Classic Gourmet NZ

On arrival in Auckland, after your private transfer to Hotel deBretts, take time to rest and explore Auckland on your own. Tonight, enjoy a Foodies walking tour of Auckland and explore downtown Auckland’s finest gourmet hotspots. Taste a variety of food spiced with Maori, European, Asian, and Pacific Islander flavours, and savour award-winning wine for which New Zealand is renowned.

This morning is all about the rich history of Auckland and a sightseeing harbour cruise. In the afternoon, yesterday was about the food; today is sampling the craft beers of Auckland from historical pubs to new boutique brewmasters. Proof New Zealand is more than just fantastic wines but also its beers.

Today take the forty-minute ferry ride across to Waiheke Island, cruising past Auckland’s stunning coastlines and beautiful islands. Check into your fairytale Mudbrick Luxury Cottage. Then explore the island taking in its magnificent scenery, taste fresh local cuisine, sip your way through three of its boutique wineries, and sample fresh-pressed olive oils from the Rangihoua Olive Estate. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, explore the network of coastal walking and cycle trails or go ziplining, perfect for breathtaking cliff-top views.

After returning to the mainland, drive south to Rotorua, and on the route, visit the glow-worm caves at Waitomo and explore the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. Check into the unique and serene Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel, and enjoy the luxurious atmosphere created in an acre of sweeping lawns and delicate rose gardens. Then tonight, under a million stars, gain an insight into Maori culture with a Maori Hangi feast and show.

Today is a free day to simply relax at the spa or take a tour of the Hobbiton movie set, where this private farm was transformed into Middle-earth. See the picturesque village you saw on the screen and experience the Hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, and the Mill while learning about how the sets were built initially.

This morning travel south to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. En route, drive along the shores of Lake Taupo and visit Tongariro National Park. On arrival in Wellington, check into the QT Wellington Hotel. Tonight, dine at Hippopotamus and enjoy the decadent degustation where French flavours pirouette with locally grown produce.

Today take a private gourmet tour and enjoy some of Wellington’s ten must-eat food experiences. Perhaps, try a paua ravioli at Logan Brown or a food tour of Petone, where you will mix with the country’s top artisan food produces and savour local specialities from hand-picked providers. Peek at Moore Wilson’s Chook Wagon bringing to Wellington a French ‘Poulet Rotisserie’ experience located in the replica of the iconic 1947 Citroen H-van.

Today board the morning Interisland ferry for the Cook Strait crossing to Picton in the South Island. Constructed around a sheltered harbour, the town has an attractive seafront dotted with cafés, restaurants, various types of galleries. There is also a floating maritime museum and an aquarium. Visit Artisan Food producers and wineries, known for their Manuka Honey, Goats Cheese, Black Garlic, and shellfish. Then you can relax as you check into the world-renowned Marlborough Lodge, a luxury country estate, where you can wander among the established trees or stroll to the vegetable garden, which includes homegrown fruit, berries, tomatoes and free-range eggs.

Free day in Marlborough. It is all about diverse landscapes, from the sloping valleys of vines to the quiet sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. Perhaps join a guided tour or hire a bike and choose from more than 30 cellar doors, tasting award-winning wines along the way or indulge in a leisurely lunch at a vineyard restaurant.

This morning take in a scenic panoramic tour of Blenheim, beautifully located with the mountains keeping the heat in and protecting the town from fresh southerly gales. Experience a collection of WW1 planes and memorabilia on display at The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, or take to the skies and share the enjoyable experience of flying over the stunning scenery of New Zealand’s premier wine-growing region of Marlborough. From here, drive south to Christchurch, visiting the whale-watching town of Kaikoura en route, where there will be time to join a whale-watching cruise. Before checking into the Otahuna Lodge, an elegant Victorian guesthouse surrounded by formal gardens and woodlands.

This morning, be chauffeur-driven to Rolleston Station, where you will catch the TranzAlpine, one of the world’s most picturesque rail journeys. Here you will experience the most scenic part of the rail journey as the train climbs into the heart of the Southern Alps, winding its way along the bright blue Waimakariri River and through dramatic alpine valleys before arriving at Arthur’s Pass National Park. From here, you will meet your guide, who will take you on a hike through forests teeming with glacial streams and waterfalls. After lunch, return to Christchurch by road.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast, take your private transfer to Christchurch airport for your onward journey.