New Zealand

I arrived in Auckland, two days before the beginning of the trip with GAdventure. For my first evening and the next day, I walked around the city of Auckland, by the pier, by Queen Street and though different parks. There was an open air cinema by the pier with different foodtrucks, that was really nice.

Auckland

Also, I absolutely wanted to visit Hobbitown, being a huge fan of The Lord of the Ring.  I booked a one day-tour to visit this cute village, which has been left exactly like it the movie. I really really enjoyed visiting this place. I also took the time to visit Auckland, which is a beautiful city.

Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours

Hobbiton Village

After, that my tour with GAdventure began. We were a group of about 13 people from all over the world, that was really cool. We had a private bus and a tour guide for the entire week and all the hotels and other things were already booked by them. We started with a bike ride in the Karangahake Gorge and then went to have a walk by the beach of Hahei and visited the town. Then, we went to the Tamaki Maori Village, we had a Maori show and dinner and slept in the village all together in a "Maori dormitory", they even have an outdoor jacuzzi which is really cool.

Hahei

Karangahake gorge

Tamaki Maori Village

At the subsequent time, we headed to Rotorua, which is really famous for different outdoor activities and the hot springs. I personally did White Water Rafting on the Kaituna River and really enjoyed it, the rafting instructors were amazing and very respectful of the river according to Maori beliefs.

Rotorua

Kaituna River

In due course, we drove to Tongariro National Park and did the hike "Tongariro Alpine Crossing" of 19.4 kilometers. However, be aware this is not a loop hike, so you should organize a taxi or a bus to drop you off at the start or/and to pick you up at the end. This hike is really amazing, with spectacular landscapes. For the fans of The Lord of the Ring, the path pass by the volcano that is the Mont Doom in the movie.

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Hereinafter, we went to the Whanganui River, where we canoed to a nice lodge, where we spent the night. The next day we did some jet boat on the same river and had a walk in the Whanganui National Park and to the "Bridge to where?". We had a friendly and cultivated local guide who explained us a lot about the history or this river.

Whanganui River

Whanganui National Park

We finally arrived at our last destination; Wellington. I took a few days more by myself to visit the town and make another The Lord of the Ring tour, where I visited different places where some scenes of the movie have been shot.

Wellington

I spent one week travelling in the Northern Island of New Zealand with the company GAdventures

One week tour North Island of New Zealand, from Auckland to Wellington

Highs & Lows

How was the food?

Packing tips?

Transportation Tips?

Booking details?

Other popular trip reports

Adventures in Scotland and Amsterdam

Two Weeks In the Organized Chaos that is India

Couples trip to Sicily and Rome