Begin your day with morning pickup from the Port of Tauranga.
Start with an overview of Mt. Maunganui, then head to Rotorua, stopping along the way to sample kiwi fruit, one of New Zealand’s top exports.
Continue by road past a redwood forest and Blue Lake on the way to Rotorua. More than 500 hot springs and 65 geysers are active around Rotorua. You'll visit Whakarewarewa, the Living Maori Village, which is home to the Pohutu Geyser and steaming hot springs, as well as Maori cultural exhibits like dance performances.
Next, drive through Government Gardens (Paepaekumana) and past the Polynesian Spa, then have lunch (own expense) at Lake Rotorua. See attractions like the Skyline Gondola and luge ride, and snap photos of Lake Rotorua from the cafe. You can sample New Zealand’s renowned manuka honey at Mossop’s Honey, before returning to Tauranga.