15-Day Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Tour - Sample Itinerary

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a private shuttle driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a short walk to the Auckland ferry terminal to ferry out to Waiheke Island to enjoy a guided tour of the Island, stopping at a number of boutique wineries such as Casita Miro, Kennedy Point Winery and Stonyridge for wine tastings. You will finish your tour at Mudbrick Winery where you will enjoy a delicious lunch with incredible views out over the Hauraki Gulf towards Auckland City (lunch is additional cost). Return to Auckland in the late afternoon, and perhaps enjoy dinner at one of the wonderful waterfront restaurants that line the Viaduct Harbour.

Three of our favourite wineries:

Casita Miro/Miro Vineyard: Miro Vineyard is in the Onetangi wine-growing region and comprises a 4.2 hectare vineyard and the outstanding Tapas restaurant called Casita Miro. Views from the vineyard are spectacular, looking out over the vines, the village and the sea.

Kennedy Point: Kennedy Point Vineyard is Waiheke Island’s only certified organic vineyard, set amongst 300-year-old pohutukawa trees overlooking Waiheke Island’s Kennedy Bay. At our cellar door you can complement your wine tasting experience with delicious local oysters, cheeses and smoked salmon.

Stonyridge Vineyard: Stonyridge Vineyard is the ongoing dream of owner Stephen White. It was in 1981 after a 3-year adventure in Europe that Stephen came to love the culture and lifestyle of the Mediterranean and the great red wines of France, Tuscany and California. After extensive climatic research Stonyridge was discovered as the ideal north facing site to ripen and produce a world class Bordeaux style red wine.

YOUR DAY

276 km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you'll escape the busy city and head straight for the centre of the island – towards the volcanic plateau. 

On your way visit the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. Here you will undertake a 45 minute walking/boat tour of the largest cave in the area, to see the magical glow worms that light up the cave ceiling. There is also the option to undertake a more adventurous trip, such as a 3 hour tubing trip on an underground river (please let us know if this may be preferred). 

Heading Further south, stop at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls en route, you will reach Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake.

YOUR DAY

143km, 2 hours driving

Today you head to the East Coast to the beautiful seaside city of Napier. Napier was flattened by an earthquake in 1931, which led to massive rebuilds in the Art Deco Style, making this iconic city a beautiful hub of period architecture, and nowadays it is also well known for producing exquisite food and wine. The region has a lovely coastal feel and along with its high annual sunshine hours, makes it perfect for growing grapes. The region’s sunnier warmer climate is most suited to Bordeaux style reds such as merlot and syrah but also fantastic chardonnay.

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a guided art deco walking tour to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the city. 

Afterwards, you will be taken on a winery tour, visiting several wineries around the Hawkes Bay area. The region is famous for their wines and have won international acclaim for both red and white varietals. There are over 70 wineries in the area and this afternoon you will visit 4 or 5 of the best, including wine tastings at each and a complementary cheese platter. 

Tonight is free to enjoy the city – perhaps dine at one of the wonderful seaside restaurants to sample some of the region’s delicious fare!

Three of our favourite wineries:

Pask Winery – Named after CJ Pask was a topdressing pilot who discovered the regions potential for grapes. Try the “Declaration” cabernet merlot malbec.

Te Mata Estate – A leading Hawke’s Bay winery and arguably the first producer to win international respect and demonstrate Hawke’s Bay could consistently produce Bordeaux style reds. Try the “Bullnose” syrah made from grapes in the Bridge Pa Triangle winegrowing district.

Elephant Hill – A beautiful setting shadowing the coastline, this winery also has vines in the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle districts.

YOUR DAY

267km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will travel south down to the Wairarapa region. It is a quiet farming region off the typical tourist map.

The Wairarapa grape growing region is in the warm rain shadow of the Tararua and Remutaka ranges, allowing an ideal place for viticulture. The region is famed for fine pinot noir and is known as the birthplace of the grape where in the 1880s it was first planted by French settlers. Much of the industry has become centred around Martinborough, a quaint little town to the south of the region.

Three of our favourite wineries:

Palliser Estate – The biggest winery in Martinborough with beautiful grounds and a large selection of wines for tasting. The estate boasts vineyards across the district. Recommended is the Riesling with lime notes and the “Dog” series pinot noirs.

Ata Rangi – One of New Zealand’s most visited wineries founded by former dairy farmer Clive Patton in 1980. Pinot Noir is the star wine here having won the coveted Bouchard Finlayson Trophy for the best Pinot Noir at London’s international wine and spirit competition three times.

Cambridge Road Vineyard – A rustic small producer that follows biodynamic principles. Winemaker Lance Redgwell produces several experimental wines such as “dovetail” a blend of Syrah and pinot noir.Murdoch James Estate- A little drive out of town down Dry River Road and down a poplar lined driveway is this multi level winery. Martinborough’s only hillside vineyard noted for its “Blue Rock Syrah”

YOUR DAY

3.5 hour ferry, 2 hours total driving

This morning you will make your way south to Wellington and farewell the North Island and sail to Picton in the stunning Marlborough Sounds, the gateway to the biggest wine producing district in New Zealand, Marlborough. Marlborough produces roughly 70% of New Zealand’s exported wine volume.

The Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough has long been considered among the finest examples in the world. The district is split into two main valleys with most of the wineries situated in the Waiau River Valley. Further south the Awatere River Valley produces its own distinctive styles of wine reflective of their different geography and climate. The reason the Marlborough region has been so successful in wine production is due to the high sunshine hours, cool nights and the free draining alluvial soils. Today you will have plenty of tasting on the cards!

Three of our favourite wineries:

Rock Ferry Wines - From humble beginnings growing grapes under contract for top New Zealand wine producers, husband and wife, Tom Hutchison and Fiona Harvey, embarked upon creating a wine estate based on organic winegrowing practices to showcase the inherent characteristics of their vineyard properties. Wanting to maintain complete control over the quality of their wines, they established their own winery in 2009 at the Orchard Vineyard. Highly respected winemaker, Allan McWilliams along with Winemaker Jordan Hogg and their dedicated team, continue to produce premium, sought-after organic wines today.

Johanneshof Cellars– Just off the main road towards Blenheim nestled into the hills is this German owned winery. Try the method traditionelle and the gewürztraminer. The wine cellar cave here built in 1993 is 50m long.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards – Iconic and perhaps the best known New Zealand wine label internationally makes a good last stop for the day. The interior of the cellar door is immaculate and you can view the production line through the glass wall behind the counter. Renowned initially for it sauvignon Blanc, the other wines include chardonnay, pinot noir, late harvest Riesling and a great sparkling named ‘Pelorus”

YOUR DAY

If you want to experience the cellar doors of Marlborough at your own pace on your own this is the perfect way to do it. We work with you to plan the perfect day out, visiting the best cellar doors, and ensuring you get a great experience. You will be driven around in our comfy Mercedes Sedan and be looked after for the entire day.

Standard tasting fees are included in the tour cost and lunch is at your expense.

Your private tour picks you up at your accommodation - you choose the start time and any cellar doors you want to visit or let us fully guide you to experience a great day out in Marlborough. The standard tasting fees for up to 6 cellar doors are included in the cost of the tour.

YOUR DAY

128 km, 2 hours driving time

Today you'll drive South down State Highway 1, eventually reaching the Pacific Coast. Down this beautiful rugged coastline you will spot Kaikōura, where you will stay tonight. 

This afternoon you will take a whale watching tour of 3 hours. Keep a look out for Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales and Orcas as well as many species of Dolphin.

On reaching Kaikōura, we recommend venturing to our number one Kaikōura look out spot where you will experience the stunning beauty of the mountains meeting the Pacific Ocean. Stop by the Kaikōura Seafood BBQ Kiosk for an al fresco dinner tonight by the sea (optional).

Three more of our favourite wineries:

Te Whare Ra – A small winery but one of the oldest in the region. It produces excellent desert wines and gewürztraminer.

Wither Hills – One of Marlborough’s larger wineries with a nice grassy outdoor courtyard to relax and taste. During vintage they have a vine library where you can pick and taste a grape to see if you can correctly identify its variety. The restaurant here is a good option for lunch with everything made on site.

Yealand’s Estate – Further down the road towards the township of Seddon in the Awatere Valley we get to the largest privately owned vineyard in New Zealand. Taste the difference between an Awatere Valley sauvignon Blanc and a Wairau one

YOUR DAY

189km, 2 hours 30 minutes driving

This morning you will leave Kaikōura and drive south into the Waipara wine growing region. This region is sheltered from the cool easterly winds by the Teviotdale Hills and has a predominating limestone sub rock giving different characteristics to the wine produced here.

You will stop in for lunch at Black Estate Winery. Enjoy their wines served alongside delicious organic, biodynamic & spray-free produce grown and fished by local people and cooked with care by head chef Olly Le Maitre and his team.

Black Estate farm three small properties organically and biodynamically. They find that when working in harmony with our natural world we have healthier vines and lives. They want to grow vines that produce fruit with quality and flavour, expressive of its place and season. Black Estate believe that healthy soils are the obvious foundation for this quality, so they farm to give back to the land, regenerate life and nurture the existing life in the soils, plants and wildlife there.

Continue to Christchurch in the afternoon.

Two of our other favourite wineries:

Pegasus Bay Winery – This winery is famous and holds a place in the book “100 most iconic wine estates” The Rieslings here are highly renowned.

Torlesse Wines – Open since 2000 and one of the oldest wineries in the region. It’s an old converted red barn that is a winery as well as a cellar door. Try the late harvest sauvignon Blanc and the gewürztraminer.

YOUR DAY

228km, 3 hours driving

Christchurch is known throughout New Zealand as ‘The Garden City’. You have time this morning for a city tour. This city tour could include a visit to ‘The Sign of the Kiwi’, the most panoramic of Christchurch’s viewpoints, a stroll in the botanic gardens and drive around the bays of Christchurch taking in Lyttelton which was the gateway for many of Christchurch and the Canterbury region’s first settlers. This afternoon you will make your journey inland and south to Lake Tekapo. Perhaps soak in the thermal pools on the lakeside (optional – extra cost) and see the famous Church of the Good Shepherd up close. Following this, you could drive to the top of Mount John to take in some of the most stunning 360 degree views New Zealand has to offer! 

Tonight you will enjoy a stargazing tour atop Mt John with Dark Sky Project. At 1,029m high, Mt John offers unrivalled 360-degree views across the largest accredited International Dark Sky Reserve in the world. Their expert astronomy guides bring the night sky to life, sharing the science and the stories of our Southern skies. Take in the incredible Milky Way, far off planets, star clusters, solar systems, and even distant galaxies; every night sky beholds something different.

YOUR DAY

263km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will travel back over the Lindis Pass (965m) to Central Otago, known for its Merino Sheep and wool industry. First perhaps stop at a local salmon farm and sample fresh or smoked salmon. From there you head through to the beautiful lakeside town of Wānaka. Options here include a visit to the famous Rippon winery maker of biodynamic wines, this long-running, family-owned lakeside vineyard offers a tasting room . Following this, head over the Crown Range to Queenstown and perhaps visit the Cardrona Distillery for a gin, whisky or vodka tasting en route.

YOUR DAY

Enjoy a day of discovery and indulgence on a fully private winery tour with return transfers. Explore five of the finest Cromwell Basin vineyards and indulge in some of the best wines in New Zealand, as well as a delicious vineyard lunch. You’ll also have a chance to wander around the Cromwell Heritage Precinct on Lake Dunstan. The chosen winery tastings on your tour can be planned for you, or you are welcome to choose some of your own if you have a preference.

A few choices: 

Mt Difficulty – Located in Bannockburn, the heart of Central Otago's wine country, Mt Difficulty is celebrated for its sublime Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. With vineyards spread across Central Otago, including prestigious sites in Gibbston and Bendigo, each wine reflects the distinct terroir and microclimates of the region. The winery's renowned restaurant offers panoramic views that are as breathtaking as the wines themselves. 

Felton Road – Situated on the north facing slopes of Bannockburn, Felton Road is a leader in biodynamic winemaking. With a commitment to organic practices since 2002, the vineyard produces premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The winery's strict adherence to natural methods and minimal intervention in the cellar allows each vintage to express the pure essence of its landscape, making every bottle a true representation of Central Otago’s unique environment. 

Carrick – Named after the historic gold-mining town and mountain range, Carrick sits in Bannockburn, a region revered for its rich soil and ideal climate conditions. As a certified organic vineyard, Carrick is dedicated to producing small batches of estate-grown wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The winery also features a restaurant and cellar door, where visitors can enjoy locally sourced ingredients paired perfectly with their organic wines.

YOUR DAY

Did someone say Queenstown wine tour? It’s time to pinot! Travel in premium Mercedes vehicles visiting four of Central Otago’s finest and off the beaten track cellar doors, including a visit to New Zealand’s famous Gibbston Valley underground wine cave. Look, smell and taste over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines and enjoy an optional scrumptious lunch (additional cost ordered on the day) whilst your charismatic wine guide and knowledgeable cellar staff educate and amuse you with local winemaking facts and stories.

Today you will transfer to Queenstown Airport for your further travel arrangements. We trust you've had a wonderful time here in New Zealand!

Onward flight is not included.