SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

Since Victorian times, the Waitomo Glowworm Caves have attracted visitors from around the world. This full day excursion to Waitomo takes you into the central heartland of the North Island.

Leaving the city, enjoy a pleasant three-hour drive south over the Bombay Hills and through the lush dairy land of the Waikato Valley, before arriving at the Waitomo Caves. Here, subterranean limestone formations have resulted in a series of spectacular caves.

At the Waitomo Caves, walk into a cave with soaring ceilings and low passages, where striking limestone formations include the famous Organ and the lofty chamber called The Cathedral. Stalagmites and stalactites abound, forming pillars and crooked fingers of calcite deposits that, in the low light, take on beautiful or monstrous proportions. In the caves, you will board a boat for a ride in complete silence along an underground river in pitch darkness. Look up and you will see the millions of bio-luminescent glow worms that stick to the cave. Because the worms extinguish their lights when disturbed, silence is mandatory.

Following your visit, a short drive will bring you to Crosshills Farm where a tasty buffet lunch will be served before your return drive to Auckland.

Tour two regional wineries and sample some of the distinct vintages that have helped vault New Zealand into international prominence as a highly respected wine producer.

A scenic drive takes you through Auckland’s city center, en route to the dramatic landscapes of the Kumeu River Valley and Auckland’s Wine Country. Nurtured by an ideal climate, wine grapes have thrived here and have spawned numerous award-winning wineries. Your tour has you visiting two of the finest.

Located at the gateway to the Kumeu Wine Country, is Soljans Winery, family owned for three generations. With over 70 years of wine making experience, few wineries in New Zealand can claim to have a prouder winemaking heritage than Soljans Estate Wines. The bright, Mediterranean-style décor welcomes you and the friendly, knowledgeable staff shares the story of how this family, originally from Croatia, became one of New Zealand’s premier wine producers. The vineyard tour includes views of the family’s estate and the cellars as well as detailing the family’s fascinating history. Known for popular table wines, you may taste some of their award-winning wines, such as Pinot Gris, Merlot, and Tawny Port.

You’ll also enjoy the visit to Hunting Lodge Winery for a wine tasting and seasonal food pairing. This is the location where the first Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand was planted. Taste their seasonal wines which are only available from the cellar door before your return drive to the pier.

Escape the bustle of Auckland in nearby Devonport, a historic waterfront village that exudes charm and celebrates its slower pace of life.

Enjoy a scenic ride toward the lovely suburb of Devonport, which lies across the bay just north of Auckland. As an introduction to the historic village, you'll see it from two different, elevated perspectives: from the volcanic cone of Mount Victoria and also from North Head, another volcanically formed mountain.

Devonport is known for its easy pace and distinct historic character, as you'll soon discover upon arriving in its compact downtown. Driving about, you'll notice the many restored colonial villas from the late 1880s and early 1900s, most of which were built with timber from the native kauri tree. Devonport's waterfront is lined with stately houses and a prevalence of antique stores, inviting cafes and unusual boutiques, which lend the village its unmistakable charm.

After your orientation guided tour, you will have approximately 1-hour of free time to further explore on your own before returning to the pier in Auckland via public ferry. You may also elect to remain in Devonport and return by ferry (ferry tickets included) at your leisure.

What better way to experience Auckland, the City of Sails, than by sailing around its harbor on a yacht and then touring a museum devoted to New Zealand's maritime history.

After walking a short distance from ship, you'll board a traditionally-built ketch-rigged sailing scow for a carefree cruise around Waitemata Harbor while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. The name Waitemata derives from a Maori phrase describing how the water shines like obsidian volcanic glass, which is naturally found here as the coastline was shaped by volcanic action.

Auckland is New Zealand's most populous city with more sailboats per capita than any other place in the world, so you're sure to see plenty of magnificent vessels. The sights are spectacular as the urban landscape blankets the hills right to the edge of the sparkling water. Don't miss the Sky Tower in the distance. Being the country's tallest manmade structure, it soars 1,072 feet into the air.

After sailing for approximately over an hour, you'll disembark and walk the short distance to the Voyager Maritime Museum for a self-guided tour. Through its innovative exhibitions and displays, the museum celebrates the area's maritime heritage. You might watch a short film about the first settlers to sail to New Zealand, see a 1840s steerage cabin that rocks to simulate what it was like to travel by sea at the time, and marvel at the artwork in the maritime gallery that includes detailed scrimshaw and wooden figureheads. Afterwards, you will have the option of returning to the pier with your guide, or staying behind to do some further exploring on your own.

Get a rare, up-close look at Antarctic's native wildlife without enduring the rigors of their icy domain, and then enjoy a bird's-eye view of Auckland from its soaring Sky Tower.

Drive to Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium. Named for a well-known Kiwi diver and adventurer, this attraction replicates life in the Antarctic, both above and below the icy waters. A moving walkway will transport you through clear acrylic underwater tunnels, revealing all sorts of marine life. You may see sharks being hand-fed, massive short-tail stingrays and delicate seahorses among the various exhibits. There's also a colony of King and Gentoo penguins that may be frolicking in the water or playing in the snow. And be sure to see the replica of Captain Robert Scott's hut from his ill-fated 1911 polar exploration.

Your tour also takes you to Auckland's soaring 1,072-foot Sky Tower, the tallest manmade structure in New Zealand. Step inside one of the glass-fronted elevators and you'll be whisked to the top, where on a clear day you can see more than 50 miles in every direction. The Sky Tower is an engineering marvel built of high-strength, high-performance concrete and steel so strong it can withstand winds gusting up to 125 mph. To ensure that the tower remained perfectly straight during construction, seven global positioning satellites were used to confirm its exact position.

Explore Auckland's unique blend of modern cosmopolitan influences and Polynesian traditions during this scenic tour of the city.

Head to Auckland Domain, with nearly 200 acres of parkland in the heart of the city. It encompasses ponds, statuaries, tropical glass houses, and a wide variety of trees. Nestled within this idyllic retreat you will find the Auckland Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Maori and Pacific artifacts that include a carved meeting house and impressive war canoe. During your visit, you will also see the Scars of the Heart exhibition on the 2nd floor, which depicts New Zealand's involvement in the major wars of the 20th century.

Drive along beautiful Tamaki Drive through historic Parnell Village, and past the sandy beaches of Okahu Bay and Mission Bay. You will pass the former America's Cup Yachting Village, and take in panoramic views of the Westhaven Yacht Marina from the Auckland Harbor Bridge.

Delve into the history of Auckland and enjoy a taste of its contemporary culture by visiting landmarks well worth exploring on your own and with a knowledgeable guide.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at Bastion Point lookout, where you will pause to admire the sweeping view of Waitemata Harbour and Auckland in the distance. This vantage point serves as an exceptional visual introduction to the city.

Drive through the Auckland Domain, with nearly 200 acres of parkland in the heart of the city. It encompasses ponds, statuaries, tropical glass houses, and a wide variety of trees. Nestled within this idyllic retreat you will find the Auckland Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Maori and Pacific artifacts that include a carved meeting house and impressive 85-foot-long war canoe made from a single log. Following your guided tour, you will have some free time to further browse the exhibits on your own.

Travel over Auckland’s North Shore Harbour Bridge, passing beautiful Shoal Bay while en route to the affluent suburb of Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore. Takapuna is home to a vibrant town center that has definite beach vibe and offers around 300 retail outlets to explore as well as numerous choices for dining on your own. You will have some free time here to do both.