Classic New Zealand Wine Trail 8 Days – North & South Islands *From $2,699 per person (land only) Share
Experience a feast for the senses.Discover unspoiled landscapes, fascinating cultures and extraordinary people from artists, winemakers, and chefs, to poets and farmers.Visit Wellington, a food lover’s paradise, with cosmopolitan flair.Sample the tantalizing regional wine and food of Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa – with fresh harvests, rich and subtle flavors, delectable cuisine and premier wines such as Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc, and Wairarapa’s Pinot Noir.Go slow and savour......The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail!
Day 1: Napier – Art Deco architecture / Vineyard Dining Hawke’s Bay is the country’s oldest winemaking region and is New Zealand’s leading producer of award winning red wines, including Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon and blends. Hawke’s Bay is also home to a world-class concentration of Art Deco architecture, fresh local produce and artisan food producers, complemented by a vibrant arts scene and a rich Maori culture.With over 40 wineries and wonderful weekend farmers' markets to visit, discover why Hawke's Bay Wine Country is the leading food and wine destination in New Zealand.
Spend some time today enjoying the architecture of Napier, which was redesigned in Art Deco style after the devastating Hawke’s Bay earthquake in 1931. Nowhere else can you see such a variety and concentration of buildings in Art Deco style.
Tonight we recommend dining at Terroir Restaurant, set in a unique circular building, with breathtaking views of Te Mata Peak.Terroir has a rustic and casual approach, specializing in rotisserie and wood-fired cuisine.Fine glassware, cutlery and crockery set the scene for an exciting country experience.After dinner, return home to your lodge, nestled in the picturesque valley of Omarunui.Each private guest room has a spectacular view overlooking a vineyard and the expansive landscape.Imagine the ambience of Tuscany amongst the fresh green hills of New Zealand countryside!
Day 2: Hawkes Bay
Free day to explore the wineries.
Day 3: Napier – Martinborough Take a leisurely drive through Tararua enjoying the impact of early Danish and Norwegian settlers to small country towns such as Dannevirke. Stop in Norsewood at the New Zealand Natural Clothing shop for quality outdoor knitted clothing including possum, alpaca and merino wool. Take in the relaxed country atmosphere and warm hospitality. Further South the colonial village of Greytown offers a delightful shopping precinct for chocolate, arts, crafts and memorabilia. Enjoy dining at any of the region's award winning cellar-list restaurants. Your destination is Martinborough, a boutique wine village renowned for pinot noir, with several wineries within walking distance of the village centre. Drive an easy circuit through pastoral landscapes to outlying vineyard clusters and charming small villages. Sample olive oil and local cheeses and enjoy the extensive range of local wines at The Martinborough Wine Centre.
Your accommodation tonight is a contemporary country estate, just a few minutes’ walk from the village, making it easy for you to enjoy the food and wine of the region on foot.
Day 4: Martinborough - Wellington A short drive today brings you to Wellington - the compact capital city known for its vibrant arts and cultural scene and rich heritage. Your centrally located boutique hotel is located opposite New Zealand's National Museum - Te Papa and the waterfront. Enjoy a walk around the harbour to Oriental Parade, visit galleries and shop in Lambton Quay.
Home to some of New Zealand's finest chefs, Wellington offers a range of cuisine and a wide selection of restaurants in the central city for dining this evening.
Day 5: Wellington – Walking Gourmet Spend the morning discovering the culinary side of Wellington through coffee, food and wine. Wellington’s so compact, it’s ideal for this walking tour of the vibrant food scene that the city has to offer. Experience coffee roasting, explore top specialty food stores, sampling as you go, and culminate the experience by enjoying a light, three course tasting lunch with wines at a top Wellington restaurant.
This evening you may like to indulge in a degustation meal with matched wines at one of Wellington’s finest dining establishments.
Day 6: Ferry / Picton & Blenheim Today you will take the Interislander Ferry across Cook Strait to the Marlborough region renowned for herbaceous sauvignon blanc. This afternoon, you may take part in some independent wine tasting at renowned wineries such as Hunters, Seresin, Alan Scott and Cloudy Bay. Alternatively, you can settle into your luxury accommodation, located on a 10 acre Pinot Noir vineyard in the heart of the wine country, and get acquainted with your fantastic New Zealand hosts, John and Robyn. Robyn is one of New Zealand’s most successful foodies. She has worked as a food editor for 22 years and has published numerous cookbooks.
Tonight you may like to dine at Herzog Luxury Restaurant and Winery, where an award winning global team of master chefs will spoil you with delicious market fresh cuisine served in the most decadent environment with personal service to make you feel totally pampered.
Day 7: Blenheim – Greenshell Mussel & Wine OR Queen Charlotte Track Walk Today you’ll experience the three spectacular icons of Marlborough - Sauvignon Blanc, the Marlborough Sounds and Greenshell Mussels are combined in an engaging day. Take in the very best that the region has to offer with a visit to some superb local wineries in the morning then through to the Havelock Marina for lunch and the afternoon Greenshell Mussel Cruise (operates 1 Nov – 31 Mar only).
OR
Enjoy a guided walk along the Queen Charlotte Track from Ship Cove to Endeavour Inlet (8.5 miles - five hours approx.). The bush is a mixture of stunning beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track which offers stunning across the Marlborough Sounds. Your informative local guide will explain the European and pre-European connections of this significant historical area as well as provide detailed information on flora and fauna. A gourmet lunch is included. Alternatively, kayaking is also an option for today – please see our website for other options.
Day 8: Fly home or extend your trip! Fly home from Blenheim or extend your stay with some fabulous South Island highlights. Less than 2 hours south of Blenheim is Kaikoura, the perfect place for whale watching, and continuation on to Christchurch. Another choice is to travel west to Abel Tasman National Park. Contact us for information on extending or customizing your trip!
Package includes:
Interisland ferry from Wellington to Picton;
7 nights 4 1/2 & 5 star accommodation (based on double occupancy);
Greenshell Mussel & Wine OR Queen Charlotte Track Tour;
This itinerary can be customized to suit.
Not Included:
Airfares - contact us for a quote;
Optional sightseeing experiences;
Meals (unless specified);
Travel Insurance
* Advertised pricing - All itineraries are subject to seasonal price variations. Note, travel over the December / January time period will incur high season surcharges.
