Kia Ora! Welcome to New Zealand. Your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 8 am in Auckland. After your meeting, you’ll drive to Tongariro National Park, stopping at the Morero Marae (Maori meeting house) along the way for a powhiri (formal welcome) and a korero (conversation). Then, set off on a short bushwalk with your local leader and learn more about the region. Tonight, maybe get to know your fellow travellers over dinner. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Lace up your boots and set out on the iconic Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This crossing is said to be the best one-day trek in New Zealand! Spend the day hiking through the Tongariro National Park – New Zealand’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you go, take in the beautiful landscapes around you, like the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu and the natural forests. Tonight, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations. Your hiking distance today will be approximately 18 km.

This morning, hike through alpine shrubland and beech forest to Taranaki Falls. Along the way, you’ll pass over the Wairere Stream and climb the shoulder of the lava flow, now covered with red tussock. On a clear day, you might be able to see Ngauruhoe’s symmetrical cone and the older, eroded mountains of Tongariro and Pukekaikiore. Then catch the Sky Waka (gondola) to the Whakapapa Ski fields for panoramic views over the region. From here, set off on a short walk to see more of the ski fields, then visit Ohakune. In your free time, you could go for a soak in the Ohakune wood-fired hot tubs or take a short walk through mountain beaches and kaikawaka forests to Waitonga Falls – Tongariro National Park’s highest waterfall. Your hiking distance today will be approximately 6 km or 2 hours.

After breakfast, drive to Pipiriki, where you’ll board a jetboat to travel up the beautiful Whanganui River, deep into the heart of the national park. In 2017, this river was declared a living entity and it bears significant importance to the local Iwi (Maori tribes). Take a short hike to the Bridge to Nowhere and learn about the history of this region and its significance to World War I servicemen and their families. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner in Ohakune to celebrate your final night in New Zealand.

Travel back to Auckland this morning, stopping at the Waitomo Caves on the way. Maybe explore the subterranean system of caverns and passageways that are illuminated by thousands of glow worms. This afternoon, maybe set off on a short walk through forested gorges, past natural sculpted cliffs and under low limestone arches along the Ruakuri Bushwalk. When you arrive in Auckland, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.