Join us on a special journey into a corner of the North Island travelling an eastward trail to the remote and primeval forests of Te Urewera to meet local guides and hear their stories. Along the way there are close up wildlife encounters as we explore the stunning coastline famous for surf breaks (and rockets at Mahia), visit eco-sanctuaries and have fun at Awakeri riding the railcarts along the tracks.
$3,290 per person, share twin
$600 single supplement
10 -16 Dec, 2022
21 – 27 Jan, 2023
30 Jan – 5 Feb, 2023
22 – 28 Feb, 2023
12 – 18 Apr, 2023
12 – 18 May, 2023
We’re excited to let you know that we have partnered with MoaTours, one of New Zealand’s leading and most trusted local tour operators since 1971. MoaTours offers a range of small group tours all over New Zealand that we think you’ll love — from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island.
A a family run business just like Tours Direct, MoaTours has great connections and unbeatable local knowledge of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. They also share common values so we know you will be well looked after and have a great experience.
Meeting Nadine and Karl at Kohutapu Lodge with their commitment to the community. With Atamira at Ruatahuna in Te Urewera meeting Tuhoe creating sustainable businesses on ancestral land. And the beauty of Mataatua Wharenui, Whirinaki and Lake Waikaremoana.
All travellers joining this tour must be fully vaccinated. Your 'My Vaccine Pass' must be brought on the tour as proof of full Covid 19 vaccination.
It is important that the date of your final dose is at least 14 days before the tour departure date.
All travellers joining this cruise must be fully vaccinated. Your 'My Vaccine Pass' must be brought on the cruise as proof of full Covid 19 vaccination.
It is important that the date of your final dose is at least 14 days before the cruise departure date.
To safeguard your deposit and tour payment in the event of you having to cancel your reservation or curtail your tour, we highly recommend you take out travel insurance.
call us on 0800 868 748 if you like a travel insurance quote
The bike trails in the Hawke’s Bay are easy to ride and generally flat and smooth. Introductory Level.
If you have never ridden an E-Bike before we can help you learn, usually in 15 minutes. These trails are great to build confidence and increase your riding skills.
Needless to say the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the rides. Most days, 2 – 3 hours on an E-Bike (with frequent breaks).
All clients and support crew are required to be fully vaccinated.
Extensive Terms and Conditions are outlined in the free Information Pack
To safeguard your deposit and tour payment in the event of you having to cancel your reservation or curtail your tour, we highly recommend you take out travel insurance.
call us on 0800 868 748 if you like a travel insurance quote
The bike trails in the Hawke’s Bay are easy to ride and generally flat and smooth. Introductory Level.
If you have never ridden an E-Bike before we can help you learn, usually in 15 minutes. These trails are great to build confidence and increase your riding skills.
Needless to say the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the rides. Most days, 2 – 3 hours on an E-Bike (with frequent breaks).
All clients and support crew are required to be fully vaccinated.
Extensive Terms and Conditions are outlined in the free Information Pack
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Heading eastwards across farmlands, through the Karangahake Gorge to Waihi and Tauranga.
In Whakatane at Mataatua Wharenui, the carved ancestral house of the Ngati Awa people, a stunning sound and light show tells the story of how the Wharenui travelled the world for over a century before returning home. We stay two nights at White Island Rendezvous Motel.
At Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane our guide welcomes us with a karakia and relates the legends of this primeval, podocarp rainforest. We see the Te Ana a Tokowaru rock carvings and, over a hangi dinner with owners Nadine and Karl Toe Toe at Kohutapu Lodge, Lake Aniwhenua, hear how tourism and their lodge brings benefits to the Murupara community.
Atamira Nuku, our Tuhoe guide, meets us at Ruatahuna in the heart of Te Urewera and introduces us to a tasting with Manawa Honey and our lunch hosts at Black House.
Then the road descends through rainforest with glimpses of Lake Waikaremoana. See beautiful Aniwaniwa Falls and stop along the lakefront before continuing to Vista Motor Lodge, Wairoa.
We visit Wairoa’s outstanding Museum and drive out to the Wairoa River mouth and Whakamahia Beach.
Further north we tour Mahia Peninsula, always a magnet for surfers, and now the launching site of Rocket Lab’s space programme. We continue up the Coast to Gisborne to stay two nights at The Senator Inn and Pacific Harbour Inn.
A day to explore Gisborne and its natural and historic places including a guided visit to the reef at Tatapouri Bay and Waikereru Ecosanctuary, an Ark in the Bush. The Ecosanctuary is a haven for rare and endangered species.
We meet our guide at the Tairawhiti Museum and dine out at The Works Restaurant. We stay in Gisborne again this evening.
Leaving Gisborne we head through rugged Waioeka Gorge bound for Awakeri to meet up with Paul and board his rail carts for a scenic ride and picnic lunch along the tracks.
The drive onwards to Rotorua passes Lakes Rotoma, Rotoehu and Rotoiti and we stay at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel and dine in this evening.
From Rotorua we drive northwards to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a mainland ecological island of ancient forest, to meet our guide and walk in the enclosure surrounded by one of the world’s longest pest-proof fences. We return to Auckland through the Waikato farmlands arriving in the late afternoon.
