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28 16-day Whio Tour DAY 1: Arrival dive right into rotorua's many attractions as soon as your transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel. A courtesy coach lets you explore the city at the center of Māori culture, where you can ride a gondola to the top of Mt. Ngongotaha or take a dip in a thermally heated pool at the Polynesian spa. Another great option is to simply relax at your hotel on the shores of lake rotoiti. DAY 2: Rotorua (B, L) cruise lake rotoiti on a 53-foot catamaran, and maybe even take the helm as you visit secluded coves and hot pools reachable only by boat. hosts david and karen will regale you with the story of her ancestor guide sophia, who led visitors to safety when Mt. tarawera erupted in 1886, as you enjoy an exclusive lunch at Pounamu lodge. your day ends at the museum. DAY 3: napier (B) cross the lake to get to orakei korako, a geothermal hideaway with silica terraces, bubbling mud pools, and the ruatapu cave. here, you'll also see the turbulent huka falls and, from taupo, the three active volcanoes across the lake. Journey on to Napier, stopping at a vineyard for a sample from this acclaimed wine region, before a private guide leads you through the city's Art deco architecture. DAY 4: Wellington (B) drive into the country town of havelock North in the morning, and up te Mata Peak for its views before heading south through hawkes bay's pastoral landscapes. this route leads to Pukaha Mt. bruce wildlife centre to see endangered birds like kiwis, kakas, kõkako, and the intriguing tuatara reptile , a "living fossil" that survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. the day ends as you cross through rimutaka ranges to DAY 4: Wellington (B) Continued wellington, the capital city, where you'll settle into a contemporary hotel in the center of the eclectic café scene. DAY 5: Cook Strait, Picton, Blenheim & kaikoura (B) board the interislander ferry for a three-hour cruise across cook straight into tory channel and up the Queen charlotte sound to Picton to reach south island. tour Marlborough's premier wine and food region, and don't forget to savor its renowned sauvignon blanc. drive south to kaikoura, a small hamlet beside the ocean and beneath the mountains to settle in for a stay on the waterfront. the crayfish is a gourmet attraction at this stop. DAY 6: kaikoura Coast (B) Another cruise is in store for today, this one a 2.5-hour journey on the Albatross encounter for close-up viewings of penguins, gannets, skuas, shearwaters, petrels, and terns, as well as its namesake birds. back on land, walk to the seal colony, take an optional seal swim, or experience an optional whale watching cruise or flight. the day is yours to decide. DAY 7: Akanui Farm Homestead (B, L) hop back on the highway to wind your way through the hunderlee hills to the canterbury Plains. A special lunch at Akaunui farm, a 100-year-old homestead built of all local materials, is hosted by di and ian Mackenzie, a fan favorite on this tour. Afterwords, visit the church of the good shepherd on the edge of lake tekapo, set romantically before views of tussock lands and mountains. settle in to your lodgings at the foot of Mt. cook. Meals included: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner Exploring the road less traveled is easiest—and best—done on a tour. Delve into Kiwi life with a small group of like-minded tourists by booking this itinerary. 16-dAy whio tour

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