chief, this mysterious cave features towering stalactites and a winding underground river. With a guide, glide by boat into the dark, silent depths of the cave. It feels like entering a galaxy: thousands of blue glowworms illuminate the ceiling like stars in the night sky, creating an unforgettable sight. Arrive in the afternoon in Rotorua, the “Geothermal City.” Stroll along the lake and through the flower-filled Government Gardens, taking in the sulfurous scent in the air. Visit Te Whakarewarewa Māori Village, set in the Whakarewarewa Valley and one of New Zealand’s most iconic attractions. More than 20 families still live here today, descendants of the fourth and fifth generations of Māori people. You’ll have the chance to experience authentic Māori culture and customs firsthand while enjoying spectacular geothermal scenery. Evening suggestion: For an additional cost, visit the Polynesian Spa, one of the world’s top ten hot springs. Soak in mineral-rich natural hot springs beneath the stars to unwind after the day and enjoy a sense of peace and comfort.

Meals

Breakfast: hotel Lunch: Western buffet Dinner: specialty venison meal

Accommodation

Copthorne Hotel Rotorua or equivalent 4-star hotel

Attraction details

Whakarewarewa Māori Village

Whakarewarewa Māori Village

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Whakarewarewa Māori Village is located southeast of Rotorua, next to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. The village’s ancient Māori houses have been restored and gathered here. At its center is an exhibition hall displaying distinctive Māori carvings, making it an ideal place for visitors to learn about Māori culture. Early Māori dwellings were made from reeds and palm branches; they were simple and low, so people could not stand upright inside. Storage sheds were elevated on stilts. The tool shed resembled the bamboo houses of the Dai people in Yunnan, China, but was smaller. The chief’s food store stood high above the ground and looked like a chair balanced on bamboo poles by an acrobat. At the center of the gardens, a geyser shoots a column of water more than 30 meters straight into the air, glimmering like a silver chain and blossoming like a white lotus.

Rotorua

Rotorua

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Rotorua is one of the best places to see geysers, geothermal hot springs, and bubbling mud pools. “Rotorua” means “two lakes” in Māori. The area is full of hot springs and mud pools, with steam rising everywhere, bubbling mud, and a strong smell of sulfur. A soak in a geothermal hot spring is a must: relaxing in the steaming water helps relieve fatigue and unwind, making for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Another highlight is Lake Rotorua, the largest of Rotorua’s 16 lakes, formed by a volcanic eruption that created a depression. Its clear, emerald-green water is home to schools of trout. Here, you can also enjoy Māori cultural performances and sample traditional food cooked using geothermal heat.

Polynesian Spa

Polynesian Spa

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Polynesian Spa is one of New Zealand’s most renowned geothermal hot-spring complexes. Enjoy a unique lakeside experience where relaxing geothermal mineral pools, luxurious spa treatments, and beautiful views of Lake Rotorua come together.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

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As one of New Zealand’s best-known natural attractions, you can take a boat tour through the glowworm caves and marvel at thousands of magical glowworms amid a cultural and natural landscape with a history spanning more than 130 years. Explore this ancient world, formed over 30 million years, and be amazed by nature’s spectacle of light and shadow. Before boarding the boat, you can explore the caves on foot, then glide quietly through the Glowworm Grotto, a star-lit wonderland. Surrounded by a galaxy of countless tiny points of light, enjoy the peaceful, serene atmosphere.

Itinerary details

After breakfast, enjoy a day where culture meets fantasy. Visit the famous Agrodome for a mini-farm experience. Ride a dedicated tractor through 350 acres of lush green pastures and get up close with friendly alpacas, cows, sheep and other animals, experiencing authentic New Zealand farm life. Next, visit a dream destination for movie fans: Hobbiton. Cross the emerald-green pastures and step into the storybook world of Middle-earth. See iconic film locations such as Bag End, the hobbit homes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree and the mill, and imagine yourself as a hobbit, meeting Gandalf along the way. Your expert guide will reveal fascinating behind-the-scenes filming details and bring classic scenes back to life. In the afternoon, return to Auckland and board a five-star-rated luxury yacht worth millions for an exclusive, tailor-made experience at sea. The yacht is 20 metres long, with three spacious and comfortable decks, including a viewing deck, boutique cabins and premium facilities to suit your discerning tastes. It is moored at the America’s Cup Viaduct Harbour, a landmark in central Auckland and a perfect spot to watch the sunset over the harbour. As the sea breeze drifts by and golden light fills the deck, admire Auckland’s captivating skyline while enjoying an exquisite Western-style dinner, creating an unforgettable evening in the North Island. Afterwards, check in to your hotel and get ready for a pleasant journey home. *If adverse weather or other circumstances beyond our control prevent us from going out to sea, we will offer you a complimentary Jia Hua yacht experience ticket (for use on a future trip) or arrange a refund. Thank you for your understanding and support. *The Agrodome visit will be discontinued from October 2026.

Meals

Breakfast: hotel Lunch: at your own expense Dinner: Western-style

Accommodation

Jet Park Auckland Airport Hotel or equivalent 4-star airport hotel

Attraction details

Hobbiton Movie Set

Hobbiton Movie Set

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Visit the Hobbiton film set and step into Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series. The guided tour begins with a journey through a picturesque 1,250-acre sheep farm, offering sweeping views of the Kaimai Ranges along the way. Pass the colorful round doors of Hobbit holes scattered across the hillsides, including the iconic Bag End, home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Then arrive at Bagshot Row to glimpse the interiors of humble Hobbit dwellings. Follow the path past the Mill and across the double-arched stone bridge to the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn.

Agrodome Farm

Agrodome Farm

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A visit to a local farm is a must in New Zealand, a country with a thriving livestock industry. Agrodome, located in Rotorua on the North Island, is New Zealand’s largest and most advanced tourist farm, covering 150 hectares. Here you can get up close to red deer, turkeys, ostriches, alpacas, dairy cows, lambs, and many other animals you may never have seen before—and feed them by hand. The farm puts on daily shows, including sheep shearing and cow milking. They are exciting and great fun.

Itinerary details

After breakfast at the hotel, take the shuttle provided by the airport hotel for an easy transfer to Auckland International Airport. Bid farewell to this pristine land of the South Pacific, bringing your wonderful cultural and nature tour of New Zealand’s North Island to an end. May every moment of your journey become a treasured memory that stays with you. The itinerary overview is for reference only. Please follow the guide’s arrangements on the day. The travel agency reserves the right to adjust the sightseeing order according to actual circumstances.

Important notes

Note: All times shown on this webpage are for reference only. Actual arrival times may be delayed due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, traffic congestion, traffic accidents, festivals or sporting events, civil unrest, or strikes. We appreciate your understanding. If you have onward travel plans involving other transportation to another city, we strongly recommend allowing at least 3 hours of extra time to avoid inconvenience caused by delays. Our company accepts no responsibility for losses arising from travel arrangements you make yourself without allowing sufficient extra time. Thank you for your understanding.

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Lunch: At your own expense Dinner: At your own expense