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Where We Sleep
The Heritage Hotel
The building the hotel occupies was once New Zealand's largest departmental store, but was completely gutted about 25 years ago and rebuilt with all the amenities and features expected of a first class hotel. It does however retain the high ceilings and a number of other features such as the exterior facade providing it with special character. It is centrally located just a short walk from the waterfront. Your accommodation is in a 1 x bedroom executive grade suite with separate lounge area. Qualmark 4 star +.
Heritage Rotorua Hotel
The hotel is modern with a large cultural centre. The outdoors thermal plunge pools are a popular feature. The hotel has a Qualmark grading of 4 star +. Your accommodation will be in the new wing in a superior grade room overlooking the thermal reserve.
Chateau Marlborough Hotel
This modern boutique hotel is handily located 3 minutes walk from the Blenheim city centre. It has just 30 en suite rooms, a heated swimming pool, barbecue facilities and a restaurant and bar. Qualmark graded 5 star.
Grand Mercure St. Moritz Hotel
Your accommodation is an award winning hotel, which is handily located on a hillside with views across Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables Ranges. There are 167 en suite rooms here including, 35 x one bedroom lake view suites and 26 x 2 bedroom lake view apartments with kitchen facilities. There is an on site restaurant, bar, spa facilities and car parking. Qualmark 4 star plus grading. Deluxe grade lake view room.
MV Milford Mariner
The MV Milford Mariner is a modern vessel with all en suite cabins but has been built along the lines of a 19th century sailing scow of the type common around this coast 100 years ago.
Dinner is served aboard.
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The Trip
Day 1 - ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND; NEW ZEALAND
You will be met by our Auckland staff, then transfer into Auckland City by private car and driver. The balance of the morning is free to rest. In the afternoon you will be collected from the hotel by a private car and driver for a 3 hour sightseeing tour of New Zealand's largest city which will include the downtown business district and University precinct, Westhaven Marina and the Viaduct Basin where the Americas Cup syndicates were based for several years, and much more. You tour will conclude with a visit to Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter to see the sea life.
Accommodation: The Heritage Hotel (3 nights).
Day 2 - WAIHEKE ISLAND WINERIES
 It is 35 minutes by high-speed catamaran across the sparkling waters of the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf to Matiatia on Waiheke Island. Ananada Tours will take you on an interesting tour of 5 selected wineries with wine tasting included. You will also get to see some of the beautiful beaches. Perhaps enjoy an olive oil tasting at one of the island's Olive Mills, or visit one or two of the art studios for which Waiheke Island is so well known.
At the conclusion of the tour you will be returned to Matiatia Wharf for the return ferry to Auckland. Or you may elect to stay on and relax and explore the galleries and studios and enjoy a café dinner at Onetangi, and return to Auckland on a later ferry.
Day 3 - AUCKLAND
Morning at leisure followed by an afternoon sea food cooking class at the Auckland Fish Markets.
Day 4 - AUCKLAND / ROTORUA (by air)
Fly to Rotorua, where you will be met by a private car and driver and taken directly on a sightseeing tour of Rotorua which will include Rainbow Springs to see the large trout and rare Kiwi birds, and the popular Agrodome sheep show. Some free time this afternoon to relax in the thermal pools at the hotel. In the late afternoon walk across to Te Puia for a guided tour of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve where there are spectacular geysers and boiling mud pools followed by Te Po a powhiri (formal welcome onto the Marae), hangi (dinner cooked the traditional Maori way in a pit), and a concert of Maori song and dance in the magnificently carved Maori Meeting House. The Rotorua Golf Club (visitors welcome) is also close by and the Whakarewarewa Forest is within walking distance.
Accommodation: Heritage Rotorua Hotel
Day 5 - ROTORUA / WELLINGTON / BLENHEIM (by air)
Arrive in Blenheim and transfer to the hotel. You will be collected from the hotel for a Gourmet Wine Experience. This is a fully guided small group tour which includes all tastings and venue tours and a 4 course gourmet lunch with matched wines in Allan Scott Wines unique mud brick building. Your tour starts with a visit to Herzog Winery which produces premier wines including world class Pinot Noir. Next visit Johanneshof Cellars where vintage harvests rest and mature 20 metres underground. Here taste one of the finest Methode Traditionelles in the Marlborough area.
At Grove Mill smell the bouquets common to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with an interesting Aroma demonstration, taste fine wines matched with tasty morsels and see the different grapes growing in Grove Mill's Vine Library. Grove Mill also has a wonderful art gallery. The last stop today is at the Matakana Chocolate Factory where there is a delectable selection of hand made chocolates.
Accommodation: Chateau Marlborough Hotel
Day 6 - BLENHEIM / QUEENSTOWN (by air)
Arrive in Queenstown. You will be met by a private car and driver and transferred to the hotel.
The afternoon is free to relax and explore this wonderful alpine resort.
Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the 1912 vintage lake steamer TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Sheep and Cattle Station for a farm show and dinner in the homestead.
Accommodation: Grand Mercure St. Moritz Hotel (2 nights)
Day 7 - CENTRAL OTAGO WINE TRAIL
Today join Appellation Central Otago Wine Tours on a full day "Gourmet Wine Tour of the Central Otago Region". This region is widely renowned for its high quality Pinot Noirs. Includes 5 vineyards located in the Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn and Alexandra with mid morning cheese tasting and a Mediterranean style gourmet lunch at a Central Otago Cafe. During the course of the day you will also see many of the scenic highlights of the area including old goldfields. An orchard visit and the Benger Fruit juice factory are also options.
Free evening to explore the many cafes and restaurants for which Queenstown is so well known.
Day 8 - QUEENSTOWN / MILFORD SOUND
Today travel through to Milford Sound by coach traveling around Lake Wakatipu and across the picturesque Southland countryside to Te Anau. Then drive into Fiordland National Park. The scenery is stunning with high mountains and deep valleys carved out by Ice Age Glaciers. There are clear rushing streams and leaping waterfalls set in magnificent native rainforest. A stop will be made en route see the Mirror Lakes and the Chasm.
Cruise down Milford Sound past Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak to the open sea. Seals, dolphins, and penguins are often seen. There are opportunities for sea kayaking or exploring the coastline with a nature guide in a tender craft. The vessel anchors overnight in a sheltered cove, where the only sounds are the sounds of nature.
Accommodation: MV Milford Mariner
Day 9 - MILFORD SOUND / QUEENSTOWN (by air)
The boat berths. Return to Queenstown on an amazing scenic flight across Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks. From the air you will see high snow covered peaks, glaciers, mountain lakes and waterfalls in some of the remotest and most stunning countryside in a land of stunning views.
The afternoon is free in Queenstown. A pass will be provided for the Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak from where there are panoramic views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables Ranges.
Accommodation: Grand Mercure St. Moritz Hotel
Day 10 - QUEENSTOWN / AUCKLAND AND DEPART
Free morning. Transfer to Queenstown Airport by private car and driver for your departure flight. |