The Cricket Pilgrimage to New Zealand: North Island Edition

Overview

An 8-day North Island journey combining two India vs New Zealand ODIs with iconic Kiwi culture — Hobbiton, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Rotorua's geothermal wonders and Māori culture, Cathedral Cove, and Mount Maunganui's beach town charm. Bases in Auckland, Rotorua, and Mount Maunganui.

Destinations

Auckland, Waitomo, Hobbiton, Rotorua, Coromandel, Mount Maunganui

to

Trip Duration

8 Days / 7 Nights

Tour Type

Group Tour — Cricket & Culture

Minimum Age

18

Level / Difficulty

Easy to Moderate

Group Size

12

Physical rating

$

1939

/ per person

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Trip Highlights

3rd & 4th ODI — India vs New Zealand

3rd & 4th ODI — India vs New Zealand

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Te Puia Geothermal & Māori Culture

Te Puia Geothermal & Māori Culture

Cathedral Cove & Mount Maunganui

Cathedral Cove & Mount Maunganui

Why you'll love this trip

Group of young travelers sitting together in AlUla’s old town, sharing drinks and stories under palm trees on a sunny day.

  • 3rd ODI — India vs New Zealand, Seddon Park, Hamilton

  • 4th ODI — India vs New Zealand, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

  • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves

  • Te Puia Geothermal Park & Māori Haka Performance

  • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

  • Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach, Coromandel

  • Climb Mauao, Mount Maunganui

  • Sky Tower, Auckland

  • Beach Town Stay — Mount Maunganui

Group of young travelers sitting together in AlUla’s old town, sharing drinks and stories under palm trees on a sunny day.
Group of young travelers sitting together in AlUla’s old town, sharing drinks and stories under palm trees on a sunny day.

  • 3rd ODI — India vs New Zealand, Seddon Park, Hamilton

  • 4th ODI — India vs New Zealand, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

  • Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

  • Waitomo Glowworm Caves

  • Te Puia Geothermal Park & Māori Haka Performance

  • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

  • Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach, Coromandel

  • Climb Mauao, Mount Maunganui

  • Sky Tower, Auckland

  • Beach Town Stay — Mount Maunganui

Group of young travelers sitting together in AlUla’s old town, sharing drinks and stories under palm trees on a sunny day.

Tourism is responsible for 8% of the world's carbon emissions.

Tourism is responsible for 8% of the world's carbon emissions.

The last thing we'd want is to contribute to these emissions. And therefore, we’ve made a simple promise:
Every journey you take with us will do more good than harm.

The last thing we'd want is to contribute to these emissions. And therefore, we’ve made a simple promise: Every journey you take with us will do more good than harm.

Itinerary

7-Nov-26

Auckland, New Zealand

8-Nov-26

Auckland

9-Nov-26

Auckland → Waitomo → Matamata (Hobbiton) → Rotorua

10-Nov-26

Rotorua → Hamilton (Seddon Park) → Rotorua

11-Nov-26

Rotorua → Hot Water Beach → Cathedral Cove (Hahei) → Rotorua

12-Nov-26

Rotorua (Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu) → Mount Maunganui

13-Nov-26

Mount Maunganui

14-Nov-26

Mount Maunganui → Auckland International Airport

Group of young travelers sitting together in AlUla’s old town, sharing drinks and stories under palm trees on a sunny day.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Meals

Breakfast typically included with hotel stay; complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn (Hobbiton); all other meals self-pay

Breakfast typically included with hotel stay; complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn (Hobbiton); all other meals self-pay

Accomodation

4-star hotels — Auckland (2N, e.g. voco Auckland City Centre / Sofitel Viaduct Harbour / Cordis), Rotorua (3N, e.g. Pullman Rotorua / Sudima Rotorua Lake), Mount Maunganui beachfront (2N, e.g. Oceanside Resort & Twin Towers / Quest Mt Maunganui)

4-star hotels — Auckland (2N, e.g. voco Auckland City Centre / Sofitel Viaduct Harbour / Cordis), Rotorua (3N, e.g. Pullman Rotorua / Sudima Rotorua Lake), Mount Maunganui beachfront (2N, e.g. Oceanside Resort & Twin Towers / Quest Mt Maunganui)

Transport

Private full-size coach (Auckland–Waitomo–Hobbiton–Rotorua; Rotorua–Mount Maunganui; Mount Maunganui–Auckland Airport) with luggage; private minibus day trips (Rotorua–Hamilton for ODI; Rotorua–Coromandel) without luggage; hotel-arranged airport transfers

Private full-size coach (Auckland–Waitomo–Hobbiton–Rotorua; Rotorua–Mount Maunganui; Mount Maunganui–Auckland Airport) with luggage; private minibus day trips (Rotorua–Hamilton for ODI; Rotorua–Coromandel) without luggage; hotel-arranged airport transfers

Exclusions

International flights, all lunches/dinners unless noted, optional SkyJump, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Waiheke Island ferry, travel insurance, tips/gratuities, personal spend

International flights, all lunches/dinners unless noted, optional SkyJump, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Waiheke Island ferry, travel insurance, tips/gratuities, personal spend

Is this trip right for you?

This trip includes official tickets for two India vs New Zealand ODIs (Hamilton and Mount Maunganui); tickets sell out fast, so book immediately on release via nzc.nz. Climbing Mauao (Mount Maunganui) requires moderate fitness; a flat base loop alternative is available for those who prefer not to summit. Two long private-coach travel days are involved (Auckland–Rotorua via Waitomo/Hobbiton, and Mount Maunganui–Auckland) — plan your energy levels accordingly.

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Golden desert cliffs in AlUla under soft afternoon light.
Tall sandstone formations glowing under the desert sun.