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Head for the upmarket suburb of Parnell with a local who will show you around what is surely Auckland’s coolest and hippest section of town. You will ride there on a bus, an experience that will introduce you to the area’s vibrancy and authenticity. After a cup of locally roasted coffee in a trendy but laidback café, you will meander through the neighborhood, stopping along the way to admire some of the quirkier architecture and street art. Parnell Rise couldn’t be more eclectic and that is the charm of it. With its cobblestone streets, historic building and lush greenery, soak up this very special locals part of Auckland . The guide will introduce you some of the owners, who will offer samples of various dishes and foods. Few places in Auckland are as entertaining and lively as Parnell.

There’s no better way to experience Auckland, the “City of Sails,” than by cruising its harbor by sailing yacht and touring an innovative museum of maritime history. A short stroll from your ship, board a ketch-rigged sailing scow and embark on a relaxed cruise around Waitemata Harbor – its name based on a Maori phrase describing the shine of obsidian volcanic glass. It’s a fitting description since this gulf and many other aspects of the Auckland coastline were in fact shaped by volcanic forces millennia ago. During your 60 minutes on the water, enjoy coffee or tea as you watch the metropolitan skyline of New Zealand’s most populous city slide by – and see more than enough masted vessels to understand how Auckland earned its nickname. Back on terra firma, pay a visit to the Voyager Maritime Museum, where the country’s nautical heritage takes center stage. With self-guided time here, you might watch a film about the first settlers to sail to New Zealand, visit a rocking steerage cabin that simulates 1840s sea travel conditions, marvel at carved scrimshaw and ship figureheads, or learn about Sir Peter Blake and his America’s Cup wins for Team New Zealand.

Experience a New Zealand natural attraction that has thrilled visitors from around the world since Victorian times. This full-day excursion by comfortable coach travels into the heartland of the North Island, crossing the Bombay Hills and through lush Waikato Valley dairy terrain to reach the Waitomo Caves in about three hours. Once there, you’ll step into a subterranean world of 30-million-year-old limestone formations like the famous Organ and lofty Cathedral chamber. Stalagmites and stalactites form pillars and crooked fingers of calcite stone that, in the low light, take on both beautiful and monstrous proportions. The highlight of this visit, though, is reached by open boat, gliding along an underground river in pitch darkness as you enter the realm of the glow worm. High above you on the ceiling are astounding galaxies and constellations of blue-green light created by millions of bio-luminescent glow worm larvae who dwell in this odd environment. Total silence is a must since this wondrous light show will switch off instantly if the worms are disturbed. Following this illuminating experience, you’ll travel to nearby Crosshills Farm for a light buffet lunch ahead of the return drive to Auckland.

Travel to bucolic Waiheke Island by ferry for a winetasting sojourn on this upscale enclave renowned for its vineyards and magnificent nature. The 45-minute crossing from Auckland provides ample pleasure itself as you pass idyllic, volcanically formed islands that rise up out of the unspoiled Hauraki Gulf waters. Once in Waiheke, chances are you’ll swoon immediately for its enchanting environment – just as getaway-seeking Aucklanders and travel writers from around the world have done for years. As an introduction, take in the sights of gorgeous Onetangi Beach as you head to the real reason many locals head to this island paradise. Your vintage sampling begins with a visit to Stonyridge Vineyard, a winery that specializes in Bordeaux-style reds. Depending on the day and season, you may sample their well-balanced flagship Larose blend or perhaps an inky-black Luna Negra made solely from Malbec grapes. This is followed by a second tasting at Batch Winery, a producer of intriguing small-batch wines – as the name implies. While there are plenty of reds on their list, including an earthy Cabernet Franc matured in French oak, this boutique winery also bottles some outstanding whites. On the ferry back, you might well find yourself plotting how to move to Waiheke, asap.

What better way to get a glimpse into daily life than by dining with the locals? You will have that opportunity by visiting a private vineyard to the northwest, one of Auckland’s oldest wine regions. The exact setting will be chosen the day of the excursion, and you can expect it to be an enlightening experience. On the way, you will pause at a produce stand on a farm, where you will see the sorts of fruits and vegetables that flourish in the fertile soil. Grapes also thrive here, as you will discover at the vineyard. Your hosts will show you around while a hearty barbecue lunch with wine is being prepared. Feel free to join in whatever activities are offered. You might learn to make sweet Anzac biscuits, flip fritters in the kitchen and try your hand at gumboot throwing. It’s a hilarious pure Kiwi competition much like throwing a discus, but with a rubber boot.

This scenic tour will introduce you to Auckland’s distinctive blend of modern cosmopolitan influences and Polynesian traditions. A city wrapped around two sizable harbors and numerous ancient volcanoes, Auckland is home to nearly a third of all New Zealanders, and the environment they share here seems livable, indeed. A drive through 200-acre Auckland Domain provides a slice of the city’s idyllic greenery, while a visit to the imposingly white-columned Auckland Museum atop the park’s highest hill provides the history. Inside, you’ll come face-to-face with impressive full-scale artifacts from the region’s rich Maori and Polynesian heritage and tour a gripping exhibition that tells the story of New Zealand’s involvement in the 20th-century’s world wars. You’ll enjoy a spin along beautiful Tamaki Drive as it winds through historic Parnell Village and hugs the sandy beaches of Okahu Bay and Mission Bay. Gaze on mega-yachts and the former America’s Cup Yachting Village in the Viaduct Harbor district, and later be dazzled by panoramic views of a sea of masts at Westhaven Yacht Marina – the Southern Hemisphere’s largest – as you cross the Auckland Harbor Bridge over glistening Waitemata Harbor. This signature span is a mecca for bungy-jumpers – you might see one boing by.

Venture into the snowy Antarctic where penguins play, walk underwater through a reef where sharks and rays swim, and catch bird’s-eye city views from 1,072 feet up. This excursion is all about exciting environments – beginning with Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, named for a well-known Kiwi adventurer. Inside, moving walkways transport you through clear underwater tunnels revealing all sorts of aquatic habitats. You may see sharks being hand-fed, massive stingrays gliding by, or neon-colored fish and delicate seahorses nestling in the reef. The Antarctic Ice Adventure section replicates polar life above and below the water – with a colony of King and Gentoo penguins as the featured entertainment and a replica of Captain Scott’s polar expedition base from 1911. The scene at Sky Tower is considerably elevated, as you zoom by glass elevator to the top of New Zealand’s tallest manmade structure – an engineering marvel built to withstand winds of 125 mph or a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Your heart will be doing the pounding today as you take in breathtaking 360-degree views over Auckland and its harbors, bays and volcanoes. On a clear day, the range is about 50 miles – but even watching fog up here is an amazing experience.

Depart the bustle of urban Auckland on a trip to Devonport, a historic waterfront village just across the bay and known for its relaxed charm. Touring Devonport and its surrounds by coach, you’ll feel like you’ve left modernity far behind. Streets are lined with restored villas and cottages built from native kauri timber during the late Victorian and Edwardian era. The waterfront’s antique shops, art galleries, inviting pubs and quirky boutiques all lend it unmistakable character. Plus, you’ll be treated to a totally different perspective from the heights of the North Shore’s two extinct volcanic cones. Mount Victoria offers stunning views all the way across to Auckland, while North Head offers insights into the island’s military history. The Royal New Zealand Navy installed coastal defense batteries and extensive tunnels on these bluffs over a century ago; you can still see a huge “disappearing gun” from 1886 – nicknamed for the powerful recoil that catapulted the weapon out of sight underground between shots. Take some free time to further explore on foot once the guided tour portion ends. Then return to Auckland by ferry, either with the group or on your own later if you opt to remain in Devonport longer.

Explore two natural treasures on the North Island’s wild western coast that are fiercely protected to keep them carbon free and environmentally sound. Browsing the Arataki Visitor Centre will offer a glimpse into the wonders that lie ahead, which include the lush rainforest that blankets the Waitakere Ranges. Before entering, you must first pass through a checkpoint to remove any biological matter from your clothing that might damage the forest. These precautionary measures ensure that the wilderness will remain gloriously pristine, especially its sacred kauri trees, which are dying from foreign soil and plant material that visitors have inadvertently carried in on their clothing. After following a naturalist guide through the remarkably biodiverse forest, you will head for Piha Beach. It too is protected, especially from invasive animal species that might alter the coastal ecosystem. You can’t help but feel at one with nature while strolling its volcanically formed, black-sand beach.