13 DAY / 12 NIGHT
SOUTH ISLAND FOOD & WINE ITINERARY
Banks Peninsula, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Mackenzie Country and Christchurch
Rate includes:
Accommodation, in total 12 nights:
• 2 Nights at Garden Court Suites & Apartments – 1 x 1 Bedroom Apartment, Double Room BB
• 1 Night at Camp Estate at Larnach Castle – 1 x The Lodge Package, Double Room DBB
• 1 Night at Oamaru House B&B- 1 x Pacific Room, Double Room BB
• 2 Nights at Mount Cook Lodge & Motels- 1 x Motel Studio Deluxe, Double Room BB
• 1 Night at Grasmere Lodge – 1 x Mountainview Villa Suite, Double Room BB
• 2 Nights at Serenity Lodge- 1 x Huia Room, Double Room BB
• 1 Night at Marlborough Vintner’s Hotel – 1 x Vineyard View Suite, Double Room BB
• 1 Night at Lemon Tree Lodge – 1 x Ocean View Room, Double Room BB
• 1 Night at The Grange Boutique B&B and Motel – 1 x Double Room BB
Key: BB: Bed and Breakfast, DBB: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Meals
• Including daily breakfast for x2 Adults
• Dinner at Camp Estate Larnach Castle x2 Adults
Activities & Tours
• Day 2 The Helicopter Line Queenstown – Heli Wine Tour for x2 Adults
• Day 6 Ultimate Hikes – Hooker Valley Nature Walk Full Day for x2 Adults
• Day 9 Wilsons Abel Tasman Vista BBQ Cruise for x2 Adults
• Day 10 Explore Marlborough – Deluxe Half Day Guided Biking Wine Tour for x2 Adults
Transfers
• Day 1 Private Transfer from Queenstown Airport to Queenstown Hotel for x2 Adults
Rental Car
• Go Rentals Touring or Intermediate 4×4
Go All Inclusive Rate (includes Go Peace of Mind insurance cover and GPS)
Pick up on Day 3, Queenstown City Hotel Delivery
Drop off on Day 12 at Christchurch Airport
Rate does not include:
• Optional activities
• Flights
• Meals, if not mentioned above
• Travel Insurance
DAY NOTES
Welcome to New Zealand! You will be picked up at Queenstown Airport and transferred to your Queenstown City Hotel by your private booked transfer.
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on the South Island due to its beautiful mountain location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The long lake stretches between steeply rising mountain ranges.
Today you will be joining a very special Heli Wine Tour in Queenstown.
The day begins with the pick up from your accommodation and taken to the airport for a scenic heli flight, with an alpine landing for a perfect photo opportunity. You will be dropped at the Gibbston Valley after the helicopter flight where Queenstown Wine Trail will pick you up to continue on with the wine tour. This tour offers a unique food and wine experience at a relaxed pace in picturesque surroundings. You will visit three wineries for hosted tastings. Lunch consists of several dishes each perfectly matched with estate wines.
DAY 3: OTAGO PENINSULA – DAY NOTES
Today you drive to Dunedin.
Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island, is a region of unique landscapes and fascinating cultural history. Explore Dunedin’s Victorian and Edwardian architecture, get close to rare wildlife and soak up the quirky city vibe.
Check-out from Garden Court Suites & Apartments
Check-in to Camp Estate at Larnach Castle
Self Drive between Garden Court Suites & Apartments and Camp Estate at Larnach Castle
DAY 4: OAMARU – DAY NOTES
Today’s journey takes you further to Oamaru.
Oamaru is known for the country’s oldest public gardens, renowned Victorian architecture, two penguin colonies and Steampunk HQ.
Check-out from Camp Estate at Larnach Castle
Check-in to Oamaru House B&B
Self Drive between Camp Estate at Larnach Castle and Oamaru House B&B
Your next destination will be Mount Cook.
The area is a hiking paradise and you have the choice between different, differently long and strenuous hikes.
In the evening you have the possibility to take part in an Earth & Sky tour and admire the southern night sky and with a little luck even the Milky Way.
Check-out from Oamaru House B&B
Check-in to Mount Cook Lodge & Motels
Self Drive between Oamaru House B&B and Mount Cook Lodge & Motels
DAY 6: MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK -DAY NOTES
You are booked on a Hooker Valley Nature Walk with Ultimate Hikes.
DAY 7: ARTHUR’S PASS NATIONAL PARK – DAY NOTES
Today’s journey takes you to Arthur’s Pass.
Arthur’s Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps. Long before surveyor Arthur Dudley Dobson found his way over in 1864, it was known to Maori.
Check-out from Mount Cook Lodge & Motels
Check-in to Grasmere Lodge
Self Drive between Mount Cook Lodge & Motels and Grasmere Lodg
You keep driving to Motueka.
Motueka is a vibrant town, known for its lively café culture and artistic community. It is also a gateway town to the Abel Tasman National Park.
Check-out from Grasmere Lodge
Check-in to Serenity Lodge
Self Drive between Grasmere Lodge and Serenity Lodge
You will be attending a Vista Barbeque Cruise in the Abel Tasman Nationalpark.
Today you drive north along the east coast until you reach Blenheim in the Marlborough Plain. Viticulture in this region began in the 1970s when Montana Wines was on the lookout for new land. The composition of the earth, high sunshine, long autumn and cold winter, are excellent conditions for a premium wine, especially for Sauvignon Blanc.
Check-out from Serenity Lodge
Check-in to Marlborough Vintners Hotel
Self Drive between Serenity Lodge and Marlborough Vintners Hotel
Your journey continues to your day’s destination Kaikoura. Here, sperm whales occur regularly, attracted by the rich food supply of the warm ocean currents. You can also see fur seals lying on the rocks along the highway, and with a little luck even dolphins will jump acrobatically out of the water.
A whale watch tour takes you out by boat under expert guidance to get closer to the whales. These occur regularly here (especially the giant sperm whales) as they use the deep waters off Kaikoura’s coast for their passage from/to Antarctica and warm ocean currents are rich sources of food. With a little luck you will be accompanied by Hector or Dusky dolphins.
Check-out from Marlborough Vintners Hotel
Check-in to Lemon Tree Lodge
Self Drive between Marlborough Vintners Hotel and Lemon Tree Lodge
You keep driving along the east coast until today’s destination Christchurch.
Explore the city centre by historic tram. The tram also has a restaurant wagon for an elegant dinner. Dine stylishly in the restored historic tram, in an air-conditioned wagon. During a sightseeing tour through the heart of the reconstructed city centre you will experience a unique mixture of old and new. Alternatively, take the modern Gondola cable car up to Mount Cavendish. In four-person cabins you reach an altitude of approx. 500m and can enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree panorama over the Southern Alps, the Port Hills and Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch. A small museum in the interesting building explains the history of the Banks Peninsula and the first settlers. In the evening you can visit Willowbank Scenic Reserve and see kiwis in their natural environment on a guided tour. At the Maori Show you will be greeted with a traditional Powhiri. End the evening with an “A Taste of New Zealand Dinner”.
Check-out from Lemon Tree Lodge
Check-in to The Grange Boutique B&B and Motel
Self Drive between Lemon Tree Lodge and The Grange Boutique B&B and Motel
Your New Zealand trip ends today. You drive to the Christchurch airport and hand in your rental car at the car rental. We hope you enjoyed your trip and wish you a good onward or home flight.
Check-out from The Grange Boutique B&B and Motel
