Arrive at Auckland International Airport, transfer to hotel, and rest of the Day spend leisure time. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel, and after having your breakfast go out to see Auckland’s major sights and attractions with a hop-on hop-off city bus tour. Perfect for first-time visitors to Auckland, it’s a great way to explore the city. Complete with English audio commentary and written translations in 9 languages. The bus tour takes about an hour to complete each loop, with 2 circle routes to explore. Enjoy the flexibility of a 1-day or 2-day pass, and hop off at critical points, such as Parnell Village, Auckland Museum, Auckland Zoo, Mt Eden, or the Sky Tower, at your leisure. Start your Auckland hop-on, hop-off bus tour at Philips Corner/Princes Wharf. You can create your sightseeing itinerary with a flexible ticket, valid for one or two days. Listen to the engaging audio commentary on the red or blue circle route during the entire loop. Buses depart regularly throughout the day on a seasonal schedule. If you’d like, hop on and off throughout the day to explore Auckland on your own or visit top attractions. Discover New Zealand history at the Auckland Museum, meet King and Gentoo penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium, and soak up the city skyline from the Sky Tower, to name a few. Upgrade to a museum or attraction combination pass, which includes admission to select sites across the route.

Breakfast at your hotel, and after having your breakfast go out to enjoy the cruise in the waters of Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in search of whales, dolphins, and penguins on a half-day tour from Auckland. You’ll board a spacious catamaran at Viaduct Harbour and hear expert guides share informative commentary about New Zealand’s natural wonders. During the whale and dolphin safari, keep an eye out for six types of whales that frequent these waters and seabirds, such as Australasian gannets, petrels, and terns.

Meet the boat crew at the New Zealand Maritime Museum at Viaduct Harbour and depart aboard a custom-built 65-foot (20-meter) catamaran, comfortably appointed to best view up to six types of whales and dolphins other marine life. Throughout your 4.5-hour cruise, the captain and guides entertained you with fascinating facts about the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, home to five marine preserves and sprinkled with islands — it’s considered one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine parks to some 23 different species. Hear about research conducted in partnerships with local marine scientists and discover which whales the crew tracks. They’ll point out sea mammals such as frequently spotted pods of bottlenose dolphins and Bryde’s whales, native to New Zealand. Be ready to snap photos of adorable blue penguins. Set your binoculars upon seabirds such as Australasian gannets, petrels, shearwaters, and white-fronted terns soaring above or plunging into the sea. Afterward, the boat returns to Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, where your tour ends. While wildlife viewings cannot be guaranteed, dolphins and whales often swim around these waters. If you do not see any marine mammals during your trip, you can go again another day at no extra charge.

Breakfast at your hotel, and after breakfast, visit a pair of New Zealand’s must-see attractions with this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit Holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a Kiwi-style lunch. In the afternoon, explore Maori myths and history on a boat ride through mesmerizing caves lit by thousands of glowworms, and finish with a drive through some of the North Island’s most majestic scenery. Begin the memorable day with pickup at your hotel in Auckland’s Central Business District. Head south over the Bombay Hills and across the Hauraki Plains to a sheep farm in Matamata, better known to J.R.R. Tolkien fans as the Shire. On a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, see recognizable scenery created for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ films and learn the secrets and stories behind the creation of Middle-earth. Take in stellar views of the Kaimai Ranges as you visit meticulously crafted sets, including Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn, where you can even enjoy a specially brewed drink fit for a Baggins. After the tour, trade Hobbit trivia with your fellow travelers over a Kiwi-style lunch. Next, embark on an underground adventure at the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves, where thousands of tiny worms illuminate caverns thanks to natural phosphorescent properties. Watch the mesmerizing natural light show while gliding through the cave on a boat, and learn about the area’s natural and cultural history from a guide—likely a descendant of the Maori chief who originally discovered the caves. You also explore on foot Cathedral Cove, known for its impressive acoustics. On the return, drive to Auckland, travel through some of the North Island’s most beautiful countryside, follow the Waikato River (New Zealand’s longest), and pass the Maori king’s home at Ngaruawahia and Taupiri, the site of a sacred Maori burial ground. The full-day tour concludes with a drop-off back at your hotel in the evening.

Breakfast at your hotel, spend some leisure time, and then transfer to the airport for your flight.