Hobbiton & Coastal Wonders

All participants will gather in Auckland and find their own way to their hotel for the night. Auckland is home to almost a third of New Zealand's population and is built on 50 extinct volcanoes. The three largest, Mount Albert, Mount Eden and One Tree Hill - reign over the landscape. 

We will explore the exciting city of Auckland through a bus tour, which takes us through the cozy suburbs of Parnell, the renowned Bastion Point for panoramic views of the city and the sparkling Hauraki Gulf.

• Arrival in Auckland
• Bus tour around the city
• Bastion viewpoint
• Afternoon leisure time 

After breakfast, we'll travel south from Auckland, passing through its vibrant southern suburbs before ascending the Bombay Hills, which mark the boundary of the Auckland region. We will visit the beloved getaway of the Coromandel Peninsula, with its lush native forests, golden sand beaches and breathtaking coastal landscape. The evening, you have at your own leisure to relax on the beach or embark on the Pauanui Mountain Summit Trail - a 400-metre high summit with panoramic views of the coastline. 

• Drive to the stunning Coromandel Peninsula
• Check in to Grand Mercure Puka Park
• Pauanui Mountain Summit Panoramic hike  

For all you Chronicles of Narnia fans out there, our next destination might look suspiciously familiar! The Cathedral Cove is a stunning coastline, emerging through a picture-perfect archway framing the beach. 

Other gems on the way include Te Hoho, a pinnacle of pumice breccia rock, and the Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve - a sanctuary for diverse marine life. 

From thereon, we will visit Hot Water Beach where we can dig our own spa pools in the sand. A truly unique experience! 

• Travel to the Cathedral Covel
• Dig your own spa pool at Hot Water Beach
• Explore Te Hoho & Te Whaganui - o - Hei Marine Reserve
• Check in at Grand Mercure Puka Park

It's time to visit Middle-earth! Today's explorations lead us to the Hobbiton Movie Set, the bucolic movie setting for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The Hobbit Holes and the Mill can be easily observed, and we'll finish the journey with a cold drink at the Green Dragon Inn. 

Our journey continues over the Kaimai ranges to the picturesque Bay of Plenty, where the volcano Mount Maunganui and its eponymous town await. 

The rest of the day is at your leisure to delve into the city centre of Mt Maunganui, relax at the beach, or hike to the top of the volcano, which offers 360-degree views of the whole Bay of Plenty!

• Guided tour through Hobbiton
• Visit Mount Maunganui and town
• Check in at Trinity Wharf

Following breakfast, we will depart for Gisborne. The route takes us along the east coast of the North Island, where we pass through the small towns of Matata and Thornton before reaching Whakatane, which is the heart of the eastern Bay of Plenty. 

Upon arrival in Gisborne, we will check into our chosen accommodation and start preparing for a thrilling race week ahead!