Christmas in Taranaki
6 day small group Taranaki Christmas tour
Take a relaxing break, staying three nights at the Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront and two nights on the lakeside at the Millennium Hotel & Resort, Manuels in Taupo. Celebrate Christmas day with lunch at the Nice Hotel and visit the Festival of Lights at Pukekura Park. Drive the Forgotten World Highway and lunch at the Whangamomona Hotel.
WHAT TRACY LOVES ABOUT THIS TOUR: So many experiences – Christmas lunch at The Nice Hotel, The Festival of Lights setting Pukekura Park alight and cruising around the Sugar Loaf Islands. On Lake Taupo we cruise to the contemporary Maori rock carvings in Mine Bay. Plus private lunches to enjoy with Debbie Robertson at Crosshills Farm Garden and Penny Diprose at Rosenvale.
Day 1
Auckland - Piopio - New Plymouth
Travelling south through the Waikato farmlands to the King Country, we stop for lunch in Piopio. Continuing through the scenic Awakino Gorge to the Tasman coast and south to Mokau, we travel over bush clad Mt Messenger, reaching New Plymouth in the late afternoon.
Your hotel, the Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront is just across the road 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 at the Millennium Hotel, New Plymouth, your home for three nights
- The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
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Accommodation
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront is New Plymouth’s only seaside luxury accommodation in the heart of the CBD, featuring unrivalled views of the Tasman Sea. Located opposite the Coastal Foreshore Walkway.
What we love about The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront – The best location in New Plymouth. Start you day with a relaxing walk along the boardwalk opposite the hotel and soak up the sea air.
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 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 at Nice Hotel’s Table Restaurant
- See Pukekura Park come alive with the Festival of Lights
- The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
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Accommodation
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront is New Plymouth’s only seaside luxury accommodation in the heart of the CBD, featuring unrivalled views of the Tasman Sea. Located opposite the Coastal Foreshore Walkway.
What we love about The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront – The best location in New Plymouth. Start you day with a relaxing walk along the boardwalk opposite the hotel and soak up the sea air.
Day 3
Boxing Day - Len Lye Centre - Sightseeing
A local guide joins our coach to tell the stories of the city’s historic places as we sightsee around the town and visit Puke Ariki Museum.
We visit the Len Lye Centre, home to his kinetic sculptures, at the Govett Brewster Gallery and lunch next door at Monica’s Cafe. Then we cruise on Chaddy’s lifeboat from the harbour to the Sugar Loaf Islands. We dine in at our hotel this evening.
- Visit the Len Lye Centre, a modern architectural wonders
- Cruise on Chaddy’s lifeboat around the Sugar Loaf Islands
- The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
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Accommodation
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront
The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront is New Plymouth’s only seaside luxury accommodation in the heart of the CBD, featuring unrivalled views of the Tasman Sea. Located opposite the Coastal Foreshore Walkway.
What we love about The Millennium Hotel New Plymouth Waterfront – The best location in New Plymouth. Start you day with a relaxing walk along the boardwalk opposite the hotel and soak up the sea air.
Day 4
New Plymouth - Cairnhill Farm - Whangamomona - Taupo
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 historic Whangamomona Hotel then travel northwards to stay two nights on the lakefront at Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels, Taupo.
- Journey the remote Forgotten World Highway to Whangamomona
- At the Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels, enjoy the stunning views across Lake Taupo
- Taupo - Millennium Hotel And Resort Manuels
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Accommodation
Taupo - Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels
Boasting a spellbinding lake edge location, this welcoming Taupo Hotel and Resort presents you with uninterrupted views of the magnificent lake and mountains from guest rooms, restaurants and bar areas.
What we love about Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels – Artfully decorated to create an air of glamorous elegance and with a heated swimming pool, private grotto plunge pool and sauna this is a relaxing and stylish location to spend time on tour.
Day 5
Taupo - Lake cruise to Mine Bay - Lava Glass - Huka Falls
At the boat harbour we board a launch to cruise out on Lake Taupo to get a close up view of the contemporary Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay.
This afternoon Lynden Over demonstrates the art of glass-blowing at unique Lava Glass and we stroll the Huka Falls trail to see the Waikato River thundering through the narrow chasm.
- Cruise on Lake Taupo
- Lava Glass sculpture garden and glass blowing
- Taupo - Millennium Hotel And Resort Manuels
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Accommodation
Taupo - Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels
Boasting a spellbinding lake edge location, this welcoming Taupo Hotel and Resort presents you with uninterrupted views of the magnificent lake and mountains from guest rooms, restaurants and bar areas.
What we love about Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels – Artfully decorated to create an air of glamorous elegance and with a heated swimming pool, private grotto plunge pool and sauna this is a relaxing and stylish location to spend time on tour.
Day 6
Taupo - Wairakei - Rosenvale, Te Awamutu - Auckland
A leisurely start this morning with time to walk along the lakefront. Later we drive up to the Wairakei Geothermal Station viewpoint.
We continue north through the Waikato farmlands to lunch with Penny Diprose at Rosenvale in the Te Awamutu countryside and arrive back in Auckland in the late afternoon.
- Take a relaxing stroll on the Taupo lakefront
- Private lunch with Penny Diprose at Rosenvale
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Next departures
General inclusions
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 18 travellers).
- Services of your knowledgeable MoaTours Kiwi guide.
- Quality accommodation chosen for a “sense of place”.
All Meals Are Included
All meals are included in the tour cost, including:
- Christmas lunch at Nice Hotel
- Lunch at Whangamomona Hotel
- Lunch at Rosenvale, Te Awamutu
Included Activities & Entrance Fees
The following activities and attractions are all included in the price of your tour:
Sightseeing & Exploring
You’ll visit all the following spots on the tour.
