North Island Adventure Combo (12 Days)

We start our tour the way we mean to continue so before we leave Auckland for Whakatane we'll visit Auckland's Sky Tower to take our first leap into the world of New Zealand's numerous adventure activities.

NZ’s highest jump – a world-first adventure! Experience the adrenalin rush and thrill of stepping out amongst the high rise buildings of Auckland city. At 192m (630ft) Sky Jump is a cable controlled base jump. Participants fly “Superman style”. The view is awesome, the experience unforgettable. Air time is approximately 20 seconds as you plummet at approximately 75kph. Sky Jump provides new dimensions of safety and comfort. Participants wear a full body harness and flying suit (all provided). There is no dangling upside down or bouncing around – you simply fall “fast & smooth” and then slow down as you approach the ground where you land gently on your feet. Sky Jump – hard on the mind, easy on the body!

There are very few places you can dive a live volcano, but White Island, which has been steaming away for centuries, is something quite unique. With abundant varieties of fish life including huge Kingfish, Stingrays, Moray Eels and massive schools of Blue Maomao, along with some of the biggest crayfish. Diadema urchins are almost unique to White Island and masses of these can be seen on a pinnacle dive known as Diadema Rock. But what makes this place truly unique are the bubbling underwater fissures creating an underwater Jacuzzi. Warmer currents also mean nudibranches like those of the Poor Knights, and visibility of generally 20 metres plus. This fascinating place is brushed by the warm waters of an offshore current and offers exciting dives from pinnacles with 150 metre drop offs to cruisy reef dives.

The Motu River is the North Island of New Zealand’s last dam free river, and flows from its source high in the Raukumara mountains 100 kilometers down to the Bay of Plenty. The rugged region through which the Motu River runs was the last area of New Zealand to be mapped, and much of it still remains a mystery. Rafting the Motu is thus a true wilderness adventure, taking boaters through deep gorges of sandstones, mudstones, and breccias lined with the majestic trees of virgin native forest. The Motu River can range from Class III to Class V, depending on water level. During most stages, the river is Class IV with rapids named like “Bullivant’s Cascade”, “The Motu Slot” and “Double Staircase.”

After meeting at Opotiki at 8am. We travel from Opotiki to the very upper reaches of the river, via the Waioeka Gorge and the famous Motu Falls. Today we raft the quieter upper reaches of the Motu, camping above the upper gorge.

By night relax around the campfire while your guide creates a tantilising culinary delight, as exploring the great outdoors does not mean enduring dehydrated food and all our guides are trained in the art of gourmet camp cooking.

We are into the whitewater action of the upper gorge rapids, the Motu’s exciting whitewater churns itself into fun Class III and IV rapids with names like “Bullivant’s Cascade”, “The Motu Slot” and “Double Staircase.”Tonight we camp between the upper and lower gorges. The Motu flows through the Raukumara Wilderness Area. Rare and endangered species encountered include Blue Mountain Ducks and the Hochstetters frog. Because of its sheer power and beauty, this is an unforgettable stretch of the river.

Drift through the bush clad Lower Reaches of the Motu River and for the last 18 miles of the journey, we will take a jetboat ride. This trip gives you access into some country which is totally remote, unaltered by man and is rarely viewed.

Forging its way through the vast Raukumara wilderness, the Motu (meaning severed) is the most isolated and untouched of all the North Island rivers. Without a doubt, this is one of the country's finest river adventures.

Two hours drive brings us to the East Coast and Gisborne (pop 35,000).

The Great White Sharks of New Zealand cruise the East Coast as they make their way to the deep south of New Zealand. As they travel along this route the frequent Aerial Reef off the coast of Gisbourne. It is here that we get some quality time with these majestic predators, a great opportunity to see the Great White Sharks in their own domain.

Once on site, the skipper prepares the sharks lunch and sends the burley over the side. As quickly as 5 minutes later the first shark will arrive, from then on everything becomes a bit hectic, the cage is sent over the side and the surface supplied regulators set up for the first divers. Letting the sharks get their gums around the bait will turn things into a feedy frenzy, imagine seven or eight thrashing sharks bashing into the cage as they fight for their share.

It's a four hour journey to Taupo, situated in the centre of New Zealand”s North Island and on the shores of the southern hemispheres largest fresh water lake. The lake covers an area of 616 square kilometres, is 186 metres at its deepest and lies in the caldera created by a massive supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 26,500 years ago. The most recent major eruption, which occurred in 180AD, it is believed to have ejected 100 cubic kilometres of material, of which 30 cubic kilometres was ejected in the space of a few minutes, this is the most recent supervolcano to erupt on the planet. The volcano is currently considered to be dormant rather than extinct.

Taupo Bungy is the North Island’s most popular bungy jump. The unique cantilever platform projects out from the cliff-top, above the inviting waters of the Waikato River below. Whether you choose to bungy solo or tandem, and if you want to add more thrills to your jump, they specialise in getting people wet, whether you’d rather a hand touch or full body submersion.

Conveniently located just 15 minutes drive north of Taupo and 50 minutes south of Rotorua, Rapids Jet operates on the biggest rapids for commercial jetboating in New Zealand. Shoot through a narrow canyon, be exhilarated by spins on crystal clear waters, spot a trout and surf the pressure waves of the awesome Nga AwaPurua rapids. Take time to view the amazing surrounds of Aratiatia Scenic Reserve, and learn about the wildlife and history of the area with your Kiwi owner/drivers Rusty, Jimmy and Gazza.

Rotorua is only an hours drive from Taupo. You have the opportunity here to visit one of Rotorua's famous thermal areas. Te Puia is a place of steaming vents, boiling mud pools, hot springs, boiling sulphurous pools and spectacular geysers. Eventually we'll arrive at the Rotorua Skyline and Luge.

The Skyline is reached by Gondola which whisks you smoothly up 487m as Rotorua drops away below. Conveniently located just minutes from Rotorua’s City centre, on the side of Mount Ngongotaha, Skyline provides panoramic views of Rotorua City, Lake Rotorua and the surrounding area

The Luge is a fun filled ride on a three-wheel cart. The unique braking and steering system provides the rider full control and allows them to travel as fast or slow as they wish. An exciting ride suitable for all ages. Six entry points leads onto three concrete sealed tracks (scenic, intermediate and advanced tracks) with over four kilometres to ride. Riders return to the top of the luge on a specially designed chairlift system. For hardened adrenalin junkies the sky swing provides an exhilarating ride.

Early start thismorning for the one hours drive from Taupo to the start of the Tongariro Crossing:

Fancy a walk on the moon? Well here’s a much cheaper option: The 12-mile Tongariro Crossing is considered the best hike in New Zealand. This untouched volcanic terrain offers a fascinating look at a very alien environment, complete with twisted lava formations, volcanic steam vents. vast craters, active volcanoes, boiling lakes, barren desert, lush forest, crystal-clear mountain streams, steaming geysers and emerald green lakes. Phew! The scenery is so otherworldly that Lord of the Rings was filmed there. Experience a diversity of landscapes unlikely to be found together anywhere else in the world. The track leads up to the saddle between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro and then diverts over Mt Tongariro. Mt Tongariro is not a single volcano, but a complex of craters that have been active at different periods.

An alternative option is to start the crossing at 2am enabling you to watch the sunrise at Red Crater Summit in unique lighting.

This is one of the best mountain bike rides in New Zealand. The 42nd traverse is a 44km ride through the Tongariro forest with amazing views of the mountains and some awesome riding.  The ride follows a four wheel drive track and crosses several streams and one river. There are some really exhilarating long downhill sections along the way with some picturesque river crossings, but also be prepared for the many unrelenting, muscle-wrenching, hill climbs en-route, that not only test you physically, but mentally as well. For the not so fit, some will eventually reduce you to walking. The scenery through the park is simply amazing, offering views on a clear day of the many volcanoes in the region. Starting at Kapoors Road, Taurewa on Highway 47, the trail is around 44 kilometres long with an overall descent of 570 metres. It takes four to seven hours to complete depending on fitness and experience. The ground varies from gravel to mud. For around 60 per cent of the time you’ll be on 4WD tracks, graded 3+.

or...maybe a day to rest and recover from yesterdays hike and prepare for another huge day tomorrow.

This is Waitomo’s ultimate adventure and it is dramatic! The day starts with a 100 meters abseil (330ft) – the world’s longest commercial caving abseil – for some fifteen odd minutes, to get you into the Lost World – and that is just the beginning! In the company of an experienced guide, you will descend for about 15 minutes and admire the beauty of this iconic cavern.

Once down, you embark on a journey back to the surface through the most incredible cave system. Heading upstream you follow a challenging underground river by whatever means – climbing ropes, swimming, wading, passing through vaults the size of cathedrals, up waterfalls and stalactites, squeezing through tight gaps and jumping into black pools!

Be Warned: this is not a simple cave tour. This is a full on caving experience. You need to be fit and you are going to get very wet, you’ll be in the safe muddy hands of some of New Zealand’s most well trained guides. If you enjoy adventure, exploration and the sense of achievement from having completed something amazing, then The Lost World ‘Epic’ will certainly make your light shine brightly.

Health & Fitness: Participants must be moderately fit e.g. be able to go bush walking or skiing for a day. They should not be heavily overweight or suffer from serious health problems such as heart complaints or significant back complaints.

Our ideal adventure holiday terminates back in Auckland city, pm airport transfers are included.

Sightseeing and activity options available:

This is some of what we can do in the North Island, now check out our South Island Adventure Combo!!!