Today your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel and together we will set out to discover the historic Waitomo Glowworm Caves and the delights of Rotorua, New Zealand’s Thermal Wonderland.

During your visit to Waitomo, set deep in the heartland of the King Country, you will explore the underground labyrinth of ancient limestone caves and formations created over millions of years, and marvel at a galaxy of tiny lights in the famed Glow-worm Grotto.

We travel south from Auckland through rich farmland of the Waikato Province, following the mighty Waikato River, New Zealand’s longest, past the historic Maori land war site at Rangiriri and through the small town of Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori queen, to Otorohanga and Waitomo.

Following your cave exploration we will head south east. We cross the Arapuni hydro dam and here we will take a short break and walk the swing bridge which crosses the Waikato river, ( high enough to make some think twice before stepping out on to the bridge.) before passing through Fitzgerald Glade and the Mamaku Ranges then dropping gradually down into Rotorua.

We will stop in the beautiful Government Gardens and stroll around for a while, unwinding from our drive, and have a light lunch in the Museum Café. Moving on we visit Te PuiaMaori Arts & Crafts and Whakarewarewa geothermal area, home of the famous Pohutu Geyser and boiling mud pools. There is also an opportunity to see the kiwi, our national bird, in the specially created “Kiwi House.”

As people have very different sightseeing requirements you now have the option of: (at your cost)

1. An entertaining Kiwi Farm Show to give you an idea of our farming methods. See www.agrodome.co.nz

2. A visit to Rainbow Springs Nature Park. A chance for you to browse through a natural New Zealand experience. See www.rainbowsprings.co.nz

3. A ride up Mt Ngongataha on a gondola to have a thrilling ride on a four wheeled luge wending its way down part of the mountain and then the return down on the gondola. See www.skylineskyrides.co.nz

4. A relaxing dip in the thermal waters at the Polynesian Pools. See www.polynesianspa.co.nz

Whatever you choose to do you can be assured of a unique experience in the heartland of Maori culture.
Sit back, relax and allow your tour host to show and tell you about the history and culture of this fascinating area.

If you wish to challenge your spirit, activities and attractions abound, with something to satisfy everyone.

Later in the day, perhaps after relaxing in a thermal pool, we will head back to Auckland, following the setting sun as we pass through the open lush fields and rolling hills of Matamata arriving back at your hotel in the early evening.