NEW ZEALAND WINE TOUR

This itinerary may be operated on a private or self-drive basis, for groups or individuals.
We would be pleased to customize the itinerary to give you extra nights in the wine regions,
and visit to other parts of the country to suit you time and interests.
Arrangements can be made with or without international flights, leaving the US two days ahead.

Wine and Food, Marlborough (Centre Stage of New Zealand)

New Zealand is rapidly emerging as a producer of fine wines and is a major exporter of meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables to the world. The raw materials are excellent and there are some marvelous restaurants and local delicacies.

DAY 1     ARRIVE AUCKLAND
Met and transferred to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Auckland features the views from Mt Eden, the Domain Gardens and Parnell Village, the excellent Maori and Pacific Islands Court at the Museum, and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. Or your may prefer to take the ferry to Waiheke Island to visit the wineries. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Auckland, 2 nights

DAY 2     THE WINERIES OF WEST AUCKLAND (L)
A full day tour of one of New Zealand's best wine producing regions. Though a lot of the grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown here, local wine makers also import grapes from the Hawkes Bay and Marlborough areas. Most of the vineyards were originally established in this area by immigrants from Europe. These include Corbans 1902, Babich 1916, Selaks 1934 and Soljans 1937. Lunch will be at a local cafe or winery, and in the afternoon a drive through the beautiful Waitakere Ranges.

DAY 3     TO WAITOMO & ROTORUA (D)
Drive (rental car or chauffeur driven) through the Waikato Valley, a major dairying and horse raising area, stopping for lunch and a guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves before going on on to Rotorua. This evening enjoy a hangi dinner and a concert of traditional Maori song and dance on a Marae. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Rotorua

DAY 4     TO NAPIER
This morning's sightseeing in Rotorua includes a guided tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts and crafts Institute, Rainbow Springs to see the huge trout and the rare kiwi bird, and the Agrodome for the popular sheep show. In the afternoon drive south through Taupo and across the Kaimanawa Ranges to the art deco city of Napier, center of the Hawkes Bay wine region. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Napier

DAY 5     TO WELLINGTON
This morning's wine tour includes a visit to a variety of wineries, which can be Te Mata Estate and Vidals, or other wineries of your choice. In the afternoon drive south to Wellington traveling to the Wairarapa where there are also some fine wines being produced, perhaps visit Palliser Estate and Te Kairanga wineries at Martinborough which produce fine Pinot Noirs. Evening free in Wellington, New Zealand's capital.
Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Wellington

DAY 6     TO BLENHEIM (L)
Depart Wellington by ferry, cruising across Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. The last part of the cruise through the Marlborough Sounds is especially scenic. Or take a plane to Blenheim, just a 40 minute flight.
The Marlborough Wine region is a short drive from Picton, have lunch at a winery and spend the afternoon tasting at selected wineries, such as Hunters and Cloudy Bay, known for Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs. Accommodation: boutique or first class hotel, Blenheim

DAY 7     TO CHRISTCHURCH
It's a 5 hour drive along the east coast to Christchurch. Perhaps stop at Kaikoura for a whale watch flight or cruise. Or visit a few of the Waipara wineries before reaching the city. Christchurch is often referred to as the Garden City because of its lovely parks and gardens. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Christchurch

DAY 8     TO QUEENSTOWN
A full day tour traveling across the Canterbury Plains then inland. At Tekapo see the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd. Opportunities for scenic flights over Mt Cook National Park where there are good views of the mighty Southern Alps (extra cost & weather permitting). Descend through the Lindis Pass to Central Otago and drive on into Queenstown. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights

DAY 9     AT QUEENSTOWN (D)
Morning sightseeing tour includes an aerial gondola excursion to Bob's Peak for panoramic views over the lake and mountains, a visit to quaint Arrowtown, and wine tasting at Gibbston Valley Winery. Stop at the Kawarau Bridge, the original AJ Hackett site to see the bungy jumping and a chance to have a go, if you dare! (extra cost) At 6.00pm board the vintage lake steamer TSS Earnslaw for a cruise to Walter Peak High Station for a farm show and dinner at the Homestead.

DAY 10     MILFORD SOUND (L)
This morning embark on a full day tour, traveling via Fiordland National Park. The scenery is breathtaking, with lofty mountains and deep valleys carved out by Ice Age glaciers. There are clear rushing mountain streams, leaping waterfalls and dense rainforest. At Milford Sound board the MV Milford Monarch for a cruise down the fiord. Seals and dolphins are often seen. Buffet lunch aboard. Return to Queenstown in the evening.

DAY 11     DEPART QUEENSTOWN
Transfer to airport to connect with your onward flight, or return to the US.   Or stay on for a few more nights in Queenstown.

WINE TOURS AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
PO Box 927136, San Diego Ca 92121-1736
Tel: 858-550 9696
e.mail: mike@winetoursaustralia-nz.com
In conjunction with Down Under Answers CST: 207623340

	DAY 1 ARRIVE AUCKLAND Met and transferred to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Auckland features the views from Mt Eden, the Domain Gardens and Parnell Village, the excellent Maori and Pacific Islands Court at the Museum, and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. Or your may prefer to take the ferry to Waiheke Island to visit the wineries. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Auckland, 2 nights

	DAY 2 THE WINERIES OF WEST AUCKLAND (L) A full day tour of one of New Zealand's best wine producing regions. Though a lot of the grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are grown here, local wine makers also import grapes from the Hawkes Bay and Marlborough areas. Most of the vineyards were originally established in this area by immigrants from Europe. These include Corbans 1902, Babich 1916, Selaks 1934 and Soljans 1937. Lunch will be at a local cafe or winery, and in the afternoon a drive through the beautiful Waitakere Ranges.

	DAY 3 TO WAITOMO & ROTORUA (D) Drive (rental car or chauffeur driven) through the Waikato Valley, a major dairying and horse raising area, stopping for lunch and a guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves before going on on to Rotorua. This evening enjoy a hangi dinner and a concert of traditional Maori song and dance on a Marae. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Rotorua

	DAY 4 TO NAPIER This morning's sightseeing in Rotorua includes a guided tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts and crafts Institute, Rainbow Springs to see the huge trout and the rare kiwi bird, and the Agrodome for the popular sheep show. In the afternoon drive south through Taupo and across the Kaimanawa Ranges to the art deco city of Napier, center of the Hawkes Bay wine region. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Napier

	DAY 5 TO WELLINGTON This morning's wine tour includes a visit to a variety of wineries, which can be Te Mata Estate and Vidals, or other wineries of your choice. In the afternoon drive south to Wellington traveling to the Wairarapa where there are also some fine wines being produced, perhaps visit Palliser Estate and Te Kairanga wineries at Martinborough which produce fine Pinot Noirs. Evening free in Wellington, New Zealand's capital. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Wellington

	DAY 6 TO BLENHEIM (L) Depart Wellington by ferry, cruising across Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. The last part of the cruise through the Marlborough Sounds is especially scenic. Or take a plane to Blenheim, just a 40 minute flight. The Marlborough Wine region is a short drive from Picton, have lunch at a winery and spend the afternoon tasting at selected wineries, such as Hunters and Cloudy Bay, known for Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs. Accommodation: boutique or first class hotel, Blenheim

	DAY 7 TO CHRISTCHURCH It's a 5 hour drive along the east coast to Christchurch. Perhaps stop at Kaikoura for a whale watch flight or cruise. Or visit a few of the Waipara wineries before reaching the city. Christchurch is often referred to as the Garden City because of its lovely parks and gardens. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Christchurch

	DAY 8 TO QUEENSTOWN A full day tour traveling across the Canterbury Plains then inland. At Tekapo see the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd. Opportunities for scenic flights over Mt Cook National Park where there are good views of the mighty Southern Alps (extra cost & weather permitting). Descend through the Lindis Pass to Central Otago and drive on into Queenstown. Accommodation: first class or deluxe hotel, Queenstown, 2 nights

	DAY 9 AT QUEENSTOWN (D) Morning sightseeing tour includes an aerial gondola excursion to Bob's Peak for panoramic views over the lake and mountains, a visit to quaint Arrowtown, and wine tasting at Gibbston Valley Winery. Stop at the Kawarau Bridge, the original AJ Hackett site to see the bungy jumping and a chance to have a go, if you dare! (extra cost) At 6.00pm board the vintage lake steamer TSS Earnslaw for a cruise to Walter Peak High Station for a farm show and dinner at the Homestead.

	DAY 10 MILFORD SOUND (L) This morning embark on a full day tour, traveling via Fiordland National Park. The scenery is breathtaking, with lofty mountains and deep valleys carved out by Ice Age glaciers. There are clear rushing mountain streams, leaping waterfalls and dense rainforest. At Milford Sound board the MV Milford Monarch for a cruise down the fiord. Seals and dolphins are often seen. Buffet lunch aboard. Return to Queenstown in the evening.

	DAY 11 DEPART QUEENSTOWN Transfer to airport to connect with your onward flight, or return to the US. Or stay on for a few more nights in Queenstown.