New Zealand Food, Wine, Natural Beauty

Highlights of New Zealand Food, Wine, Natural Beauty

• Discover dramatic natural scenery of New Zealand – from Gisbon Wine Valley to the blue waters of the Bay of Islands.
• Enjoy a private VIP tour of vineyards at artists workshops. Combined with lots of wine tasting and food pairing.
• Take an in-depth journey to discover Te Papa’s taonga (Maori cultural treasures).
• Partake in a scenic helicopter tour over a landscape immortalized in such films as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
• Savor local foods in a country that is rapidly becoming known as a foodie world destination.

Day 1, 2 Auckland

Your New Zealand food, wine, natural beauty adventure begins in Auckland.

Half Day Auckland City Sightseeing Excursion *4hrs

• Keep away from the masses and explore Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) with your local guide. Your guide will show you the most iconic highlights of Auckland as well as hidden treasures away from the crowds including beautiful beaches, panoramic views of several volcanoes and the Auckland Domain. Experience the very best of this beautiful city with its spectacular ocean vistas, ancient volcanoes, lush green parkland, iconic landmarks, tranquil harbourside bays and a historic picturesque marine village. You’ll see why Auckland is regarded as such a beautiful city that’s why it is regularly voted one of the most liveable cities in the world with an outstanding quality of life. Enjoy some of the best viewpoints over the beautiful Waitemata Harbour, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland’s icon, Rangitoto as the youngest and largest volcano in the Auckland Volcanic Field. Drive across the Harbour Bridge, spanning sparkling blue waters dotted with white sails, and explore Devonport, the picturesque North Shore marine village nestled in the shadow of historic Mount Victoria with great cafés and boutiques. Return to your Auckland City accommodation after exploring what makes Auckland so special and unique.
• For Lord of the Ring aficionados visit the Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tour. Experience the real Middle-earth with an informative and entertaining tour of the Lord of the Rings’ Hobbiton ilming location near Matamata. There are spectacular views across the Kaimai Ranges from the rolling green hills of the movie set, which is still a working sheep farm. Here you can relax and soak up the unique atmosphere! Your guide will escort you through the 10 acre site recounting fascinating details of how the Hobbiton set was created.
• Other optional activities include Wahike island, America’s cup boat experience, hop-on-hop off buses.

Suggested accommodations: In town Sofitel. Slightly off the beaten path with stunning views Azure Lodge

Day 3, 4 Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is an excellent option for nature lovers. Your visit will include wildlife and heritage reserved that can be comfortably explored on foot. Known for beaches and quiet blue waters for kayaking, bike tracks, and heritage trails, the Bay of Islands is a perfect escape into a serene world of the southern hemisphere. Also available are private sailing excursions that you will never forget through the many islands in this region.

Suggested accommodations: The Landings

Day 5, 6 Taupo/Rotorua area

Choose any or all of the following.

• Thrilling White Island and Mount Tarawera Helicopter Safari. Landing on and explore two of New Zealand’s most iconic volcanoes “Mount Tarawera and White Island”. The contrast between the two couldn’t be more amazing, from the sights, sounds and smells of the active crater floor at “White Island” to the heights of Mount Tarawera‘s majestic summit. You will. be able to walk across the island’s wild, lunar landscape with active geothermal steam vents, bubbling mud pools and the sombre remains of an ill-fated sulfur mining factory destroyed by a lahar. (half day activity.).
• Visit the beautiful lake and the region surrounded by stunning natural and unique environments. You might like to explore Whakarewarewa Forest, known to locals as ‘The Redwoods’, a 5600ha playground perfect for horse riders, mountain bikers, walkers and hikers with magnificent stands of towering native and exotic trees. The Redwood Treewalk, Rotorua’s newest eco-tourism attraction, offers breath-taking views and it comes to life with a magical light spectacle (half to full day activity).
• Enjoy a privately guided tour of two of the most popular geothermal parks in the Rotorua area,Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Te Puia. You will encounter bubbling mud, pools of boiling water still used for cooking, and stunning geysers. The Pōhutu geyser is the star of the show. At Te Puia you can also see live kiwi close up and learn how we protect these extraordinary endangered birds. As you wander through our lush native bush you can learn how we use native plants for food, medicine, and handcrafts (full day activity).
• Tarawera Falls Guided Hike 4hrs 30mins . Your local guide will meet you at your hotel this morning and you will depart by water taxi to enjoy your guided hike to Tarawera Falls. The hike to the Tarawera Falls is an gentle hike /walk of about 2 hours. Start by following the Tarawera river at its source. Tuis, tomtits, fantails and kereru are the native birds found in this area. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about contemporary Maori culture and your guide will touch on the history, stories and legends of the people of this region – the people of the Te Arawa canoe. Your guide will talk about some of the flora and fauna of the river hike and the way in which these relate back to Maori perspectives and their connection to the natural world. The river eventually heads underground and then surges as a 65 metre waterfall from fissures in a large rock cliff face that was formed 11000 years ago as an abrupt end of an ancient lava flow.

Suggested accommodations: Solitaire Lodge

Day 7, 8 Hawke’s Bay

Enjoy a personalized tour with delicious food, wine, art and culture set in beautiful rural Hawke’s Bay. Start your day taking in the breathtaking panoramic views from Te Mata Peak, looking over the Pacific Ocean, and back over the rolling hills of Central Hawke’s Bay. Wander through the expansive gardens of Birdwoods Gallery & Cafe and admire the art while enjoying Devonshire Tea. Take a private walking tour of Napier City. Since the Art Deco Trust began showing the city’s Art Deco treasures to tourists in 1985, thousands of people each year have experienced Napier’s fascinating heritage and have been captivated by the dramatic story of this city’s rebirth in the vibrant 1930s. Experience the amazing views from Napier Hill, Napier, stop for a photo opportunity of the famous National Tobacco Company Building, the most photographed Art Deco facade in New Zealand, and drive through the picturesque port of Ahuriri.

Suggested accommodations: Craggy Lodge

Day 9, 10 Mount Cook and Akori National Park

Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve gives you an opportunity to explore the dark sky. Here you’ll see the Milky Way Galaxy, stars and planets through the telescope or using astrophotography skills.

Recommended activities include:

• The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
• Mount Cook National Park
• Mount Cook Village
• Tasman Glacier Boat Cruise

Suggested accommodations: Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 11, 12 Queenstown

Queenstown has so much to offer that we could suggest anywhere from 2 to 5 days to really experience it all. For true Lord of the Rings fans, this trip really does take you There and Back again. This scenic sightseeing tour includes recognizable filming locations and stunning natural scenery. The Glenorchy Safari takes you from Queenstown to Glenorchy stopping at breath-taking viewpoints.

Recommended: Private wine and art tour of Gibson Valley with lunch stop and wine pairing. The Gibbston Valley burgeoning wine region is the Southern most wine producing region in the world. Here extreme conditions have led to pioneering wine making, consistently superb wines, and worldwide recognition. Today your guide will share wonderful insights into the history of the industry and the challenges facing local winemakers and some of the most famous wineries in the region such as Gibbston Valley, Peregrine Winery, Chard Farm Winery, Mount Edward Winery, Mount Difficulty Wines and many others.

Or if you want something more active with breath taking views, hike up beneath the Gondola on the Remarkables Mountain range. More sedentary, take the Gondola up the mountain, enjoy the views, and return by Gondola.

For adrenaline junkies try the uniquely breathtaking white-water ride on the Shotover River. You’ll skim along the river at high speed, fishtailing into 360-degree spins. Winds permitting, I highly recommend the paragliding over the city of Queenstown. It’s a thrill.

Best way to see Milford Sound – weather permitting, is to fly over the sound. However, the wind conditions vary and flights get clearance only travel 35% of the time.

Day 13 Homeward Bound

Homeward bound or extend your trip to other areas of New Zealand or onto Australia.