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If you’re looking for a day that perfectly balances rugged natural wonder with refined relaxation, you’ve found the blueprint. Hawke’s Bay is famous for two things: its dramatic coastline and its world-class vines.

We spent an unforgettable day soaking up the best of the region, led by our fantastic host, Don Bird, whose local knowledge made every stop feel like an "insider" experience.

1. Morning: The Gannet Safari at Cape Kidnappers

We started the day with a trip to the edge of the world. The Gannet Safari takes you across private farmland and steep ridge lines to the largest accessible mainland gannet colony in the world.

The View: Standing on the sheer cliffs of Cape Kidnappers, watching hundreds of birds dive and soar against the backdrop of the Pacific, is a humbling experience.

The Experience: The 4WD bus adventure is half the fun—at time there were bumpy tracks and panoramic views that make your camera roll very happy but you might not want to look over the edge.  

2. Lunch & First Sips: Church Road & Ortons

After the wild winds of the coast, Don whisked us away to Church Road Winery, one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in New Zealand.

The Wine: We kicked things off with a tasting of their flagship Chardonnays and Syrahs. The history here is palpable, especially in their underground museum.

The Food: Lunch was hosted by Ortons at the winery. Known for their focus on local, seasonal produce, the meal was the definition of "leisurely." Think perfectly paired flavors that highlight the best of the Bay’s reputation.

3. The Afternoon Flight: Brookfield & Askerne

With a solid lunch under our belts, Don guided us through two distinct, boutique styles of winemaking to round out the afternoon.

Brookfield Vineyards: This spot feels like a hidden sanctuary. Known for their hand-crafted, premium wines, it’s the place to slow down. Their reds, particularly the Cabernet blends, are deep and complex.

Askerne Estate: To wrap up the day, we visited Askerne. This is a "dessert wine" lover's paradise, but they also offer a huge variety of aromatics. It’s family-owned and incredibly welcoming—our final taste was of the grapes right off the vine!

Why the Host Matters

Having Don Bird at the helm really made the day. Instead of just driving from A to B, we got the backstories of the vineyards, the history of the landscape, and a few laughs along the way. It’s the personal touches—and knowing exactly which vintage to look out for—that turn a tour into a memory.

We had a a busy day today.  We started our morning at Whakarewarewa Forest. While many people head straight for the high-altitude Treewalk, we stuck to the forest floor—and I’m glad we did.

There’s something incredibly grounding about walking among trees that have been standing since 1901. When you’re at the base of a Californian Redwood, you realize just how small you are.  Redwoods are not native to New Zealand but thanks to the soil & rain they grow faster here.

Our next stop was the National Kiwi Hatchery.  When you think of Rotorua, you probably picture bubbling mud pools and towering geysers. But tucked away at the Agrodome (just 10 minutes from downtown) is a place where the air is quieter, the lights are lower, and the stakes are much higher.

The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa isn’t just a tourist stop; it is the front line of survival for New Zealand’s most iconic bird.

The "Shhh" Factor

The first thing you notice when you enter the purpose-built facility is the shift in energy. It’s quiet. It’s dim. You quickly realize you aren't just at a "zoo"—you’re in a hospital, a nursery, and a sanctuary all at once.

Walking through the Nocturnal House was a highlight for me. Since kiwi are nocturnal, the facility flips the day/night cycle. Watching an adult kiwi forage through the leaf litter just inches away from me—poking its long beak into the ground with surprising speed. They are much bigger and more active than I expected!

Why It Matters

In the wild, a staggering 95% of kiwi chicks don't make it to adulthood, mostly due to introduced predators like stoats. At the hatchery, those odds are flipped. By raising chicks until they reach a "stoat-proof" weight of 1kg, the hatchery increases their survival rate from 5% to 65%.

You can’t take photos of the birds (their eyes are super sensitive to light), but the memories are way better than a blurry, dark phone photo anyway.

Te Puia

We saved the heavy hitter for last: Te Puia. Their evening experience is the perfect way to wrap up a Rotorua trip, and we did it in the best possible order.

The Geysers First: We started by walking through the geothermal valley as the sun began to set. Standing near the Pōhutu Geyser—the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere—is a sensory overload. The steam, the heat, and the sheer power of the earth puffing right in front of you is unforgettable.

The Feast: After the walk, we headed to the Pātaka Kai dinner buffet. It is a massive spread of Hāngī-style meats and vegetables traditionally cooked using geothermal steam. The fusion of local flavors (and that dessert spread!) was the highlight of my culinary trip so far.

The Show: We ended the night with the cultural performance. Being welcomed into the carved meeting house for the Haka is an experience that stays with you. You don't just hear the Haka; you feel it vibrate in your chest

We spent most of the day at the Hobbiton movie set, located on the Alexander farm (formerly the Anderson farm) in Matamata, about an hour outside of Rotorua. This site served as the primary filming location for the exterior scenes of The Shire in all six The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films.

For the original trilogy, the sets were temporary and completely removed after filming. However, for the subsequent Hobbit films, the production team rebuilt the set using permanent materials. This allowed the site to be preserved as a full half-day experience for visitors.

Location and Scouting

Director Peter Jackson, a New Zealand native, wanted a location that captured the look of J.R.R. Tolkien’s envisioned English countryside. While filming in England was considered, Jackson chose New Zealand to keep the production localized, as the majority of the other landscapes for Middle-earth were already found there. The site was initially identified through aerial photography and later secured after negotiations with the Alexander family.

The Shire and Forced Perspective

After leaving the visitors center, a bus took our group onto the 1,250-acre working sheep farm. We walked the paths through the Shire, passing 44 unique hobbit holes. These homes were built at various scales to achieve "forced perspective" for the camera:

60% Scale: Used for most holes to make human-sized characters like Gandalf appear much larger.

90% to 100% Scale: Used for scenes where the "Hobbits" needed to appear small relative to their surroundings.

While most of these are exterior facades only, we visited the recently opened "Bagshot Row" interior experience. This is a fully realized hobbit hole interior designed by the original film illustrators and replica makers. It includes a functioning kitchen with a steaming pot, a working fireplace, bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room.

Attention to Detail

The set is characterized by an immense level of detail meant to suggest a working village. Some specific examples we noticed included:

Scale Artifacts: Small-scale mailboxes, birdhouses, and benches placed at the entrance of each gate.

Daily Life Props: Super-realistic loaves of bread outside the bakery, scaled toys strewn in yards, and even half-filled beer mugs left outside the "town drunk's" house.

The Oak Tree: A massive tree overlooks Bag End. The original was a real tree moved from near Matamata, but for the prequels, it was recreated using a steel infrastructure with fiberglass bark and thousands of hand-painted silk leaves imported from Taiwan.

The Groundskeepers: A large team of groundskeepers maintains the site daily. Their goal is to keep the gardens, fruit trees (including apple and pear), and lawns looking "just right"—neither too manicured nor overgrown, mimicking a natural rural landscape.

The Green Dragon Inn

The tour concluded at the Green Dragon Inn. The interior is a faithful recreation of the pub seen in the films. We were served a half-pint of beer (brewed exclusively for Hobbiton by Good George Brewing in Hamilton) while enjoying the fireplace and the company of our group.

On the way back, we stopped in the village of Matamata. This farming community has largely adapted to support the tourism generated by the movie set, and the main street offers a wide variety of food selections.

Thanks to the snow storm we arrived a day late so we had some adjustments to our schedule.  Rather than free time shortly after our arrival we took a nice coach tour of the city.  We stopped in a Devonport for a walk out to the pier and a stroll through the picturesque town.  We continued on to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park.  He was the 1st prime minister of New Zealand 1935-1940.  The park as gorgeous views of the harbor.  

On the 2nd day we started out at the All Black Experience which I really enjoyed.  Our guide Rubin talked about the history of the team with pride.  We learned a bit about rugby but mostly the importance of the history and culture of the team.  They are very proud of the Māori culture.  They have a New Zealand Jade stone that they travels with them to all matches.  It embodies the spirt of all players past and present.  They have a special projection room where you can watch both the All Black and the Black Ferns (ladies team) do the Haka.   As of September 13, 2025 1,232 players have represented the All Blacks in official matches, starting from James Allan in 1884 through to Leroy Carter as All Black #1232.  There are 267 Black Ferns. #1 was Jacquileen Apiata and the most recent #267 is Laura Bayfield

It is an honor and privilege to be named an All Black for Black Fern they are forever a member of the team.  They showed a video of some of the players talking about when they 1st found out they were named to the team.  It was quite emotional.  After the tour we were able to try our hand at kicking, passing and agility.  We were given wrist bands that could keep track of your score.  I passed on the activity and spent my time speaking with Rubin about the Māori culture and history.  He spoke proudly of being Māori and learning the language a young age.  He talked about times when former players would visit the experience and how much he enjoyed their discussions.  

After a break for lunch we headed to the harbor for a 90 minute scenic cruise after which we meandered the streets back to our hotel. 

On out last day in Auckland we went the Arataki visitors center to take in the gorgeous views of the rainforest and then on to to Piha beach to dip our toes in the Tasmanian Sea and watch the surfers.

The seeds for this journey were planted back in the fall of 2023. As a travel professional, I know that the best experiences aren't just booked—they’re curated. For  months, I’ve dedicated countless hours to webinars, research, and deep-dive discussions with top-tier tour operators to ensure every detail of this trip is perfect.  I got quotes from three tour operators and ultimately settled on Goway.  They had helped me with my South Africa & Botswana tour and I knew they were the right company to use for this very important tour.  

My goal was simple but ambitious: design a tour that captures the "must-see" highlights of the South Pacific while maintaining a comfortable, easy-to-enjoy pace.

New Zealand: Islands of Wonder
Our exploration will span both the North and South Islands. I’ve prioritized a true immersion into the rich Māori culture and the country's unique history.  In addition to viewing the awe-inspiring natural landscapes, flora & fauna, we’ll be indulging in the local culinary bounty that makes New Zealand a world-class destination.

Australia: Roots & Wildlife
In Australia, we’ll trace the ancient Aboriginal roots and history that define the continent. While the food culture and landscapes are spectacular, I’ll admit my personal priority: getting up close with Australia’s iconic wildlife. I can’t wait to see the Koalas, Kangaroos, and Penguins!  I even included a free day in Sydney so I could go to the Taronga Zoo!

Want to follow along with our daily itinerary?  Click the spreadsheet image below to see exactly where we’re headed!

Istanbul is simply incredible. Stepping off the plane, I immediately felt the energy of a place that has been a crucial center of civilization for millennia. We came to see the iconic sights, and let me tell you, they absolutely delivered.

The Crown Jewels: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Our first stops were two architectural titans facing each other across a historic square: the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia.

The Blue Mosque (officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is instantly recognizable by its cascading domes and striking silhouette. Inside, the name makes perfect sense. The light filters through stained glass, illuminating thousands upon thousands of hand-painted blue tiles that line the walls and ceiling. It wasn't just beautiful; it was incredibly serene. You can feel the weight of history and devotion in that vast, carpeted space.