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12 Day Wine Trail Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough and Queenstown Central Otago.

Day 1  Arrive Auckland. 

Transfer to your hotel, The Heritage. Depending upon time of arrival you can have the afternoon free or an optional sightseeing tour of Auckland.

Day 2  The Great Auckland Food Tour. 

All inclusive price covers food, entry fees and wine tastings plus a la carte café lunch, plus complimentary mineral water and goodies bag per pax. No added fees or costs. 

9.30 Pick-up/drop-off (inner City) in a climate controlled 9-seater coach. 

9.35 KAPITI CHEESES - New Zealand's most prestigious award-winning cheese producer. Tastings of cheeses and ice creams including Kapiti's award-winning ice creams with flavours like: Port & Prune, Fig & Honey, Cardamom & Orange. Large range of other NZ Deli goodies (NZ Saffron, relishes, pickles, preserves). Famous Kapiti Cheeses - 'Kikurangi' triple cream blue; 'Brick' washed rind Trappist style, 'Aged Port Wine Cheddar', 'Mount Hector' goat's milk cheese (Supreme Champion - NZ Cheese Awards 2002). 

10.00 SANFORD’S state of the art, new Fish Market – sashimi & sushi; live and fresh fish from New Zealand’s pure coastal waters. 10.30 SABATO - Superb Deli and food lovers' specialty shop. 

11.30 CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE, Parnell - Chocolate specialty shop, (President Clinton is a client), NZ hand-made chocolates. 12.15 BEES ONLINE - specialty honeys and honey products, (organic, GE Free); plus a cafe which features ethnic NZ Maori influenced dishes with native spices and herbs. 

1.00 WESTBROOK WINERY Tastings of Award-winning fine wines. (Option of free extra winery visit at no extra charge if time allows) 

1.30 LUNCH - Vineyard Picnic or local country Café, with wine, tea/coffee etc. 

3.00 PRENZEL DISTILLERY Tasting - locally produced Schnapps, Liqueurs Relishes and goodies. 

4.00 Approx. Return to your accommodation. Plus, complimentary NZ goodies bag per guest. 

Day 3 - Morning free. Afternoon flight to Napier. Transfer to hotel.

Day 4: Napier (Hawke's Bay) Maori Welcome and Vineyard Tour (B,L,D). (breakfast,lunch,dinner)

We start the day with a drive to the top of Te Mata Peak taking in panoramic views of Hawke's Bay and are greeted with a Powhiri (Maori Welcome) by local Maori.

Mid morning we visit the Craggy Range winery for a tour of their winery and a barrel tasting.

Midday we travel back out to the Gimblet Gravels and the Western Plains and dine at the Te Awa Farm Winery and Restaurant. This afternoon meet Kingsley Tobin of Kingsley Estate renowned for Bordeaux style Gimblett Gravel wines. Kingsley uses organic methods to form the basis of an overall quality focus. Low yields and hand harvesting also contribute to the intensity of his wines. Discover the secrets of the Gimblet Gravels with John and Rosemary O'Connor owners of the Matariki Winery home of gold medal winning wines such as Matariki Quintology a blend of five varietals. At Alpha Domus wine maker Evert Nijzink consistently produces outstanding Bordeaux blends along with fantastic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay's. Finally we visit Trinity Hill famous for Chardonnay and Bordeaux blends. This winery is at the forefront of experimenting with new varietals such as Pinot Gris and Tempranillo which both have a great future at this winery and in the Gimblet Gravels District.

Dinner tonight will be at the Terrior Restaurant Craggy Range. 

Tour Highlights:  Luxury accommodation,  VIP Wine visits & tasting hosted by leading vintners,  Hands-on cooking classe & culinary demonstration with a top regional chef,  Food & Wine pairing dinners , Meet artisan food producers,   Wine and culinary expert local guides,   Meet enchanting epicurean New Zealanders,  Fantastic scenery .

Departure Dates: Tours depart on the first Monday of every month.

Tour Includes: Nine nights luxury accommodation. Most meals.  Gala dinners created by top chefs.  Fabulous meals hosted by local personalities. 3 VIP wine tours & tasting.  Tours & visits to cultural attractions.  1 Cooking class.  Air transportation from North to South Island as well as Auckland to Napier.   All transportation on tour. Wine & Culinary tour guide.

Tour Price: $6399 NZD Per Person Min number 4 Max number 8

Day 5: Napier (Hawke's Bay) Art Deco (B,L,D) 

This morning will start with an escorted walk with Clarence Bertram St John Fitz Montague through the city of Napier,  Art Deco Capital of the World. Including visits to private homes built and furnished in the classic Art Deco style. 

The afternoon is yours. Choose from a range of activities availible;

Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony 

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course 

Wine tour

Dinner tonight will be at Toscana.

"The Seductress" by Bryce Brown. Click here to be taken to his website.

Day 6: Wellington A Day Out In The Capital (B).

This morning we fly down to Wellington the nations capital. Spend the rest of the day enjoying everything this great city has to offer, excellent cafes, shopping, cable car and New Zealand's National Museum Te Papa. 

Te Papa (Our Place) is a ground breaking museum offering a look at the History of New Zealand and Maori Culture. The museum is full of Maori Treasures, interactive rides and national treasures. 

We will spend the night at the Duxton Hotel in the centre of Wellington. The evening is yours or why not spend the night at the Karori Wildlife Reserve. See Kiwi and other New Zealand wildlife up close and in their natural environment. 

Day 7: Nelson Abel Tasman National Park (B,L,D).  We take an early morning flight to the beautiful region of Nelson arriving mid morning, allowing enough time to wander around the City of Nelson. Mid day we dine at the Boat Shed Restaurant and Cafe. Their passion for food is reflected in their menus which combine Mediterranean with a Pacific Rim blend which come together in a fusion of food styles. The Boat Sheds team of chefs are currently experimenting with Kai Aotearoa (traditional Maori cuisine) and believe that New Zealand is entering an indigenous food revolution which they see as becoming more prolific in restaurants here. After lunch we travel to our accommodation in the heart of the Abel Tasman park taking time to stop and check out local food producers and arts and crafts. This evening we relax at our lodge.

                      "Brothers"  by Bryce Brown.

It is a truly wonderful piece of art and speaks to our business and customers in a unique way.The John Deere Art Collection is home to artworks from around the world, each of them representing a country in which we do business. Your painting will be our representation of New Zealand and will be displayed in our Worldwide Headquarters in Moline, Illinois, USA.' says Lisa Spurgeon, curator of the collection.

DAY 8: Nelson Abel Tasman National Park (B,L,D) Take time out and explore the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park visiting pristine beaches and bays. Choose from walking, a boat cruise or a guided sea kayaking trip with Wilsons Experiences Abel Tasman. 

Day 9: Marlborough Herzog Culinary Class (B.L,D) This morning we travel on to Marlborough crossing the Richmond Hills into Renwick. Early afternoon we arrive Herzog where Head chef Louis Schindler will be delighted to unlock the secrets of gourmet cuisine for enthusiastic novices. This hands-on workshop is a unique opportunity for all foodies to learn about the preparation and presentation of a fresh market 3-course gourmet menu that can easily be put into practice when entertaining at home. The class will be conducted in an informative and entertaining way in Herzogs state of the art European kitchen. Tonight we dine at Herzog .

Day 10: Blenheim (Marlborough) Vineyard Tour Marlborough (B,L,D) 

The morning is yours. Late morning we pay a visit to winery Domaine Georges Michel where you will taste some of Marlborough's most stunning Pinot's, Chardonnay's and Sauvignon Blanc. Lunch is next door at La Veranda. 

Villa Maria is George Fistonich's award winning wine group founded in 1962. Villa is 100% Kiwi owned and has been New Zealand's most consistent wine award winner since the 80s. Taste wines from Marlborough as well as Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. 

Next stop Cloudy Bay. No other Kiwi wine has found such a following, continually the most sought after Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Cloudy Bay was masterminded by David Hohnen and realised by Kevin Judd. Taste the well balanced Sauvignon that has put the winery on the world map in such a short time.

Winemaker Hatsch Kalberer has formed a dynamic team at Fromm to produce exceptionally full-flavoured wines. The emphasis may be on Pinot Noir, but he produces an eclectic range of wines, with Sangiovese in the pipeline. Framingham is an exceptional boutique winery producing fruity styled Sauvignon, Alsatian style Riesling and Gewürztraminer, watch out for the new release 2001 Montepulciano. Rex and Paula Brooke Taylor established this vineyard in 1981 only to release their wines under the Framingham label in 1994. Wairau River has a fantastic range of aromatic wines and Sauvignon Blanc. Try their Stump Creek Pinot Noir soft cherry fruit and toffee flavours. 

Paintings by Will Rafuse. Click here to check out his website.

Day: 11Queenstown Arrowtown (B,L,D) 

We take an early morning flight to Queenstown arriving mid morning.. We spend the rest of the morning exploring Queenstown. Take a trip up on the Gondala to the Skyline Restaurant for stunning views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. This afternoon we travel out to Arrowtown an historic gold mining town. This evening we dine in Arrowtown at Saffron listed in the Conde Nast Traveler "Special Issue" Top 100 tables "the world's most exciting restaurants".

Day: 12 Queenstown Wine Tour (B,L,D) First we explore the wineries of the Gibston Valley.  Amisfield Lake Hayes' is stunning new winery. Taste winemaker Jeff Sinnott's delicious Rieslings and Pinot's. Chard Farm owner-winemaker Rob Hay and Viticulturists Ian Dee produce an exciting range of wines. We will take time to visit the underground barrel cellar and specialist Pinot Noir cuverie. We continue on further up the valley to Bannockburn and for lunch at Mount Difficultyand taste some of their award winning Pinot Noirs. The views of Cromwell and its surrounds from this winery are nothing short of stunning. 

After Lunch we visit Felton Road specialists in Pinot, Reisling and Chardonnay. Felton Road also make a wine called Vin Gris which is made from Pinot Noir juice that has been separated immediately following destemming in order to concentrate the remaining fruit. An intriguing and complex wine. Tonight is our last night together, a time to share our experiences and to look forward to many new to come. This evening we will dine like kings. 

You can extend your trip by taking a local tour to Milford Sound, self drive or fly to Christchurch. Just check with us. The possibilities are endless....more or less!