The Best of New Zealand Wine Tour
Love wine, love to discover new destinations?
Then you have found heaven. Our New Zealand wine tour will tantalise your taste buds, serve you up our fine cuisine, and convince you that you are enjoying the best glass of vino that has ever passed your lips. And you will be smiling because you have truly experienced New Zealand, its’ fine wine, its’ dramatic beauty and unique adventure destinations.
Your knowledgeable guide is a big fan of wine and its style within New Zealand, so you can be assured of visiting wineries of quality, both amongst our top international labels and our locally produced premium boutique wineries.
With premium accommodation, personal driver/guide, all breakfasts, wine tastings and vineyard lunches included, this New Zealand wine tour is a must do for the discerning wine lover and traveller. So go on, enjoy!
Start / finish Auckland 10 Nights / 11 Days
Day 1. Auckland – Waiheke Island
At your arrival in Auckland you will be met and welcomed to New Zealand by your driver and guide. We begin our wine tour, taking a short ferry ride to beautiful Waiheke Island just 30 mins from Auckland city. Time to relax and unwind after your journey, this island is situated on the stunning Hauraki Gulf and is a haven for artisans of fine wine, food and art works.
Wine tour includes: ferry to Waiheke Island and welcome dinner.
Accommodation: boutique premium lodge
Day 2. Waiheke Island
Today we begin our wine tour of this renown region. Praised for its Syrah and Cabernet blends we visit 4-5 wineries, including Mudbrick, Passage Rock, Goldwater and Te Whau sampling the very best the island has to offer. Lunch is included at one of the vineyard wineries as we enjoy the fabulous views and delicious wine of the region.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, tastings and lunch
Accommodation: boutique premium lodge
Day 3. Waiheke Island to Rotorua
This morning we depart back to the mainland, and continue south to Rotorua the cultural and geothermal heart of New Zealand. Visiting this region would not be complete without a visit to the Wai-o-tapu geothermal park and experience this spectacular volcanic landscape.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, ferry transfers, entry Wai-o-tapu geothermal area.
Accommodation: Luxury Hotel
Day 4. Rotorua to Napier
Departing Rotorua, we will drive the scenic route through geyser country to Lake Taupo, the largest lake in the North Island before continuing onto Napier via beautiful lush rain forests and ancient rugged landscapes. Arriving in Napier early afternoon, we have time for a tasting at Church Road winery before we will take a tour of this beautiful beach-side city renowned for its art-deco themed architecture. Evening free.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, driving tour from Rotorua to Napier
Accommodation: premium lodge
Day 5. Napier wine country – wine region: Hawke’s Bay
Discover the second largest producing wine region in New Zealand. The Hawke’s Bay is home to some incredibly powerful reds and elegant chardonnays. Today we visit 4 or 5 wineries including Trinity Hill in the Gimblett Gravels, the immensely poplular Craggy Range, Clearview Estate by the sea and Ngatarawa vineyards. We will also stop in at the Te Mata Cheese company to try a selection of their delicious cheeses. So get your drinking shoes on as we sample and slurp our way around a supreme collection of New Zealand’s finest wineries and enjoy lunch at a vineyard restaurant.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, wine tastings and lunch
Accommodation: premium lodge
Day 6. Napier to Queenstown
Today we will depart for the South Island and fly from Napier to Queenstown. Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is also home to some of the world’s finest Pinot Noir and cool climate white wine varieties. Today is yours free to explore this resort town nestled amongst the spectacular Remarkables mountain range and beautiful Lake Wakatipu.
Wine tour includes: flight from Napier to Queenstown
Accommodation: boutique private hotel
Day 7. Queenstown and Gibbston Valley wine country
We start the morning with a choice of two of Gibbston valleys outstanding wineries, Chard Farm or Peregrine, then to the Amisfield wine company for their award winning Bistro lunch and tasting. After lunch there is plenty of time to explore the beautifully historic Arrowtown with its boutique shops and artisan galleries.
Your accommodation tonight is Aoturoa luxury villa, surrounded by mountain, river and vineyard views. Tonight you will experience the ‘dinner with the winemakers’, a personal dinner with the owners of Pisa Range Estate and experience their award winning Pinot Noir matched with delicious food and a tour of their vineyard.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, bistro lunch, wine tastings, dinner with the wine makers, and vineyard tour
Accommodation: 5 Star High country villa
Day 8. Central Otago to Lake Tekapo – wine region: Central Otago
After breakfast we depart for Bannockburn. This sub- region of Central Otago is reknown for some of the finest Pinot Noir produced in New Zealand. Mt Difficulty, Akarua and a surprise winery visit to top the list for the day. Lunch will be at one of these beautiful vineyard restaurants. From Bannockburn our wine tour takes us north via New Zealand’s most stunning blue glacial lakes and views of white capped Mount Cook, our highest peak at 3754 m.
Arriving in Lake Tekapo late afternoon, there is plenty of time for a visit to the Alpine Springs and Spa hot pools where you can soak away any aches with a sauna, steam and hot pools entry. Enjoy the lake and mountain views from these glacial fed hot pools.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, lunch at vineyard restaurant, wine tastings, and entry to hot springs
Accommodation: 4-5 star resort hotel
Day 9. Lake Tekapo to Kaikoura – wine region: Waipara
We depart after breakfast, and continue north to the home of Riesling and aromatics. Waipara is located 45 min north of Christchurch. Our first stop on our wine tour is the famous Pegasus Bay, where their award winning range of wines and dedication to excellence have stood the test of time. Tastings and lunch are included within these beautiful surroundings, before driving to the bountiful coastal town of Kaikoura. Your accommodation tonight will be at a luxurious apartment a stones throw from the beach, including a delicious 3 course dinner prepared at the well reviewed Green Dolphin restaurant.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, lunch at Pegasus Bay, wine tastings, 3 course dinner
Accommodation: 5 star apartment
Day 10. Kaikoura to Blenheim – wine region: Marlborough
Departing after a leisurely breakfast we drive a short distance via the coastal highway to the home of new world Sauvignon Blanc, the variety that put New Zealand on the wine lovers map. Wineries including Auntsfield, where we will take a walking tour through the vineyard and discover this regions first winery. Seresin Estate, discover why and how biodynamics plays an important role in the making of their superb wines. During the day we fit in a relaxed lunch at Highfield Estate, as we have the opportunity to try many other styles of world class wines, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, dessert wine and more Pinot Noir!
Wine tour includes: breakfast, lunch, wine tastings
Accommodation: 5 star vineyard retreat
Day 11. Blenheim to Auckland
This morning is your departure flight back to Auckland and our tour farewell.
Wine tour includes: breakfast, flight to Auckland.
Book this tour or contact us for more information about this tour