North Island - Magnificent beaches, Maori culture, geysers, thermal pools, hot springs, water activities
- Rotorua - Spa City of the South Pacific & the heartland of New Zealand’s Maori culture - Rotorua is a smallish city on the shores of Lake Rotorua. The surrounding areas are a geothermal wonderland, with geysers, boiling mud pools, and steaming craters. Rotorua is also a showcase of Maori cultural activities, a centre of tourism and a place of extraordinary natural beauty. It is surrounded by volcanoes, lakes, parks and recreational areas, and is a great place to go hiking or to view native birds and animals
- Wai-o-tapu - geothermal area known for its brilliant colors - hot pools & Lady Knox Geyser
- Whakarewarewa - The Living Thermal Village - Set amidst a landscape of erupting geysers, hot thermal springs and bubbling mud pools, is the living village of Whakarewarewa. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Maori in a natural, Maori village setting. Whakarewarewa, where the Goddesses of fire, Te Pupu and Te Hoata, emerged from the earth’s core, inhaling and exhaling, creating the geysers, hot springs and mud pools.
- Lake Taupo
- Hidden Valley of Orakei Korako (“the place of adorning”) - geothermal wonderland of gushing geysers & boiling mud pools
- Maori Culture - The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Their name is derived from Ma-Uri, which means Children of Heaven.
- Hangi - Enjoy Maori kai (food) cooked on hot stones underground as part of a traditional hangi
- Kapa Haka - listen to kapa haka (traditional performances of song and dance)
- Here you’ll be spellbound by stories relayed through song, dance and art. Legends passed on through the years transform the handiwork of two sisters of the spirit world, carrying fire to their frozen and dying brother, into the geothermal energy that abounds in Rotorua today. The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, now a sleeping giant, is steeped in fascinating and mysterious tales.
- Maori legends as we travel
- Coromandel Peninsula - Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery & a rugged forestcloaked interior waiting to be explored. Framed by native Pohutukawa trees on the western side, beautiful white sandy beaches on the east and divided by ranges cloaked in native rainforest, the Coromandel’s 400kms of coastline offers a truly distinctive blend of experiences. Huge kauri trees that were saved from the loggers' saws still remain and can easily be viewed.
- Driving Creek Railway and Potteries - narrow-gauge hill 3 km. train trip with pottery workshops at each end - 1-hour+ train ride on a world-class narrowgauge mountain railway, passing through kauri forest and great engineering marvels. The line climbs to the new terminus, the Eyefull Tower, with its stunning panoramic views
- Whitianga & Mercury Bay - scenic boat trip with possible dolphin sitings & snorkeling
- Cathedral Cove - the Chronicles of Narnia movie 'Prince Caspian' was shot here
- Artists & Craftspeople - Many artists and craftspeople have made the Coromandel their home, inspired by the region's idyllic setting. Visitors can follow an arts and crafts trail from one side of the peninsula to the other following the popular Pacific Coast Highway.
- Lovely small towns * Murals of Katikati
- Hot Water Beach - There are two fissures at Hot Water Beach issuing water as hot as 64 degrees C (147 degrees F) at a rate as high as 15 litres/minute. The hot springs are only accessible at low tide, however more often than not two hours each side of low tide, will still provide you with an opportunity to dig your own spa.
- Lovely Accommodations in Motels, Hotels &/or B&B’s in great settings
South Island Incredible mountains, fiords, glaciers, waterfalls, hot springs, Maori culture, dolphins, whales & more
- Fiordland - Fiordland is New Zealand’s largest national park at almost 3 million acres. It covers much of the southern part of the South Island’s West Coast. The Sounds in Fiordland are arguably the most beautiful places in New Zealand, and that’s saying something! Wildlife, waterfalls, unforested valleys, crystal clear lakes, and elegant mountains are what make up the views, and the only signs of human inhabitance are the tracks running deep into the bush, and the cruises down the sounds.
- Fiordland National Park
- Milford Sound - Milford is truly breathtaking. So much that it often attracts the title of “The Eighth Natural Wonder of the World”. Fiordland is one of the wettest places in the world, and is as beautiful raining as it is with clear skies. When it rains, waterfalls spring up anywhere, too many to count.
- Boat cruise on the Sound (fiord)
- Te Anau glow-worm caves
- Wanaka - the view of the alps across the gleaming waters of Lake Wanaka are magnificent
- Queenstown - many outdoor activities and panormaic views of the Remarkables Mountain Range
- Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village perched below Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealands’ highest peak - beautiful walks & vistas
- Glaciers - Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers - only glaciers in the world that descend into rainforest
- Rainforest, lagoons & long stretches of wilderness coast
- Punakaiki pancake rocks and blowholes
- Hanmar Springs Thermal Reserve - extensive, pool complex
- Kaikoura
- Whale watching boat trip (all dependent on weather and whale presence)
- Swim with dolphins boat trip (dependent on weather and dolphin presence)
- Maori Tour - Visit various local sites, storytelling, explanations of Maori ways & medicines, cultural differences & more
- Mountain Passes
- Waterfalls
- Nature Reserves
- National Parks
- Wonderful villages and shops
- Maori legends as we travel
- Sites from Lord of the Rings films
- Lovely Accommodations in Motels, Hotels &/or B&B’s in great settings
- Options on your own (extra) - Bungi Jumping, Jet-boat rides, scenic plane or helicopter flights, hang gliding, whitewater rafting, gondola rides, horse riding, and much more
Cost:
Absolutely GREAT exchange rate for US$ in New Zealand (1.00 USD buys 1.82 NZD)
Option A - North Island, 7 night tour, ONLY - starting at $1895 USD; Single supplement - $450 USD
Option B, South Island 12 night tour ONLY (also can only participate for 9 nights, can reduce price, for early departure) -starting at $2795 USD; Single supplement - $720 USD
Option C - BOTH North & South Island, FULL 19 night tour - starting at $3695 USD; Single supplement $1100 USD
Option D - North & South Island, Shorter 16 night tour (all but last 3 nights - all but Punakaiki, Hanmar, Kaikoura - ends at Hokitaka airport) - Starting at $3695 USD; Single Supplement $900 USD
Who Are These Tours
Designed For?
These tours are designed for women as well as men; young or not so young; people interested in the mystery and sacredness of life, with a desire to know and understand more of where we've come from to assist us in where we are going and making a difference on the planet. We also explore a lot of newly discovered/released information that you may not have heard before. If you have a curiosity about mythology, sacred sites, other cultures, and a sense of adventure and want to travel with like-minded people in small intimate groups with a nice balance of workshop time, site time as well as free, independent time, these tours are designed for you. They are not your ordinary, large group tours, being herded into buses with little time to experience the energy of the site. We allow special extra time at sacred sites and there is always the option of being with the group or being on your own. Also, meals are usually not included, except breakfasts to afford you the opportunity to explore on your own at meal time or eat with the group.
We want your tour to be
a trip of a lifetime,
a transformative adventure
Flights & Travel
Arrangements
Well Within is a travel agency &
all flights and travel
arrangements can be made with us. We have access to non-published discount fares to Britain from most locations in the U.S./Canada/World
