Auckland never fails to turn on the charm, as you’ll discover while exploring the city at your leisure before meeting your Travel Director and fellow adventure seekers for a welcome drink tonight.

Hit the road this morning for a scenic sojourn to the Bay of Islands. This pocket of the country deserves its name – there are more than 140 subtropical islets off the coast here, lined with blissful undeveloped and unpeopled beaches. It’s undeniably beautiful, but it also holds a special historical significance; this is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, between Captain William Hobson and Māori chiefs, officially denoting New Zealand as a member of the Commonwealth. Your guide at the Treaty Grounds, quite possibly a descendant of one of the original signatories, will explain the importance of the site, while pointing out the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe and a carved meeting house. These are just some of the Māori artefacts that characterise this part of the north coast.