Wine Country Tour
This 15-night Wine Country Tour is a fascinating opportunity to see some of New Zealand’s best known wine areas, as well as some beautiful less well known but up-and-coming areas.
Waikeke Island – Hawke’s Bay – Martinborough – Nelson – Blenheim – Christchurch – Queenstown
Day One To Waiheke Island
Arrive in Auckland and then transfer over to Waiheke Island for two nights.
Day Two Waiheke Island
A leisurely day to explore this beautiful island of farmland, olive groves and vineyards as well as spectacular views of the ocean and neighbouring islands and coastline. There are about 12 vineyards on Waiheke Island that are in production but much of the wine does not leave the island or gets sold well in advance. Mudbrick is the place for lunch to try its own wines and excellent food under a pergola on a deck overlooking the vines.
Day Three To Hawke’s Bay
Transfer back to Auckland for the flight to Napier. Collect your hire-car and drive to the Hawke’s Bay vineyards around Hastings and Havelock North.
Days Four and Five Hawke’s Bay
Explore the wineries of this traditionally dry and sunny region, famous for its chardonnay but also producing cabernet sauvignon. Some of the most established in the region include Mission Estate and Te Mata Estate and have been joined by more recent ventures including Sileni Estates (also with a good restaurant, wine education centre and shop), CJ Pask winery, Black Barn and Craggy Range. Many offer visits and tastings and some have excellent restaurants. Perhaps also try to visit Clearview Estate, a vineyard on the coast that produces small quantities of hand-made wines.
Day Six To Martinborough
Drive through the rolling farming country southwards to the Wairarapa region and the pretty town of Martinborough.
Day Seven Martinborough
The beauty of the day here is that most of Martinborough’s 20 or so excellent wineries are within walking distance of the town centre. Pinot noir is the grape here and whilst this is one of New Zealand’s newest wine producing areas, the quality of the wine from this area is superb.
Day Eight To Nelson
An easy drive into Wellington, taking time to stop in the city centre to visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and then make the short flight of about 20 minutes over to Nelson.
Day Nine Nelson area
Amid a mild climate and a traditionally fruit growing area, the vineyards around Nelson are now becoming more established. The winemakers here specialise in wines that respond to cooler growing conditions such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling and pinot noir. Some of the wineries to visit include Woollaston Estates, Neudorf Vineyards and Seifried.
Day Ten To Marlborough wine country and Blenheim
Enjoy a pretty drive today as you head along the coast passing Nelson and then through wooded hills skirting the edge of the Marlborough Sounds near Havelock (stop here for a lunch of local mussels).
Day Eleven and Twelve Blenheim
Spend two days at the vastly important Marlborough wine region amid the dry country of the Wairau valley around Blenheim. Vineyards stretch for miles with today easily recognisable names such as Montana, Hunter’s, Cloudy Bay and Stoneleigh. There are in fact about 50 wineries in this area, many of them producing the sauvignon blanc associated with the region but also chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon. Sparkling wines are also produced here with Le Brun specialising in méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines. The Montana Brancott Visitor Centre covers all aspects of wine production.
Day Thirteen To Christchurch
A full day’s drive today, allowing time for a lunch stop in Kaikoura. The scenery is breathtaking here as snow-clad mountains seem to rise straight up from the sea across the bay. This is quite a spectacle as you see seals basking in front of you on the beach, the waters of the Pacific gleaming in the sun and the snowy mountain peaks forming a backdrop to the vista. Continue south, skirting the Waipara wine country and enter the flat farmland of the fertile Canterbury Plains before reaching Christchurch.
Day Fourteen To Queenstown
Fly the 40 minutes’ or so from Christchurch to Queenstown today. Marvel at the Southern Alps and snow-capped Mount Cook in the distance.
Day Fifteen Otago wine country
A day to take in the spectacular scenery of Queenstown with its lake and mountain surround, as well as explore the world’s southernmost wine producing area, about 40 minutes’ drive from Queenstown. Gibbston Valley wines is one of the best known and produces pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris.
Day Sixteen Back to Christchurch or Auckland
Leave by plane today from Queenstown back to Christchurch or Auckland.