Mountain to Lakes Adventure

DAY 1  - Auckland - Waitomo - Whakapapa Village

Kia ora and welcome to the 'Mountains to the Lakes Adventure!'

 

Our tour kicks off with a visit to  'Waitomo Caves' where we will have a four hour 'Black Water Rafting' Experience'. This involves jumping off underground waterfalls and floating down underground rivers looking up at glowworms.

 

In your backpack have your lunch from home, your swimwear and towel and some warm clothes for afterwards!

 

From here we're off to Whakapapa Village, our home for the next four nights.

 

Note: You will need a sleeping bag and pillow for the mountain lodge!

 

Tonight we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and then discuss the exciting days ahead!

 

Includes: Black Water Rafting | First group dinner | Discuss the exciting days ahead | Meet your crew

DAY 2  - Tongariro National Park

After breakfast, we make our lunches and prepare for a day of hiking in Tongariro National Park.

 

Our Alpine guides will meet us and after a briefing, will lead us over the spectacular 17 km 'Tama Lakes' track.

 

This is an all day hike. You will need sunglasses, suncreen, warm hat & gloves, jacket, food and at least 1.5 litres of water each! 

 

Includes: Breakfast | Lunch | Guided walk | Home Cooked Dinner 

DAY 3  - Old Coach Road Mountain Biking

Today is all about biking!

 

We head to Ohakune, grab our bikes and helmets and have a safety briefing before transferring to the start of the Old Coach Road.

 

Originally used by horse-drawn coaches as a connecting route between the two rail heads of the unfinished North Island trunk line, the Ohakune Old Coach Road is steeped in history.

 

We have a very scenic day of mountain biking along the trail, with tunnels and abandoned bridges. The ride is a grade two 15 km trail ride. 

 

This will be a warm up ride for when we get to Rotorua! We'll have lunch on the trail and chill in Ohakune for the afternoon.

 

Includes: Breakfast |  Lunch |  Guided Mountain Biking  | Home Cooked Dinner 

DAY 4  - Whanganui River - Bridge to Nowhere

This is one of the remotest and inaccessible areas in the North Island.

 

After breakfast, we head inland from Raetehi to spend the day on the 'Bridge to Nowhere' experience.

 

We jet boat up river before hiking through native bush to an old abandoned bridge which literally goes nowhere. We'll have our lunch before hiking back to the boat and heading back down river.

 

We'll go by jet boat and if the conditions allow we will finish the journey in Canadian Canoes!

 

Includes: Breakfast |  Lunch |  Guided  Bridge to Nowhere Experience  | Restaurant Dinner

DAY 5  - Tongariro River Rafting - Taupo

This morning we pack up and say goodbye to our alpine lodge, which has been home for the last four nights, and head to Turangi. 

 

Another fun morning as we're off white water rafting on the spectacular Tongariro River.  Be prepared to tackle 60 grade three rapids, while also having time to enjoy the beautiful surrounds! 

 

After lunch we chill out with a game of Adventure Mini Golf before making our way to Taupo.

 

Arriving in Taupo there's time for a bit of relaxation by the lake. You'll then have a free afternoon to explore the town and head out for dinner with your mates 

 

Tonight we meet up and head to the hotpools for an evening soak.

 

Includes: Breakfast |  White Water Rafting |  Adventure Mini Golf | Hot Pools

DAY 6  -  Taupo - Rotorua - chill or optional activity day

Today is a chance to relax a bit after some pretty full on action-packed days and enjoy the beautiful lakeside towns of Taupo and Rotorua.

 

If anyone has any energy and wants more, well there's more! The optional activities are: Bungy or Skydiving in Taupo in the morning, or Zorbing, or Ziplining in Rotorua. 

 

Grab some lunch in town and later we travel to  Blue Lake for an afternoon swim.  

 

After your activities we will be checking into out lakeside accomodation for the last two nights.

 

Includes: Breakfast  |  Dinner

DAY 7  - Rotorua - Forest Loop Mountain Biking

This morning we meet our Mountain bike guides and after collecting our bikes and listening to the safety briefing we ride the legendary Forest Loop Track in Rotorua Redwoods.

 

This is a 32km grade 2 trail ride with some grade 3 sections. There are no jumps but there are some awesome downhill sections, which means there will also be some uphill riding. 

 

We have a spectacular day of riding and with plenty of breaks. We'll stop for lunch at the mountain biking hub, where there is also a cafe if you need extra fuel.

 

We'll finish the day with a swim in the Blue Lake and enjoy a final BBQ dinner as we reflect on an epic week of adventures!

 

Includes: Breakfast |  Lunch |  Guided Mountain Biking  | Home Cooked Dinner 

DAY 8  -  Rotorua - Auckland

For those with any energy left we can have breakfast and do a final hike around the Blue Lake (6km). We then say farewell to our awesome lakeside accommodation and pack the coach for the journey home.

 

If you're flying out, you'll be dropped at the Auckland domestic terminal around 1pm. Please do not  book any flights out before 2pm!

 

The rest of you will be dropped at the CBD ferry terminal at 2pm.

 

Includes: Breakfast  |  Blue Lake Loop Hike

Do I need to have Mountain Biking experience?

No, but you will need to have cycling experience and be able to ride for 5 hours with breaks.

Will I need proper hiking equipment?

We recommend having good hiking/walking shoes with good grip. You can't hike in jeans, so shorts, trackpants or leggings if it's cold. You will need a day pack, a water bladder or 1.5-2Lwater bottles, a waterperoof jacket, sunhat,  beanie (woollen hat) and gloves for the alpine hike.

What else do I need to bring?

You'll need a sleeping bag and pillow for the mountain lodge, warm clothes swimwear, towel, sunscreen.

We will send you more details at the end of November including a packing list.