Join your fellow Travel at 60 community members on a trip timed perfectly around the Taranaki Garden Festival! Join a group of like-minded enthusiasts and get inspired by a magnificent array of private gardens - alongside a generous itinerary of the North Island's many "must see" highlights!
GARDENS VISITED:
PREPAID ATTRACTIONS:
*Guided tour is included with 1 guide per 24 travellers
MEALS:
Note: Dinner on Day 1 is not included for anyone arriving later than 8:00pm
Your holiday package includes 10 nights accommodation at the following hotels:
Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.
Departures from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne:
Departures from Adelaide, Launceston & Hobart:
Departures from Perth:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no airfares will be confirmed until New Zealand's borders have opened to Australian travellers. Please note tour pricing is subject to airline availability and as such the package price is subject to change until flights are confirmed. Air Taxes are subject to change.
Call our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your seat on this popular tour, which will sell out!
27 OCT 2021: ARRIVE AUCKLAND
On arrival into Auckland you will be met by a Grand Pacific Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. This evening, meet your Tour Leader and travelling companions for dinner.
28 OCT 2021: AUCKLAND SIGHTSEEING
This morning enjoy the sights of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Travel to Matakana to visit Sculptureum, an internationally unique art experience. Enjoy time to wander through the Garden of Creative Diversity and view the hundreds of displayed works in the Galleries. This afternoon travel to the Auckland Zoo for a guided tour of Te Wao Nui, six stunning habitats showcasing the native fauna and flora of New Zealand. This evening is free to dine at leisure.
29 OCT 2021: AUCKLAND - HAMILTON
This morning travel to Ayrlies Garden and Wetlands, one of New Zealand’s best-known gardens and a Garden of National Significance. It is characterized by sweeping lawns and informal but detailed plantings by ponds and waterways. Use of colour is a hallmark of Ayrlies, seen best in the lurid border where ‘hot’ colours are used to great effect. This afternoon travel to Waikato’s most visited attraction, the Hamilton Gardens. A guided tour of the themed gardens will transport you from the peaceful Sung Dynasty Chinese Scholar’s garden to the Italian Renaissance garden followed by the grandeur of the Indian Char Bagh garden. Your guide will share the story of how the gardens were transformed from a rubbish dump into a Garden of International Significance.
30 OCT 2021: HAMILTON - MATAMATA - ROTORUA
Today travel to Cambridge to visit the private garden of the Henley Hotel, nestled on 29 acres of parkland and features a camelia-lined oval lawn and lakeside pavilion. You will be treated to High Tea amongst the cherry blossoms (weather permitting). Continue through picturesque countryside to Hobbiton for a buffet lunch followed by a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set. Travel to Rotorua for a walk through the Rotorua Government Gardens before arriving at your hotel.
31 OCT 2021: ROTORUA SIGHTSEEING
Today begins with a gondola ride and breakfast at Skyline Rotorua, where spectacular views are on offer. There is also time for a luge ride! Next stop is the Agrodome for an action-packed hour of farming entertainment and education that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Travel to Te Puia for a tour of the boiling mud pools and awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. Enjoy some free time this afternoon before travelling to a Mãori village for an interactive and educational experience that culminates with a cultural performance and traditional Hãngi feast.
01 NOV 2021: ROTORUA - WAITOMO - NEW PLYMOUTH
Depart Rotorua and travel to Waitomo for a tour of the Glow Worm Caves, where tiny creatures radiate their luminescent light. Enjoy lunch in this native bushland setting before travelling to New Plymouth, home of the Taranaki Garden Festival. This afternoon will be spent visiting one of the festival gardens.
02 NOV 2021: TARANAKI GARDEN FESTIVAL
Today you will visit a variety of impressive gardens all set around the legendary Mount Taranaki. You will marvel at the majestic array of botanicals on display at this premier garden event, which attracts thousands of visitors from New Zealand and the world. A selection of gardens have been chosen to showcase the unique planting and local gardener’s will be on hand to share the inspiration behind their garden.
03 NOV 2021: NEW PLYMOUTH - PALMERSTON NORTH
Before we depart the Taranaki region, we visit one final stunning festival garden before travelling onto Whanganui for a short stop. This afternoon you will visit Cross Hills Rhododendron Garden. Garden. Spanning 7 hectares, this park-like garden includes one of the world’s finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas, which will provide a dazzling colour display. Continue to Palmerston North for your overnight stay.
04 NOV 2021: PALMERSTON NORTH - WELLINGTON
Travel to the nation’s capital, Wellington. Ride the Wellington Cable Car, one of the city’s most iconic attractions, to the Botanic Gardens. Enjoy time to view the protected native forest and colourful floral displays with stunning views over Wellington city. Join your coach for an extensive city tour, which will highlight the history and culture on show here. This evening is free to dine at leisure.
05 NOV 2021: WELLINGTON
A highlight this morning will be time to explore Gallipoli: A Scale of War exhibition at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum. Cutting edge technology brings these stories to life through the eyes of New Zealanders, who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Enjoy time at leisure this afternoon. This evening enjoy a final dinner with your new found friends.
06 NOV 2021: DEPART WELLINGTON
Having experienced some of the finest gardens in the North Island, it is time to say goodbye. You will transferred to the airport for your flight home after a memorable holiday.
PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
All visitors require a passport to enter New Zealand. Your passport must be valid for at least three months past the date that you intend to leave New Zealand. For Australian citizens travelling on an Australian passport, you do not need a visa or permit to visit New Zealand. Visitors from visa-waiver countries must request an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) prior to travelling to New Zealand. For visitors from non-visa waiver countries, it is recommended you visit customs.govt.nz for full entry requirements.
LUGGAGE LIMITS:
Due to limited space onboard the coach, please ensure carry-on bags do not exceed 6kg. Each traveller is entitled to travel with ONE suitcase on tour measuring (length + width + depth) no more than 140cm (55”).The maximum suitcase weight allowed is 23kg.
CLOTHING:
Whilst on tour, dress is informal and relaxed on most occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants. The seasons are more pronounced and the weather is more changeable. In summer, a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler or you visit higher altitudes. You can expect some rain, so also include a light rainproof jacket or coat. If visiting from May to September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing. You may have the option to relax and unwind in thermal hot pools so don’t forget to pack your swimwear.
MONEY MATTERS:
New Zealand’s unit of currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). All major international credit cards are accepted and provided they are encoded with a PIN, may be used to obtain cash from Automatic Teller Machines throughout New Zealand. Check with your bank whether this facility is available to you. It is highly recommended you obtain a small amount of New Zealand currency prior to your arrival in New Zealand. Cash Passports or Travel Money Cards are popular and are a safe and convenient way to allow you to access cash at Automatic Teller Machines throughout New Zealand.
WEATHER:
These are average minimum/maximum temperatures in Celsius only during Spring (Sep to Nov). They could vary by up to 4-6 degrees.
TIPPING:
New Zealanders do not depend on tips for their income, however tipping in appreciation for extra-special service is at the discretion of the individual traveller. Some tours may organise an envelope to be circulated for a group presentation to the Coach Captain and/or Tour Guide but any contribution is based on individual appreciation and is not mandatory.
INCIDENTALS:
We suggest you allow a minimum of NZ $40-$50 per day per person for incidental cash expenses such as lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
ROLE OF YOUR COACH CAPTAIN & TOUR GUIDE:
Your Coach Captain is responsible for driving and maintaining the coach and for providing commentary throughout the tour. Your Tour Guide is responsible for your wellbeing and for co-ordinating all the accommodation and activities. It is important whilst travelling on tour that you follow all Crew instructions.
COACH SEAT ROTATION:
For the enjoyment of all travellers a daily seat rotation operates which all travellers must participate in as a condition of booking. The coach seat plan is displayed on the coach for your reference.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply. Please note minimum numbers are required for this group to operate.
Flights - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no airfares will be confirmed until New Zealand's borders have opened to Australian travellers. Please note tour pricing is subject to airline availability and as such the package price is subject to change until flights are confirmed. Air Taxes are also subject to change.
Deposit/Final Payment - A non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of booking with the balance due no later than Friday 06 August 2021 . Due to the different airfares available, this amount will vary between cities and your consultant will advise the amount required.