icon Trip Overview

icon Lodging

Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $5,198
    To $5,398 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$1,030 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

8 DAYS, 7 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Auckland, New Zealand/Napier, New Zealand

Special Interest

Exotic Adventure, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Kayak, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Rainforest Exploration, Romance &/or Honeymoon, Spa, Swim, Tropical/Winter Sunshine

My Backroads

View albums for this trip

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

Search
Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

New Zealand Multisport Vacations

New Zealand Multisport

Biking & Hiking on the North Island

Journey to New Zealand's North Island and you'll find a land of such astounding diversity, you couldn't imagine limiting yourself to just one activity - this area is perfect for biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, swimming and much more. Journey with Backroads from the lush Coromandel Peninsula, to the geothermal region of Rotorua and the famous Hawke's Bay wine region, with plenty of opportunities to stop and taste the local elixir. Combine the country's extraordinary beauty with its people's adventurous spirit and effortless hospitality, and you've got a destination ideal for active exploration.

 

View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View other trips in Asia & the Pacific

Days 1-2 pauanui

Meet in Auckland and shuttle to the Coromandel Peninsula  Our Kiwi guide Damian Johansen leads a walk through the pristine forest Pedal to Hahei and hike to the white-rock sculpture of Cathedral Cove, where white-sand beaches and warm waters await.

Days 3-4 rotorua

Hike the lush Karangahake Gorge, crossing suspension bridges and walking through an old gold-mining tunnel before cooling off with a swim under a waterfall  Kayak on tranquil Lake Rotoiti and take a dip in lakeside hot springs  Bike along Lake Rotorua's beautiful north shore  On a tour of the Agrodome, feed sheep, deer and emu, and see Kiwi sheepshearers in action.

Day 5 taupo

Pedal along rolling pastures of Kiwi farmland with dramatic vistas  Visit Waikite Hot Pools for a relaxing soak  At Waiotapu, walk past geysers, thermal springs, colorful silica terraces and percolating mud pots.

Days 6-8 Havelock North

Take a walk to impressive Huka Falls  Feeling fearless? Try a bungee jump over the Waikato River  Pedal through the beautiful and world-famous Hawke's Bay wine region, past vineyards and shady oak trees, and stop for tastings  Hike through redwoods and sheep pastures to the top of dramatic Te Mata Peak for 360-degree views.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

I can't wait to take another Backroads trip. It proved to be the best way to experience a new place and be assured we're hitting the high points of each location. It is a great feeling to be taken care of and treated so well by our leaders!
James Nancekivell - St. Paul, MN

More Reviews of this Trip

All Guest Reviews

For more than 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the New Zealand tour experts. For multisport tours in Asia & the Pacific, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Asia & the Pacific multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours click here.

New Zealand Multisport

INTIMATE RETREATS: Premiere Inns

Puka Park Resort

Pauanui (2 nights): Settle into your private chalet at this secluded wilderness retreat set among 25 acres of New Zealand bush.

Duxton Hotel

Rotorua (2 nights): Enjoy wonderful lake views and fine New Zealand hospitality at this resort, set right on the shore of Lake Rotoiti.

Millennium Hotel

Taupo (1 night): Waterfront guest rooms, a pool and tennis courts nestled on the shore of Lake Taupo.

Mangapapa Petit Hotel

Hawke's Bay (2 nights): Built over a century ago, this beautifully renovated country retreat offers lovely grounds, an incredible restaurant and a host of amenities.

New Zealand Multisport New Zealand Multisport

Mangapapa Petit Hotel

View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

New Zealand Multisport

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 2  1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 2  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 13, 20 miles 
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 2  1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 6 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • Kayaking 3 hours
  • Biking 13, 30 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 1 to 4  4 Route Options Available
  • Biking 17, 21, 39 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6

  • Levels 1 to 2  2 Route Options Available
  • Biking 13, 24 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Levels 2 to 5  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 26, 29, 58 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Hiking 3 miles
  • 500-1000 feet elevation gain  
New Zealand Multisport New Zealand Multisport

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles