12 Day Family - Super Luxury and Active, North Island $$$

A top-grade itinerary designed for an active family with absolutely no limit on spending.

This itinerary was deisgned on request. Our brief was to put together the very best New Zealand had to offer for a family of four. Cost was immaterial and quality and exclusivity were paramount as were comfort, relaxation and privacy. Final cost depends significantly on options selected - as a guideline we think this would come in at NZ$100,000+.

Day One

Arrival at Auckland International Airport. We meet our clients airside, escort them through priority exits, and deliver them to their guide and helicopter. The helicopter overflies Auckland city and the scenic Hauraki Gulf before touching down at your private accommodation on Waiheke Island twenty minutes later. Enjoy a massage on arrival and then rest until dinner which will be prepared by one of our top catering teams.

Day Two

Our clients usually arrive tired, after a long international flight and a very busy time at Lady_Gay_stb_bow.LR_AFA29 work getting everything done which needs doing before their holiday. For the first full day in-country we recommend a day on the water. The Hauraki Gulf is beautiful, and the fishing and diving are excellent. Select from a traditional 46ft Kauri wooden launch from the 1930s, or a sailing boat from the same era (previously owner by General George Patton), or modern sailing boats or launches from small to extra-large.

Day Three

Time for some adrenaline! Take the helicopter from your villa and fly 20 minutes to the Maramarua Forest, south of Auckland. Here we have set up a private 4.5km closed loop, part of the official New Zealand rally circuit. Here we will have two full-specification rally harvards_auckland_600_1 cars set up, together with flame proof suits, intercom and instructors. Spend the morning learning to drive a rally car. After an excellent lunch, fly 10 minutes north to Ardmore. Here the family will meet four experienced pilots from the Wardbirds Society. They will be introduced to their aircraft, four two-seater fighter-bombers from the 1930s. They will fly a simulated formation dive-bombing mission over an island off Kawakawa Bay. After this mission, it's back in the helicopter and over to central Auckland to walk through the centre, bungy jump from Sky Tower, and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. As it will be dark after dinner, we will return to your villa by boat. (helicopters are not allowed to carry passengers after dark)

Day Four

After a relaxing morning visit some wineries just before lunch and have lunch at one of them. Then board your helicopter for a one hour flight north to the Bay of Islands. Land at your private island in the Cavallis. The adults can stay in one cottage and the children in another. There is a launch at your service, as well as a Sealegs amphibious boat, argo all-terrain vehicle, kayaks, snorkelling and fishing gear. We can also arrange jetskis. The area is well know for its game fishing (world records), light tackle fishing, diving (a number of wrecks and the Poor Knights islands - rated by Jacques Cousteau as the top sub-tropical diving in the world). We can also arrange for su Cavalli Dinner Setup_1 rfing, windsurfing , kitesurfing and spearfishing. The island has a masseuse there full time as well as a top chef and has a kiwi protection programme. Just across on the mainland is one of the country's best golf courses.

Day Five

Enjoy the island.

Day Six

Meet local Maori. We will arrange an ambush by local Maori warriors by w Picture_037__Large_ aka (canoe) at the island. Enjoy a traditional fierce challenge when the chief will present the family with a notable taonga (treasure). Understand the Maori culture, be welcomed by Maori to their land, and eat a traditional lunch with the warriors. After lunch the warriors can demonstrate traditional carving, weaving, healing, combat or fishing.

Day Seven

Depart the island and fly south. After 80 minutes the helicopter will land at Waitomo. waitomo_bushwalk This area is famous for its glow-worm caves and has become a popular destination for tourists. We have developed an exclusive day where our clients spend time on private land with an interesting character who has spent much of his life exploring the local cave systems. Enter into private caves with this individual and enjoy an informative guided walk of a lovely area of bush. Then continue onto Rotorua, the geothermal region of New Zealand, overfly significant lakes, geothermal areas and land for lunch on a boat on Lake Tarawera. The boat will cruise to Hot Water Beach where you can bathe in naturally hot springs. It will also have a water sp Huka_Lodge orts boat in attendance so you can indulge in watersports on the flat water of the lake. Re-board your helicopter, and after a short flight land at Wai o Tapu, for a one-hour walk around this geothermal park. Then continue 20 minutes to Taupo where you will land at your lodge, Huka Lodge, the longstanding number-one lodge in the country. Your accomodation will be the private 4-bedroom owner's cottage. Alternatively, we can offer a private house on a 16,000 acre estate.

Day Eight

Rest in the morning. In the afternoon, take a helicopter out to sea to White Island, an active volcano. Land on the island and walk around. White_Island

Day Nine

Select from a number of options:

guided walk of the Tongariro Crossing, a long, hard walk acknowledged as New Zealand's best one-day walk
jetboat up the mysterious Whanganui River. Hike into the absurd "Bridge to Nowhere"
combination wilderness rafting/jetboat adventure
wilderness flyfishing

Day Ten

Depart Huka Lodge and fly 30 minutes east deep into the mountains. Land on a 5,000 acre high-country wilderness block. Meet your guide, a renowned Maori outdoorsman and chef. Spend the day with him understanding, finding and preparing food. This can range from roots and plants to fish as well as hunting for wild pigs or clever Sika deer. Enjoy the fruits of your labours and reboard your helicopter to continue east to Hawkes Bay. Stay at lovely colonial Greenhill Lodge or at sister property Glen Aros.