Description
Arrive to the rolling hills of the Bay of Islands where you can spend your days cruising around the islands on a luxury motor launch, dive into the sea to pluck your lunch from the seabed or take the boat further afield and spend your day deep-sea fishing in an area where there is an abundance of big fish. Finish the day off by wandering around the stunning town of Russell, home to many boutique galleries and shops, before returning to the fabulous Kauri Cliffs where a sumptuous dinner will be waiting for you.
Depart the Bay of Islands for a fabulous drive through the beautiful countryside to Rotorua. Staying at Treetops Lodge and Country Estate is a fabulous experience and it is a wonderful place to explore this wild, green corner of New Zealand. Spend your days fishing in the beautiful clear waters and after a successful day’s fishing, enjoy your fish freshly prepared for you by the lodge’s chef or walk through the grounds with one of the chefs for an insight into the local indigenous produce used in Maori cuisine.
Hawkes Bay is one of New Zealand’s biggest wine regions and so you will spend your time sampling some world-class wine and visiting a beautiful winery for an outstanding lunch. Hawkes Bay is not only well known for having some of the best vineyards in the world, but it is also full of world class chefs serving some of the best food you will find in New Zealand – this area really is a gastronomic’s dream. If the wine tasting and fabulous food has taken its toll, relax at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers where you can lie by the pool, play a round of golf or walk to the Gannet colony to work up an appetite for your gourmet degustation dinner.
From Hawkes Bay, drive along the scenic Classic New Zealand Wine Trail through to Wellington, where you will drive over the stunning Rimutaka Ranges to Wharekauhau. Sitting on a cliff top above Palliser Bay, Wharekauhau is ideally situated to explore the Wairarapa Valley, with its award winning wines, cheeses, olives and much more. This stunning lodge serves up world class food and wine in the most rugged of New Zealand settings. Why not treat yourself to a short helicopted flight back to Wellington for your onward trip to the South Island?
Fly to Queenstown in the South Island where you will spend 3 days at the truly stunning Blanket Bay. Set in a wonderfully remote area of this beautiful country, you can relax at the fabulous lodge or enjoy some time in nearby Queenstown, where you can experience one or two of the vast selection of activities on offer - from bungy jumping to river boarding. Alternatively, stroll along the edge of Lake Wakatipu before enjoying a sumptuous meal at one of Queenstown’s many incredible restaurants. Why not end the day with a relaxing spa treatment at Blanket Bay, overlooking the Remarkables Mountains and the lake as the sun sets.
From here, journey to Christchurch, a fabulous city full of wonderful boutiques and delicious restaurants - this is another food lover’s paradise. Take a day out of your food trail and enjoy a scenic train journey to the isolated West Coast and chug your way through the snow capped mountains - this is a truly beautiful journey where you will see New Zealand’s natural beauty at its best.
End this fabulous holiday in Auckland and spend your final day taking in the sights of this buzzing city and its surroundings either by foot or even air. Learn about the traditional Maori history with a local guide who will take you to fascinating and imaginative places. In the evening, relax at Mollies, a unique city hotel full of antiques and wonderful art. Have a drink on the balcony overlooking the harbour before venturing out for your last night of exquisite Pacific Rim cuisine.
Guide price
£8,600
per person
£8,600 Per person for 19 nights, based on 2 people sharing, including return flights to Auckland and all internal flights, car hire and some meals. All relevant special offers will be included.
Itinerary
Location and directions
New Zealand
