Companion Programme
Ananda Tours, Bush and Beyond and Power to the Pedal are offering our delegates, companions, friends and family travelling together for IWPC 2023 a 10 percent discount on their tours described within the information below, during the month of September, when tours are booked directly with them, using the promotional code IWPC2023.
More information about the providers, their tours and activities can be found below. Please click on the provider logo to be taken to their website.
Sample Companion Programme
Ananda Tours is a Waiheke family-owned company that has been sharing the Island that we love for over 22 years. Our close relationships with local providers and highly knowledgeable guides ensure that our visitors leave loving the Island as much as we do!
We recommend:
The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour, click here to go to the Ananda Tours, Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour page.
On this tour, you will visit three of Waiheke’s top vineyards and sample a range of their wines. Along the way enjoy a commentated scenic drive, learning about the Island’s history, geography, people and culture from your knowledgeable local guide.
After your wine tasting experience, sit back, relax and enjoy lunch and a glass of Waiheke wine or beer at Three Seven Two (Awarded one Hat in the latest Cuisine Good Food Awards) on Onetangi beachfront before heading back to the ferry or your accommodation.(Winter months Mon-Thurs lunch is at Stonyridge Vineyard.)
DEPART: 10AM FULLERS FERRY EX-AUCKLAND - RETURN: 4.45PM (ex 4pm ferry to Auckland)
Ananda Tours are providing all conference delegates and their companions a 10% discount on the Essence of Waiheke Tour during the month of September, when tours are booked directly with them, using the promotional code IWPC2023. Bookings can be made by clicking here.
Bush and Beach is a small family owned company which specialises in small group tours from Auckland. We have been operating for 37 years and are the longest running eco tour company in New Zealand.
Our knowledgeable and experienced guides are second to none and provide an interactive, unforgettable guided tour experience so that you get the most out of your time in New Zealand. We can take you to the off the beaten track places, give you great photo opportunities and give you insights into the history of New Zealand, our nature and how New Zealanders work and play.
We recommend:
Hobbiton Express Day Tour with Lunch
This small group tour is an easy day trip from Auckland to Hobbiton movie set. The day includes a fully guided tour of the set as seen in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy. We also have a sumptuous lunchtime buffet in the Party Marquee.
Our experienced guides look after you all day from pick up to drop off from your Auckland City location. They include a full commentary on the way with insights into the areas you are travelling through and background to the movie set you are visiting. On the way down to Hobbiton there is a brief stop at a local cafe in case you want to buy some local baking or a coffee (or as we like to call it a ‘second breakfast’)
At Hobbiton you travel down to the set itself and have one of the specialist Hobbiton guides take you on a walking tour around the 44 Hobbit holes. You will get the chance to have a photo in the doorway of a Hobbit house, see the Party Tree and stand by the gate to Bilbo’s house ‘Bag End’ overlooking the whole set to the hills in the distance. Before your feast in the Party Marquee (which is included in the price) you cross the bridge by the mill to go into the Green Dragon Inn where you can enjoy a complimentary ale, cider or ginger beer.
After lunch in the Party Marquee we’ll give you a $10 souvenir voucher to spend at the Hobbiton gift shop before we head back to Auckland, arriving back mid-afternoon before the traffic builds up.
Bush and Beach have been running tours from Auckland to Hobbiton movie set for over 10 years and work closely with Hobbiton to make sure you get the most out of your time at Hobbiton.
More information about the tour and how to book can be found by clicking here.
Best of Both Worlds City and Nature Tour
Let Bush and Beach take you on a day tour to experience the best of Auckland sightseeing. We combine and Auckland city tour in the morning with an afternoon nature tour to the black sand beach and rainforest at Piha – a day of variety and a great introduction to Auckland and New Zealand.
Your morning Auckland city tour is designed to explore the history and sights of the city. Discover the Māori history of the city and as see what makes our city a vibrant place to live. Auckland City is built around the beautiful Waitmata harbour and it is known as the ‘City of Sails’. This small group city tour includes stops at iconic landmarks such as The Auckland Domain, Mount Victoria in Devonport and Westhaven marina. There is also a stop at a cafe by a beautiful beach and lots of photo opportunities all day.
Your afternoon eco tour is spent in the Waitakere Ranges. In just 30 minutes you leave behind the bustle of the city and step into the tranquillity of the rainforest.
Travel to the Arataki Centre, an information centre built high on the ridge of the Waitakere Ranges. From here you get breathtaking panoramic views across the rainforest to Auckland’s two harbours. The visitors centre is also home to some traditional Māori carvings and your guide will talk about them and explain their significance for the area.
Continue on to the lush rainforest where you walk the easy tracks among giant tree ferns and view New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and silver ferns.
Move on to experience the power of the wild and rugged west coast. Feel the black sand of Piha beach beneath your feet as you stroll along one of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer. The perfect Auckland day trip.
During the afternoon we also include a New Zealand style afternoon tea including biscuits and tea and coffee or juice.
More information about the tour and how to book can be found by clicking here.
Bush and Beach are providing all conference delegates and their companions a 10% discount on their tours during the month of September, when tours are booked directly with them, using the promotional code IWPC2023. Bookings can be made by clicking here.
We’re a small team who are passionate about Auckland city as well as the joys of cycling. Getting round on an electric bicycle is one of the most fun things to do in Auckland. It’s the best way to interact with the sights, in a way that standard tours simply can’t deliver. And with the extensive range of our electric bikes, we make sure you see as much as possible on your tour. We want to leave you with great memories and with plenty of options to get the best out of your time in here. Whether you are new to Auckland, a returning visitor, or a fellow resident who wants to rediscover Auckland, we’ll give you new and exciting insight into this amazing city.
We recommend:
Our original and most popular city loop tour. See the best of Auckland by electric bike, without breaking a sweat!
There are plenty of fun things to do in Auckland – a city built on and around volcanoes (now extinct!). We’ve got great sightseeing opportunities throughout the city, and we’ve got hills! Our electric bikes are the perfect way to experience a day tour around the centre of Auckland – they have the power and the range to take you on this extended loop of the city, in complete comfort.
On this guided tour with Power to the Pedal, we’ll take in the iconic sights of Auckland city as well as visit some of our favourite neighbourhoods and parks. We’ll take you to amazing places that are off limits to the tour buses. And getting off the regular tour routes is something you really must do in Auckland to appreciate it diversity. This tour is the perfect way to orient yourself in the city and to discover places to explore further during your visit. We want to show you a lot and don’t believe in rushing things. Given how much there is to see, we wouldn’t want this tour to be any shorter! We ride at a leisurely pace on the electric bikes so you can soak up the beautiful environment that makes Auckland one of the most liveable cities in the world.
As locals, our tour guides will give you an insight into what it’s like to live in this amazing city. We’ll take you through the past, the present and into the future of Auckland.
The majority of the ride will be on dedicated cycleways or on quiet neighbourhood roads. We are of course riding in a city, so inevitably there will be traffic on some of the roads and you will need to be confident riding a bike in that environment. You will be carefully led by your experienced guide at all times.
More information about the tour and how to book can be found by clicking here.
Power to the Pedal are providing all conference delegates and their companions a 10% discount on their tours during the month of September, when tours are booked directly with them, using the promotional code IWPC2023. Bookings can be made by clicking here.
Our incredible eco safari direct from downtown Auckland offers breathtaking encounters with marine wildlife. Join us for a New Zealand whale watching tour and see whales, dolphins, seals, rare seabirds and more!
New Zealand’s most unique whale and dolphin watching safari departs direct from downtown Auckland. Enjoy a 4.5-hour cruise on board the luxurious ‘Dolphin Explorer’ as we explore the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in search of encounters with its amazing and diverse marine wildlife.
Your safari departs from the Viaduct Basin, just a short walk from all the major hotels and hostels in Auckland Central. Jump on board our 65-foot (20-metre) catamaran and settle in as we head out to explore the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, one of the most abundant and diverse marine parks in the world.
From our large open deck, enjoy views of famous Auckland landmarks like the Harbour Bridge, North Head and Devonport, and volcanic Rangitoto Island, as you watch out for orca and dolphins known to frequent the inner Waitematā Harbour.
As the crew provides knowledgeable commentary, our marine science experts conduct biological studies and invite you to join interactive research activities.
Because we’re venturing into a wild, natural environment, every trip is different and the marine wildlife we encounter varies from day to day. We typically encounter Bryde’s whales and common dolphins, but you may also meet pygmy blue whales, New Zealand fur seals, sharks, manta rays, turtles and up to 26 species of seabirds – including the little blue penguin.
As we return to Auckland, sit back, take advantage of our licensed café and bar (or pre-book our new picnic lunch option), and enjoy the island views. And if you’re ready to learn more, there’s an optional research presentation so you can learn more about the wildlife you’ve encountered during your safari.
More information about the tour and how to book can be found by clicking here.
See Auckland's top attractions with a 24 or 48 hour bus pass and hop on and off where you want. All passes include a free Devonport ferry ticket! Visit attractions including Kelly Tarlton's, the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Sky Tower.
The route covers downtown, central Auckland and waterfront highlights, including the Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery, Newmarket, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Village, Bastion Point and SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium.
Along the route, you will learn about the history of this diverse modern city and what makes Auckland one of the world’s most desirable places to live. The entertaining commentary is provided in English.
The tour circuit takes approximately 60 minutes to complete a full, non-stop loop.
Click here to be taken to the Auckland Explorer Bus Hop on Hop Off route.
Hop-on and hop-off at any of our dedicated Auckland Explorer Bus stops along the tour route, using your 24 or 48-hour pass.
Your ticket will include a unique QR code that you can show the driver every time you board the bus. Your driver will scan the QR code to validate your ticket.
The length of the tour is up to you! Your Auckland Explorer Bus tour can be as short as a one-hour sightseeing tour, or it can be all day (last tour departs Downtown Auckland at 4 pm, finishing at 5 pm).
Auckland Explorer Bus is a hop-on hop-off service, so you choose which attractions you’d like to hop off and visit and how long you would like to spend there. When you are ready to continue the tour, simply return to the bus stop and catch the next Auckland Explorer Bus.
More information and how to book can be found by clicking here.
The volcanic Rangitoto Island is one of the most iconic landmarks in Auckland's city skyline. Sitting majestically off the coast, Rangitoto’s distinctive symmetrical cone rises 260m over the Hauraki Gulf. Climb to the summit for epic views.
Rangitoto erupted from the sea approximately 600 years ago in a series of dramatic explosions. Two episodes 10 to 50 years apart are thought to have lasted for several years each. This makes Rangitoto the youngest island in the Hauraki Gulf and the last and largest volcano to be formed in the Auckland volcanic field. Exploring Rangitoto is a must do day out for locals and tourists alike. A gentle climb through lava fields will lead you to the summit in approximately one hour. Allow extra time to explore the lava caves on the way back, or see the historic bach community near the wharf.
Rangitoto Island is approximately 8km northeast of Auckland, a 25 minute sailing from downtown Auckland, with some sailings travelling via Devonport. Rangitoto is connected to Motutapu Island by a causeway, so you can walk between the two islands.
For more information about and how to travel to Rangitoto Island please click here.
Shopping
We have some fabulous
shopping opportunities in Auckland, we’d like to
recommend three incredible options here.
Commercial Bay is the new toast of Auckland, filled with an incredible retail offering as well as world-class dining and hospitality. Spend a day exploring everything that is on offer, and be prepared to head home with heavy shopping bags and a full stomach!
Click here to find out more about Commercial Bay.
Heart of the City have written a ’How to Spend the day at Commercial Bay’ article to help you plan your visit. Please click here to read the article.
Sylvia Park is New Zealand's largest shopping mall, located in Mount Wellington, six miles southeast of the city. It has more than 200 stores, including Zara and a flagship H&M store.
More information about Sylvia park can be found by clicking here.
Westfield Newmarket have a stellar line-up of international and local brands making it one of New Zealand’s premier retail and lifestyle destinations. It is home to Auckland’s first David Jones complete with local and international brands, Countdown, MECCA, Maje, Sandro, Country Road, Witchery, Trenery, Veronika Maine and first-to-market menswear label Politix to name a few. Farmers, Coco Republic, Kathmandu, Chemist Warehouse and Torpedo 7 and a stunning rooftop dining precinct , make up the Farmers side of the building. Fuel your shop with a bite to eat at The Eatery and 'The Market' on Level 3.
More information about Westfield Newmark can be found by clicking here.
Information about
Auckland’s public transport options can be found on the Auckland Transport
website. Please click here to find out more.
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