Stay three nights at New Plymouth’s Waterfront Hotel with the Festival of Lights at Pukekura Park and celebrate Christmas lunch at the Nice Hotel. Chaddy’s lifeboat cruise and the Forgotten World Highway are special attractions.
There's lots to enjoy in New Plymouth. Christmas lunch is hosted by Terry with wit and flair at The Nice Hotel. Pukekura Park comes alight at night and there's a cruise around the Sugar Loaf Islands on Chaddy's lifeboat. Lunch with Debbie Robertson at Crosshills Garden is fitting finale.
Day 1: Auckland - Piopio - New Plymouth
We depart Auckland and travel south to the King Country, stopping for lunch in Piopio.
Continuing through the scenic Awakino Gorge to the Tasman coast and south to Mokau, we traved over bush clad Mt Messenger, reaching New Plymouth in the late afternoon.
Your hotel is right on the seafront just across from Len Lye’s Wind Wand kinetic sculpture and the waterfront boardwalk. We dine in the hotel's restaurant this evening.
- Travel the scenic Awakino Gorge to the Tasman coast
- Arrive in New Plymouth and relax in your waterfront hotel
Day 2: New Plymouth - Christmas lunch - Festival of Lights
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your hotel then cross the road to take a stroll along the boardwalk that stretches right along the coastline.
We celebrate Christmas with lunch at the Table Restaurant at the Nice Boutique Hotel with host Terry Parkes.
We return to The Waterfront Hotel to refresh and relax and this evening we drive a few streets away to catch the Christmas night atmosphere at the once a year event when Pukekura Park is transformed by the Festival of Lights.
- Celebrate Christmas lunch in New Plymouth at Nice Hotel’s acclaimed Table Restaurant
- See Pukekura Park come alive at night with the once in a year event at the Festival of Lights
Day 3: Boxing Day - New Plymouth harbour cruise - Sightseeing
A specialist guide joins our coach to tell us the stories of the city's historic places as we sight see around the town. We call into the Len Lye Centre and lunch next door at Monica's .
In the afternoon we meet our skipper Chaddy and take a one hour cruise on a classic English lifeboat built in the Isle of Wight in 1953. Our cruise takes us out to the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park.The seven islands in the group are the eroded remnants of a volcano, are home to an array of birds and wildlife including the northern-most fur seal colony.
- Cruise out of New Plymouth harbour on Chaddy’s old English lifeboat
- Visit Len Lye Centre, one of New Zealand's modern architectural wonders
Day 4: New Plymouth - Cairnhill Farm - Whangamomona - The Chateau Tongariro
We drive to Stratford and turn onto SH43 - the “Forgotten World Highway". We hear the stories of the highway over morning tea at Cairnhill Farm with Colin and June Lees before continuing to Whangamomona where in 1988 residents declared the town a republic after boundary changes put half the district into the Manawatu.
We lunch at Whangamomona Hotel then travel on to Laurens Lavender Farm and Taumarunui. We arrive at The Chateau Tongariro in time to enjoy the views of the Tongariro National Park before dining in this landmark hotel.
- Journey the remote Forgotten World Highway to Whangamomona
- At the Chateau Tongariro enjoy the stunning views from this classic hotel
Day 5: The Chateau - Aramatai Gardens - Crosshills Farm - Auckland
There’s a leisurely start this morning. If the weather is clear we drive to the Top O' the Bruce for more expansive views. Then we’re bound for Taumarunui to visit Jill Mouat at Aramatai gardens.
Leaving the mountains we head north to lunch with Debbie Robertson at Crosshills Farm Garden.
We continue north through the Waikato farmlands to Auckland arriving in the late afternoon.
Thank you for choosing your New Zealand Christmas tour with MoaTours.
- We drive up to the Top of the Bruce for views of Mount Ruapehu and the Central Plateau
- Private lunch with Debbie and Fraser Robertson at Crosshills Farm