Auckland Residency
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
8 days, planned by Farthest Field Co.
Eight days on the North Island — geothermal, volcanic and Māori, which the South Island trip is none of.
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| Waitematā harbour |
| Sky Tower |
| Ponsonby |
The glowworms are the larvae of a fungus gnat and the light is a lure. The boat drifts through in silence because noise puts them out.
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| Waitomo glowworm caves |
| Ruakuri |
| Rotorua |
Lady Knox erupts at 10:15 because a park ranger drops surfactant into it, and they tell you so. The Champagne Pool needs no help.
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| Wai-O-Tapu |
| Champagne Pool |
| Lady Knox geyser |
| Te Puia |
Taupo fills the caldera of an eruption in 232 AD that was heard in China and Rome. Huka Falls pushes the whole Waikato through an 11 m gap.
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| Lake Taupo |
| Huka Falls |
| Craters of the Moon |
Nineteen kilometres, 765 m of climbing, and a one-way route — which is why the shuttle is not optional. It is closed outright in bad weather.
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| Red Crater |
| Emerald Lakes |
| Mount Ngauruhoe |
| Blue Lake |
Otumuheke is a hot stream running into a cold river and it is free. After the crossing it is the correct use of a day.
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| Otumuheke Stream |
| Lake Taupo |
| Craters of the Moon |
Four hours, and the last chance to see the volcanoes behind you on a clear day.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Waikato |
| Hamilton |
| Auckland |
Auckland is the long-haul gateway for the whole country.
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
7 breakfasts and 4 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
11 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Long-haul group trips for people with two weeks and no plan”
North Island in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Good value for what's included.
North Island in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Worth every rupee.
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Worth every rupee.
Pace was set for the fastest people in the group and it made the middle days hard. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed. Would book with them again.
Long transfer at both ends that isn't obvious from the listing. Budget a day either side. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down.
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
North Island in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Would book with them again.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Would send friends their way.
It closes fairly often — high wind, ice on the Red Crater, or volcanic alert level. That is not negotiable and no guide will take a group up against it. Both operators hold the following morning as a second window and substitute the Taranaki Falls walk if neither opens. It is listed as excluded because nobody can promise it.
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →