Best of the North in 3 Days

DAY ONE
7:30am Depart Auckland City, cross the Harbour Bridge and travel up the scenic Hibiscus Coast. Then drive through Warkworth Township to Kaiwaka for a short coffee break. Depart Kaiwaka, crossing over the Brynderwyn Divide with it’s spectacular views, then on through Whangarei, Northland’s only city.
11:30am Arrive in the Bay of Islands. Before lunch we visit the Waitangi National Reserve where New Zealand’s modern history began. View the Treaty House, Maori Meeting House and a magnificent war canoe.
1:30pm We journey across to Russell by ferry from Paihia for an in-depth tour of the town and district including Flagstaff Hill, Christ’s Church, Long Beach and the Maritime Park Visitors Centre.
4:00pm Rejoin the ferry at Russell for the return journey to Paihia.

DAY TWO
8.45am Pick up from accommodation.
9:00am Depart Paihia on your scenic tour to the West Coast.
10:50am Arrive at the giant Kauri, Tane Mahuta, in the Waipoua Forest.
12:00pm Arrive at Opononi for an optional lunch.
1:00pm Board the Crossings boat and depart Opononi wharf on your 3 hour Hokianga Harbour cruise. Dependent on weather and availability the tour stops at points of historical interest on, and around, the harbour. These include Whiria Hill; home of Rahiri the Ngapuhi ancestor, Motuti; the resting place of Bishop Pompellier, New Zealand’s first Catholic Bishop, Horeke; site of the Mangungu Mission Station (historical site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi) and Kohukohu; an early kauri timber mill and ship building town; and lastly Rawene, the Hokianga’s oldest European settlement.
4:00pm Join the bus at Rawene for the return journey to the Bay of Islands.
5:00pm Arrive Paihia.

DAY THREE
8.45am Depart Paihia and journey south to Tutukaka. Bring your luggage with you.
10:50am Arrive in Tutukaka and board your boat for the 5 hour Perfect Day Cruise in the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. Lunch, drinks and snacks are provided on board.
4.00pm The Best of Sightseeing coach will meet you at the Wharf for the journey to Auckland. A comfort stop is made on the way.
7.00pm Arrive back in Auckland.
 

Departs from Auckland at 7.00am
Return to Auckland approx 7.00pm