Auckland, New Zealand


PRE: NEW ZEALAND'S NATURAL WONDERS

Experience the diversity of New Zealand’s North Island with Auckland and its spectacular harbor location as your base. In contrast to the gentile white sand beaches of the city suburbs, visit the rugged west coast of Auckland where the Tasman Sea pounds the black sand beaches. Visit a vineyards and travel to the fertile countryside south of Auckland to experience the glowworm caves at Waitomo and enjoy a farm to table lunch at a private homestead.

DAY 1

Upon arrival at the Auckland Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure and dinner is on your own. Transfer time is approximately 45 minutes.

Check in is at 3:00pm. If you have an early arriving flight you may wish to book an extra night so that your room is available upon arrival.

Guests are entitled to an airport transfer for this program if:

1.Your flight arrives on Day 1 between 12:00am and 11:59pm (group transfer is included – rooms may not be ready until hotel check-in time noted further below)

2.You book an extra night through the cruise line (private transfer is included on the day you are to check-in for the extra night)

3.The cruise line has received your flight details at least 14 days in advance

4.You have notified the cruise line Reservations Team of any last-minute flight changes at least 12 hours before you arrive. Should flights change without sufficient time to notify our ground operators, a transfer may not be available when you arrive.

Land Program Ground Operator Name: Akorn Cruises

Please look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and /or your name

Should you not be able to locate your driver or meet and greet representative once you arrive and clear any Customs/Immigration and baggage claim areas, please call this local emergency number:

EMERGENCY Phone Number including country code and area code: 0064 21 662274

SHOULD FLIGHTS CHANGE WITHOUT SUFFICIENT TIME TO NOTIFY US OR OUR GROUND OPERATORS, A TRANSFER MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARRIVE. IN THIS CASE, PLEASE TAKE A TAXI AND KEEP YOUR RECEIPT SHOULD YOU WISH TO MAKE A TRIP DELAY CLAIM WITH YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE PROVIDER.

Drivers and vehicles are not able to wait for an unspecified amount of time as they are on a schedule and last-minute transportation may not be bookable. Unused transfers are non-refundable.

DAY 2

Meet your guide in the hotel reception, today's tour will begin with a drive through the city's central business district before departing from the city and travelling along the southern motorway past the city's southern suburbs and over the Bombay Hills. Descend into the Waikato River Valley and follow the course of the river through the fertile farmlands of the region to the coal-mining town of Huntly. Continue south past Taupiri (the mountain is sacred to the Maori people) and the town of Ngaruawahia, the seat of the Maori King.

Undertake a guided tour of the world-famous Waitomo Glow-worm Caves, a true geological phenomenon of nature. Unique to New Zealand, these tiny creatures radiate a fluorescent blue-green glow that illuminates the caves and underground streams the glow-worms call home. The largest chamber of the cave is known as the "Cathedral," an acoustically perfect auditorium that has hosted a number of renowned performing artists drawn to the area for the purity of sound it produces. As you embark on a short cruise in an open boat through the limestone formations, your guide will share information, legends, and facts about this fascinating and beautiful oddity of nature.

You will have lunch at a private homestead where your hosts have been farming for many years and love to share their lovely French provincial home and gardens with you. Lunch is a delight and all food is made on the premises, including many chutneys and sauces, from the fruit trees on the property. All meat is organic and comes from local farms.

After lunch, return through the pastoral Waikato region to Auckland. Back in Auckland and your hotel, the

remainder of the evening is at your leisure with dinner on your own.

NOTE:

•Bring comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket for the visit to the caves.

•The Waitomo Glo worm Caves are accessible to those with reasonable mobility, with good handrails and paths

•There is no wheelchair access

DAY 3

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, depart from the hotel, travelling by way of the north-western motorway, to the farming and wine-growing areas of West Auckland - Kumeu and Huapai - to Muriwai Beach on the rugged west coast. A stop is made on the cliff tops overlooking the beach. From here there is a walk of approximately 250 metres, through native plants, to the glorious black sand.

From Muriwai, travel through rural farming districts to a private vineyard for lunch and a tasting. West Auckland is the city’s original wine region that boasts a range of wineries to tantalize your taste buds. You will be introduced to a delicious range of artisan cheeses, honey from the vineyard, local olive oil and stone ground sourdough bread before a delicious BBQ. There is an opportunity to meet locals and enjoy a range of locally made gifts and produce.

On leaving the winery, return to Auckland city by way of the farming areas of Waitoki and Dairy Flat to join the northern motorway at Albany. Continue into the city across the Auckland Harbor Bridge and through the downtown shopping area.

Arrive back at your hotel in Auckland. Dinner is on your own.

DAY 4

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. After check-out, board your coach for sightseeing, which will include a drive along the waterfront. A stop will be made at Bastion Point for views over the harbor before continuing to St Heliers Bay and through the eastern residential suburbs. Also see the Auckland Domain, the Auckland Museum (no visit), and Parnell Village.

At the end of the sightseeing tour, you will be transferred to the ship for embarkation.

Land Program Details Step by Step

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.

•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Auckland

Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel

Check-in is at 3:00pm. Rooms may or may not be ready prior to this time.

Remainder of the day is at leisure

Meals are on own

Overnight at The Grand by Sky or similar hotel

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

DAY 2

From 7:00am Breakfast starts at the hotel

8:00am Depart the hotel and travel south into the Waikato region

11:00am Arrive in Waitomo for a guided tour of the glowworm caves

12:15pm Depart Waitomo

12:45pm Lunch at Crosshills

2:15pm Depart Crosshills and return to Auckland

5:25pm Arrive at the hotel

The remainder of the day and evening are at your leisure

Dinner on your own

Overnight at Grand by Sky or similar hotel

DAY 3

From 7:00am Breakfast at the hotel

9:30am Depart the hotel and travel to the west coast of Auckland

10:40am Visit the Muriwai Beach

11:10am Travel to a winery in west Auckland

11:35am Arrive at a private vineyard for lunch and wine tasting

1:20pm Depart winery and travel back to Auckland

3:00pm Arrive at the hotel

The remainder of the day and evening are at your leisure

Dinner on your own

Overnight at Grand by Sky or similar hotel

DAY 4

From 7:00am Breakfast at the hotel

Check out - please remember to settle your personal incidental account with the hotel prior to leaving

10:30am Auckland City sightseeing drive

1:30pm Transfer to the ship for embarkation

Expected Weather:

New Zealand's seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the warmest months are December, January and February, while the coldest are in June, July and August. The mean daily temperature during January and February is 23° Celsius (74° Fahrenheit).

What to Bring:

As it will be summer light clothing is suggested. However, as the weather can be changeable is recommended that a rain proof jacket be carried. Sunscreen is considered essential.

Dress is informal and relaxed on this program. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and night spots. Men are generally not expected to wear suits and ties, except in a few of the top formal bars and restaurants in major cities.

Currency:

US dollars are generally accepted only in establishments such as souvenir stores; however, credit cards are widely accepted.

Electricity:

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz. Most hotels provide 110-volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. Please note that power outlets only accept angled two or three pin Type I plugs (as also used in Australia) depending on whether an earth connection is fitted. Remember to bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

Citizens of the United States do not generally require a visa to visit New Zealand.

Please refer to the New Zealand Immigration web site for further information on visas for your nationality.

Accommodation:

Grand By Sky Hotel

90 Federal Street, Auckland, 1010

Phone: +64 363 6000

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen circumstances. If a similar hotel is required, it will be of equal ratings and standards and guests would be notified in advance of travel. If guests are not notified prior to travel of any changes, then the hotel listed above will be used.

Program includes:

• 3 nights at the Grand By Sky or similar hotel including breakfast – Grand room

• Lunch on Days 2 and 3 – includes 1 New Zealand beer or glass of wine or juice or soft drink

• Touring on Days 2, 3 and 4

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program excludes:

• Any meals not listed above

• Gratuities to drivers and guides

• Hotel incidentals such as mini bar and room service

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include: inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

More Details
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.