Islands of the Hauraki Gulf - 5-11 February 2020 Mansion House, Kawau Island - Tranzit Tours

Mansion House, Kawau Island

Islands of the
 Hauraki Gulf
  5-11 February 2020

Itinerary
Day 1: Wednesday 5 February - Travelling to Hamilton
With transfers arranged from Wellington, Kapiti, Manawatu, Wairarapa and other
surrounding areas, we gather at Sanson this morning to enjoy a welcome morning tea
together (included). Taihape is our lunch stop today (own cost), before continuing via
the Desert Road and Taupo, to Hamilton, our destination tonight. We dine in at our hotel
this evening.

Day 2: Thursday 6 February - Rangitoto Island, a Volcanic Wonderland
This morning we travel through to Auckland, stopping at the Botanical Gardens in
Manurewa for a cuppa and a wander. Heading to the city, we catch a ferry to Rangitoto
Island, with time to enjoy a picnic lunch (included) on the journey across. Our island
ranger guide will greet us and direct us to our 4WD tour vehicle, which will take us
through the rugged lava crops of this 600 year old volcano and the native bush of the
island - Rangitoto has NZ’s largest remaining stand of pohutukawa forest. Our guide
provides us with an informative commentary, and a short walk to the summit rewards
us with 360-degree views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf islands. We re-board our
vehicle to tour the western side of the island before catching our ferry back to Auckland
City where we make the short transfer to our accommodation. We dine in tonight.

Day 3: Friday 7 February - Tiritiri Matangi, an Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiritiri Matangi Island is one of the world’s most successful conservation projects,
and today we board Fullers 360 ferry to visit this haven for endangered NZ wildlife.
Regenerating native forest and ever-increasing birdsong are the results of over 25
years of careful management by the Department of Conservation in partnership with
the Tiritiri Matangi Trust. Little blue penguin, takahe and kokako are among the starring
residents on the island.
We enjoy a guided tour, along with the opportunity to explore independently. There
are many walking tracks on the island, including a walk to the island’s 150-year-old
lighthouse. A picnic lunch (included) can be enjoyed at leisure and a stop in at the
Visitor Information and Education Centre is a must. Back at our hotel we have time to
relax before dinner in house.
Day 4: Saturday 8 February – Island Life on Waiheke
Today our destination is Waiheke as we board the ferry again, to take us out to the
most populated island in the Gulf. An Explorer Bus Pass allows us to explore the island
at leisure, hopping on and off where and when we choose, with commentary provided
on the island’s history and culture. Explore the main village of Oneroa with its shops,
Community Art Gallery and Music Museum, Wine Centre and cafés. Set out for a vineyard
or two; Mudbrick is a must see, and a great lunch option. Onetangi Beach ia a great spot

for an amazing two-kilometre beach walk, a swim, or a coffee. Rangihoua Olive Grove
is on the circuit, as is Dellows Distillery. After a day of discovering, we return to the
mainland and our hotel for relaxing dining in house.

Day 5: Sunday 9 February - Kawau Island, Where History and Nature Collide
Today we board our coach and head north to Sandspit near Warkworth, where we join
the Royal Mail Run cruise to historic Kawau Island, exploring the beautiful bays as the
large and comfortable ferry goes about its daily mail run. Lunch today is a barbecue on
board (included) before we disembark to explore the island. Enjoy an optional tour of
historic Mansion House – originally built for the mine superintendent on the island, in
1862 the island and homestead were purchased by Sir George Grey, NZ’s first Governor.
Take a stroll through the subtropical gardens joined by weka, wallabies and peacocks,
all legacies of Governor Grey who was an enthusiastic collector of plants and animals
from around the world, or enjoy one of several other easy walking options.

Day 6: Monday 10 February - Miranda Seabird Coast
Leaving the City of Sails behind this morning we wind our way out through Clevedon
countryside, before enjoying a cuppa at Kawakawa Bay, a calm sheltered beach looking
towards Waiheke and Ponui Islands. After morning tea, we follow the East Coast Road
and the scenic Miranda Coast - a world-renowned destination for shore birds, many
making an extraordinary seasonal migration from the other side of the world. We stop
at the Miranda Shorebird Centre to learn more about the birds that make this unique
place their seasonal home. We enjoy our picnic lunch here too, before continuing down
through the Hauraki Plains to our destination tonight, Rotorua.
Day 7: Tuesday 11 February – Homeward Bound
Homeward bound today, we make our way south, with a morning tea stop on the shores
of Lake Taupo, and our lunch stop at Taihape (own cost), arriving back in Palmerston
North in time to meet connecting transfers for those travellers continuing south towards
Wellington and Wairarapa.

Tour Schedule
Price Per Person:
Double or twin share ..................................................................$2850.00 per person
Single Accommodation..............................................................$3741.00 per person
    Deposit required to confirm your booking:.........................$350.00
Cost of Tour Includes:

>    Accommodation
>    2 course or buffet dinners
>    Breakfasts
>    Morning teas on travelling days
>    All coach travel
>    3 Picnic lunches
>    Fullers Rangitoto Volcanic Explorer tour
>    Fullers 360 Discovery Cruise to Tiritiri Matangi Island
>    Fullers Waiheke Island Explorer Tour (boat and bus)
>    Reubens Kawau Island Mail Run Cruise and barbeque lunch
>    Miranda Shore Bird Centre tour and talk

Optional Extra
> Entry to Mansion House $4.00 per person

    Balance payable by...................................................................................22 December 2019
    Bank Account details : BNZ 020688 0127658 00; Tour Reference: HaurakiGulf

To:         Tranzit Coachlines Wairarapa Ltd,
            P O Box 116
            MASTERTON 5840
            Phone 0800 471 227 or (06) 370 6600

OR:         Book online at www.tranzittours.co.nz