| See all the highlights of Waitomo Caves and Rotorua in one day.
Depart Auckland early in the morning and travel south through the rich farmland of the Waikato region. Continue on through the "Bridge Auckland" of Hamilton and onto Waitomo, where you have a guided tour through the long galleries and lofty chambers to view stalactites formed over thousands of years by the constant dripping of water. This Caves tour will end with a boat ride through the glowworm grotto that is illuminated by thousands of tiny lights emitted by the glowworms, suspended from the cave ceiling.
Reboard the coach and continue on to Rotorua. On the way, the coach enters the Fitzgerald glade, a section of the highway where the native bush grows right up to the roadside and the trees form a canopy overhead like a tunnel. The journey takes you up over the Mamaku Saddle and descends into the city of Rotorua. A light lunch is served on board (included).
On arrival in Rotorua, visit Rainbow Springs Nature Sanctuary, home to thousands of trout. See kiwi, native birds and other wildlife in a bush setting. Experience the Agrodome, an introduction to New Zealand farming, old and new. See sheep mustering by highly trained dogs, sheep shearing demonstrations and an insight into the history of dairy farm milking. Don't miss out on opportunities to milk a cow, feed young animals or be photographed with a huge bull.
Onto the famous Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. At Whakarewarewa, you have the opportunity to see silica terraces, bubbling mud pools and unique geothermal vegetation. Exploding from the ground up to 30 meters (100 feet) high is the world famous Pohutu Geyser. 10 to 20 times a day it bursts into life and it has been a visitor attraction since the early 1900's.
At the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, learn how carvings and weavings record the history and traditions in the Maori sacred meeting houses. |
