Hobbiton Movie Set

Waitomo Caves | Credit: Tourism Holdings

Hamilton Garden

Rotorua

Taupo

View of Auckland

Central North Island Escape

(11554)

Explore the best sites of New Zealand's North Island on this exciting 7 day self-drive holiday. With the comfort of your own car, you have the freedom to move around as you please. Plus, we have included 5 amazing activities which will enhance your holiday experience as you explore the wonders that New Zealand has to offer!

New Zealand

Self-Drive

Independent Holiday Packages

Highlights

Discover the rich culture and highlights of the North Island by car.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Explore Waimangu Thermal Valley with a boat cruise

Unveil the mystery and adventure that the North Island encompasses on this 7 days self-drive holiday.

Throughout your holiday, you will visit the famous Hobbiton Movie set where Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Trilogies were filmed.

Your self-drive adventure continues with a visit to one the most popular geothermal sites on the North Island to experience the hot bubbling activity at either Waimangu Thermal Valley or Te Puia. A trip to New Zealand is not complete without a day of jetboating or watching the famous Glowworms as well as exploring the wonderful city of Hamilton. We've got you covered!

Included

1 night at Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport - 4*

2 nights in Rotorua at Jet Park Hotel Rotorua - 4*

2 nights at Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo - 4*

1 night at Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton - 4*

7 days Car Hire with Hertz (airport fee included)

Daily Breakfast

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Waitomo Caves Glowworm Tour

Waimangu Thermal Valley Boat Cruise

Taupo Classic Combo Tour

Itinerary

Download Itinerary Expand All

Day 1

Auckland Airport

Arrive into Auckland Airport. Once you have cleared customs, you'll find your way to the Hertz counter in the arrivals lounge to complete your rental agreement and collect your car hire keys. It’s a short drive from there to your hotel for the evening.

Overnight stay in Auckland at Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport in a Standard Room.

View of Auckland

Day 2

Auckland → Rotorua

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.

This morning, you are heading south to Rotorua. On the way, stop at the Shires Rest, only 10 minutes from the town of Matamata where you will experience the wonder of the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.

After the tour, have lunch at Shires Rest café (optional/own expense) before continuing on to Rotorua.

Overnight stay in Rotorua at Jet Park Hotel Rotorua in a Standard King Room.

Breakfast

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Day 3

Rotorua

Today you explore the Waimangu Volcanic Valley with a boat cruise. Waimangu is a significant geothermal region within Rotorua that highlights the nature and diversity of the local landscapes.

Overnight stay in Rotorua at Jet Park Hotel Rotorua in a Standard King Room.

Breakfast, Dinner

Waimangu

Day 4

Rotorua → Taupo

Enjoy continental breakfast at the hotel before checking out.

A short drive through to Taupo takes you to another picturesque lakeside town. Have a stroll through the village before checking into your accommodation for the next 2 nights.

Overnight stay in Taupo at Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo in a Standard Lakeview Room.

Breakfast

Taupo

Day 5

Taupo

Included in your day today is a scenic cruise to some local Maori Cravings on Lake Taupo with the team at Chris Jolly and then a thrilling jetboat up to the Hukafalls.

Overnight stay in Taupo at Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo in a Standard Lakeview Room.

Breakfast

Huka Falls

Day 6

Taupo → Waitomo → Hamilton

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.

After a leisurely start to the morning, depart Taupo on your way to Waitomo. The Glowworm caves get you up, close and personal to the unique formations and glowworm grotto. Afterwards, continue north to Hamilton where you check into your hotel for the night.

Overnight stay in Hamilton at Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton in a Superior Room.

Breakfast

Glowworm Caves

Day 7

Hamilton → Auckland Airport

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.

Take the morning to explore the area. Perhaps visit the Hamilton Gardens or Hamilton Zoo (optional/own expense). Return to Auckland Airport in time for your flight home (optional/own expense) to drop off your car hire.

Breakfast

Hamilton Zoo

Independent Holiday Package

Central North Island Escape

New Zealand (11554)

from AUD1,657

Enquire

7 days

from AUD1,657
per person, twin share

Destinations

New Zealand

Travel Departs

Auckland

Travel Ends

Auckland

Experiences

Self-Drive

Travel Style

Independent Holiday Packages

Travel Periods

01 July 2021 - 27 March 2022

Hotel options

Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport

Auckland
At Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport, you will able to relax and unwind in this 4-star hotel suitable for business and leisure travellers. A short journey of 17km will take you into the hustle and bustle of Downtown Auckland and the CBD, while an even shorter trip of 12km will take you into the vibrant pacific hub of Manukau City. You’ll find it easy to plan your excursions from this outer city location with public transport readily available at all times.

Jet Park Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua
Experience true New Zealand Hospitality! Only a short walk to Lake Rotorua and just down the road from Eat Street, Jet Park Rotorua is your ideal location for experiencing everything Rotorua has to offer. Whether you are here for adventure or to experience the local culture, Jet Park Rotorua is the ideal starting point for your journey.

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo
A luxury Taupo resort with stunning lake views! Set on the shores of the country’s largest lake, this is one of Taupo luxury hotels with uninterrupted views of the magnificent lake and mountains. Many of Taupo’s famous attractions are just minutes away, including Huka Falls, water and snow skiing, hot mineral pools, golf courses, and lake cruises. The charming Edgewater Restaurant is a superb choice for savouring award-winning cuisine as swans gracefully swim by. Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo is undoubtedly the town’s most desirable location.

Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton

Hamilton
In the heart of the mighty Waikato, Hamilton is a cultural hub for the rich agricultural and pastoral surrounds, as well as many iconic kiwi tourist attractions nearby. Location is also key for the Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton, perfectly positioned with only a short walk to many of the city’s key attractions like FMG Stadium, Seddon Park, Claudelands Event Centre and the CBD.

Important notes

We work with a selection of hotels in each location. All bookings are subject to availability, which means our team will confirm your specific hotels upon confirmation and payment of deposit. The package price is based on 4-star accommodation.
Car hire includes: Daily insurance, Unlimited km’s, Airport/Ferry Concession Fee and GST, 24hrs road side assistance and GST. Term & Conditions apply.

Blackout dates may apply during festive season.

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Entire Travel Group is celebrating 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family owned, award winning business, with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday package.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

What are Entire Travel Group famous for?

Well, put simply - we’re famous for building things. We offer an exclusive range of pre-designed, purpose-built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences. The packages are delivered by our global network of handpicked suppliers, who also provide on ground travel support to our clients.

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is ATAS Accredited. ATAS, which stands for AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme is administered by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA). AFTA is the industry body for the Australian retail travel industry. We are also a registered member of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO).

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was awarded “Best Specialty Wholesaler” at the 2019 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), which are held annually by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

The awards recognise quality and excellence in the Australian travel industry. We were extremely honoured to receive this recognition and we will continue to deliver the best service and value to our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

What is an independent holiday package?

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of all the attributes Entire Travel Group offer - we have settled on “Experience” as the one quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. That’s how our tagline “When Experience Matters” came to life and encapsulates our business in three words, as experience does matter!

We have been operating for many years and have the experience to determine what sightseeing, duration and accommodation style makes a great itinerary. Our technology is continually enhanced, giving our team the ability to provide a great customer service experience. Our relationship with our operators is extremely strong, which ensures we are confident of the travel experience and on ground support for our clients.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Entire Flex?

Looking for more flexibility? Entire Flex is an optional extra on certain packages. It allows you to change your mind right up to 35 days before departure with no change fees. Receive a 100% travel credit with up to 18 months to depart on another Peace of Mind package to any destination on our website.

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

Do Freedom of Choice options cost extra?

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

What is the Safe Travels program?

This specially designed program allows travellers to recognise governments and companies around the world who have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols, so consumers can experience “Safe Travels”.

For more details please visit - Safe Travels Stamp | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

What happens after Book Now?

Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
For further details please visit our Payments page.

Why do some packages not offer the ability to Book Now on the website?

If a package on our website does not include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan, it will not be available to Book Now.

Due to the boutique nature and limited capacity of some travel experiences offered, they have strict payment and cancellation policies. (e.g., a remote bear lodge in Canada with only a few cabins).

Although technically possible, we have decided that it is impractical for us to try and sell these type of travel services on-line. We believe it is important that such product is discussed, so that we can ensure these strict payment and cancellation policies are understood before we proceed with a booking.

For such product we may act as an agent only for the principal suppliers. Where we act as agent, your contract for the delivery of travel arrangements will be with the principal supplier and will be subject to their Booking Conditions.

We will advise you prior to confirming your booking if we are acting as agent and we will confirm the details of the principal supplier. Our responsibility to you where we sell travel arrangements as agent for the supplier is specified in the ‘Responsibility’ section of our Booking Conditions.

Can you book my international airfares?

Following customer feedback, we do not include international flights in our holiday packages.

We found that many customers may prefer:

To travel on specific airlines
Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
Select flight dates that may be different to the package start/end dates
Use their travel agent for this service

However, we are able to assist, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?