Start and end in Auckland! With the adventure tour Winterless North – 3 Days, you have a 3 day tour package taking you through Auckland, New Zealand and 7 other destinations in New Zealand. Winterless North – 3 Days is a small group tour that includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, transport and more.
Most people travel New Zealand with us either solo, or with a buddy and are between 18 and 39 years old.
You should have a sense for adventure, be curious to learn about new cultures and like to experience something different.
If you are planning to work in Australia whilst you’re here you’ll need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. You can choose to book your Oz Gap Year programme with the visa included (only for Working Holiday Visa subclass 417). If you’re eligible for Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462), Grabatour Travel cannot apply for this visa for you, however, once you obtain this visa it will allow you to participate in the Oz Gap Year programme.
Please note: If you have a criminal record, you are still able to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, but due to the specific information required while filling out the application form we won’t be able to process your visa for you, and this must be applied individually.
This Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is available to passport holders who come from:
Belgium
Canada
the Republic of Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong SAR
the Republic of Ireland
Italy
Japan
the Republic of Korea
Malta
the Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Taiwan
United Kingdom
Or you’re a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:
Argentina
Austria
Chile
China, People’s Republic of
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Peru
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay
United States of America
Vietnam
People hold one of the above passports can still apply for a similar visa called the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). Grabatour Travel cannot apply for this visa for you, however once you obtain this visa it will allow you to participate in the Oz Gap Year programme.
To be eligible for a working holiday visa, applicants need to meet the following requirements:
Hold a passport issued by an eligible country or region
Be aged 18-30 (inclusive) at the time of applying
Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay in Australia
Meet health, character and financial requirements
Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (unless applying for a second visa)
Be outside Australia when they apply and when their visa is granted
Apply within 12 months of intended travel to Australia.
Have sufficient funds to cover your expected living/trip costs during your stay
Have funds for a return or onward ticket to depart Australia (or an actual ticket)
Have health insurance
How to apply:
You can choose our inclusive visa booking option and we can process the Working Holiday Visa application for you, or you may wish to apply for your own visa via Australian Immigration.
Medicare
You will need to apply for Medicare once you are in Australia and in order to do this please ensure that you can provide TWO forms of ID e.g. passport, driving licence, birth certificate.
You will be travelling with a group of fun, exciting and interesting people from everywhere in the world! And you can easily make new friends along the trip.
Small groups, insider access, and personal freedom to follow the whim of the moment are the order of the day, every day.
Groups sizes are usually between 5 – 22 people with most groups even celebrating reunions years after their trip! Chat with other people from your group before you leave home!
Check out the New Zealand visa requirement here.
Sure! We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using Skyscanner.com.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all of our trips in Australia. You can get this in the Insurance section of our site.
If your start date is more than 40 days away, you can secure your spot by paying a 10% deposit.
Simply select the ‘deposit’ option when you Check out. We’ll hold you a spot on your chosen start date and send you a link to pay the remaining amount.
The balance must be paid in full at least 40 days prior to your tour start date. If you are booking within 40 days of your start date the deposit option is not available so you need to pay in full.
07:00: Depart Auckland
We kick off our journey crossing Auckland’s Harbour Bridge, admiring the skyline of what is known as the ‘City of Sails’ as we head north for our journey. Depending on timing & bookings, we may add in Kai Iwi Lakes, Hot Springs or a waterfall on route to Paihia.
10:45: Tane Mahuta
Situated in the heart of the Waipoua Forest and as tall as it is impressive, the Tane Mahuta (‘Lord of the Forest’) is one of the world’s oldest and largest Kauri trees. Standing at around 50 meters tall, the tree is estimated to be around 2,500 years old.
12:00: Opononi
On route up the West Coast, we’ll stop off at the picturesque harbour town Opononi for a lunch break before our final destination.
14:00: Arrive in Paihia, Bay Of Islands
Renown for its picturesque bays, laidback atmosphere and fantastic local fish n chips, our next stop takes us into the heart of the Bay Of Islands, Paihia. Take the ferry over to the historic town, Russell, where you can check out Flagstaff Hill, wineries & visit one of New Zealand’s oldest Churches, the Christ Church!
So if swimming with dolphins, island cruises or famous Maori treaty grounds for a spot of Kiwi culture aren’t your thing, borrow a free kayak or bike and explore the bay your way.
For those who just can’t get enough, optionally top the day off with an overnight cruise. Sail through the bays with a sunset buffet dinner, followed by night kayaking to experience the bioluminescence. Note, the ‘Overnight BOI Cruise’ extra overrides day two’s itinerary.
Inclusions
Visit Opononi harbour & beach.
See the Tane Mahuta – Lord of the Forest in the Waipoua Forest.
Visit the Bay of Islands.
Free kayak & bike usage.
07:00: Depart Paihia
Checking that you’ve remembered to blink, we continue our journey north to the sacred and most northern point of New Zealand to visit the Cape Reinga Lighthouse.
10:45: Cape Reinga
This land holds great significance to the Maoris and their ancestors and if you don’t catch a glimpse of a dolphin or whale out to sea, you’ll be guaranteed to see where the Tasman Sea (from the west) collides with the Pacific Ocean (from the east).
12:15: Te Paki Sand Dunes
Following on from the Cape, grab your boards because along the shores of the famous 90 Mile Beach, we find Te Paki Sand Dunes. Perfect for sand boarding, we’ll spend the afternoon gliding down New Zealand’s largest dunes, and to top it off, you can experience an optional traditional Maori Hangi lunch to get back that energy.
18:00: Arrive in Paihia
Finishing off the day, we head back to Paihia for another night in the Bay of Islands.
Inclusions
Cape Reinga lighthouse.
*90-mile beach & Te Paki Sand dune board hire.*
08:00 – 12:30: Free time!
12:30: Depart Paihia
Salty, sunkissed and probably hungover, we’ll make our merry way down to where we started.
14:30: Whangarei
After heading south, we’ll finish off before heading home at New Zealand’s northernmost city, Whangarei.
17:30: Arrive in Auckland.
Inclusions
Visit NZ’s northernmost city, Whangarei.
17:30 – 18:00 – End point: Bus Stop on the corner of Darby & Queen St., 229 Queen Street, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
There will be no airport pickup.
PICKUP LOCATION
Meet at approx 06:30 at 229, Queen St, Auckland. Bus stop on the corner of Darby & Queen St. Coach departs at 07:00.
DROP OFF LOCATION
Arrive back in Auckland for around 15:00 at 229, Queen St, Auckland.
Renowned for its picturesque bays, hidden hotspots, and fantastic local fish n chips, the Northland’s arguably one of New Zealand’s best regions. Packed with waterfalls, volcanic hot-springs, and NZ’s largest sand-dunes, this all-inclusive 3-day adventure includes everything you should see, at no extra cost!
Optionally meet the Kawiti Glowworms on a guided cave tour.
Stay 2 nights in the heart of the Bay of Islands, Paihia.
Optionally indulge in the bays local fish n chips.
Get free kayak and bike usage in Paihia.
Relax with comfortable bus transport, USB’s & great playlists.
Optionally enjoy continental breakfast, with gluten/ dairy/ veggie-friendly lunch & dinners.
Catch a ferry over the bay to the historic town of Russell.
See the 90 Mile Beach & Cape Reinga Lighthouse.
Visit New Zealand’s largest sand-dunes at Te Paki.
For a rainy day, dip into the Northland’s coolest volcanic hot pools & visit Rainbow falls.
Visit Opononi harbour & beach.
Meet the lord of the forest, the Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua forest.
Depending on time & bookings, dip into the crystal clear Kai Iwi Lakes.
Visit NZ’s northernmost city, Whangarei.
2 Awesome hand picked locations around New Zealand’s sweetest spots to help you catch those cosy zzz’s.
Food inclusion (breakfast, lunch & dinner) will cost an additional fee. The cost is $27 USD per person per day including:
Breakfast: Day 2 -Day 3 (2 breakfasts)
Lunch: Day 1 -Day 3 (3 lunches)
Dinner: Day 1 – Day 3 (3 dinners)
We have vegan, gluten and dairy-free options.
Locals or backpackers, we coined the phrase “it’s who you’re with” to show you the time of your life. All activities guided with plenty of optional extras!
Straight to the doorstep with AC & an unbeatable playlist, sit back & relax ’cause our journeys are as good as they get.
International flights not included.
We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using SkyScanner.com or contact us for a great flight deal.
Travel Insurance is NOT included, however it is mandatory for you to have travel insurance for the duration of your tour. If you require travel insurance, Grabatour Travel has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here.
The following options are available with this tour. Simply select the corresponding add-on during booking at the Check-out page!
Arrival and departure transfers.
Pre and post-tour accommodation.
Tipping.
Other meals, snacks and drinks.
Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents.
Private Accommodation: please contact us via our chat or Contact page.
Bay Of Islands
9am Hole in the Rock, Bay of Islands cruise.
Overnight Bay of Islands Cruise, night kayak & dinner buffet.
Meet the Kawiti Glowworms on a guided cave tour.
Indulge in the bays local fish n chips.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Traditional Maori Hangi lunch.
Hire sand-boards and race down New Zealand’s largest sand-dunes at Te Paki.
Open ferry ticket to Russell.
Of course you are – anyone would be – and of course we will! We completely understand you because we’ve been you.
One thing about our tours that amazes us the most is how close our travellers get on tour, and how they become one big, tight-knit family at the end.
We have people who were in the same tour group with us a year ago, who are still travelling the world together now! Everyone’s in the same boat, and you will make friends for life.
