3-Night Auckland
Pre-Cruise Program

Leave for New Zealand and cross the International Date Line; losing one calendar day

Arrive in Auckland, transfer to The Cordis Hotel or similar accommodations. Go Next holds your room for the entire day, so no matter how early your flight gets in, check-in to your luxurious room to relax and re-energize upon arrival in New Zealand.

After breakfast, get ready for a full day of sightseeing, including lunch on Waiheke Island. Board a ferry to Waiheke Island, popular for its stunning white sand beaches, vineyards, olive groves, and seaside villages. Stop at Mudbrick Vineyard to savor a wine tasting and lunch amid its peaceful garden setting before continuing to Rangihoua Estate to sample olive oil and learn the secrets of its production. Return to Auckland via ferry and spend the remainder of the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, transfer from Auckland to the limestone caves of Waitomo, one of New Zealand’s most remarkable natural wonders. Embark on a 45-minute tour through spectacular underground scenery with informative and entertaining commentary, where the guide will share stories, cultural legends and natural wonders of this living masterpiece. Famous for its acoustics, begin with the Cathedral Cavern, where New Zealand’s own opera diva Kiri Te Kanawa once performed. Continue along a low, narrow passage to the Tomo, the limestone caves of Waitomo, one of New Zealand’s most remarkable natural wonders. View more incredible formations, including the Banquet Chamber, the Pipe Organ, and the Catacombs. Take a boat trip through the Glowworm Grotto, the tour’s star attraction. The caves are home to the Waitomo glowworm, Arachnocampa luminosa, unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their luminescent light as our expert guides provide informative commentary on the cave’s historical and geological significance.

Following your tour, travel through the serene countryside to the Hobbiton™ Village set, located on rustic farmland with views of the Kaimai Mountain Ranges. Delight in a private tour of the ten-acre site, viewing remnants of the original set from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, such as the charming Hobbit holes, while listening to commentary on the filming, set creation, and more. Enjoy a special Festive Feast lunch before transferring back to your hotel. 

After breakfast, enjoy a half-day panoramic city tour. Appreciate views from the famous Sky Tower followed by a guided visit of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Travel along Tamaki Drive where you will have a beautiful photo opportunity at Bastion Point (weather permitting) before crossing the Auckland Harbor Bridge. Transfer to Riviera in the afternoon.