Established wine regions are found on both the northern end of the North Island to the southern end South Island, so a serious wine tour in fact covers most of the country. The range of wines is outstanding in terms of quality and the vastly differing terrain and climate makes for a diverse range too.
For this wine tour we have selected good quality accommodation throughout the tour and there are many superb meals too at New Zealand’s top winery restaurants.
We begin our tour in New Zealand’s largest harbour city, Auckland. Auckland holds over half of New Zealand’s population and is a modern with excellent restaurants, shops and cafés. We visit West Auckland for the Kumeu and Huapai regions and enjoy a day trip to Waiheke Island. Leaving Auckland, heading south, we will cover all the important wine regions, finally arriving in Queenstown on the South Island at the end of the tour. We will drop in on several smaller, isolated areas en route.
Initially to Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake, (via the Bay of Plenty), where we stay right on the shores of the Lake. For our next wine region, Hawke’s Bay, we will stay in the Art Deco city of Napier. Much of Napier was destroyed by fire in 1931. A concentrated programme of rebuilding in the style of the 1930s was undertaken, resulting in a wonderful array of buildings in a variety of architectural styles - Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission, and above all Art Deco. Napier’s Art Deco today is seen to be unique, indeed, it is perhaps the quintessential Art Deco town and our stay will coincide with the Annual Art Deco Festival.
To the South of Napier, at the foot of North Island, we visit Martinborough, one of New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir regions, where there are several outstanding exponents of this “difficult” grape. We then have a day in the capital, Wellington, to explore the museums, botanical gardens and shops.
We cross from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island by ferry. Then on to Marlborough, NZ’s most famous wine region and renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc. Here we spend a couple of days exploring the region’s top producers, including, of course, Cloudy Bay.
From Marlborough we head down the coast on the Coastal Pacific Train to Christchurch where we spend a few days visiting wineries in the area; there is also time to explore Christchurch itself, which is very reminiscent of an English town.
From Christchurch we fly to Queenstown and New Zealand’s fastest growing wine region - Otago - which is producing some stunning Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and lately Pinot Gris. The dramatically sited vineyards have the snow covered New Zealand Alps as a backdrop. The tour ends here in Queenstown, the adventure sports capital of the world.
Extend your holiday
To the beautiful Bay of Islands; explore the glaciers of Mount Cook or fly home via Hong Kong. Please contact the supplier for more information.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Scheduled flights from Heathrow-Auckland (Air NZ - very good leg room in economy)
- All taxes, 13 nights 3*/4* motels/hotels, 12 meals with wines, breakfasts, visits & tastings, plus train, internal flight and ferry crossing and Wine Guide.
Business Class & Premium economy upgrades are available
Travel: Scheduled flights from Heathrow-Auckland
Sole Occupancy: £400.00
Deposit: £450.00
Room Upgrade: £300
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Food & Wine
Archeology/History
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