Day 1 - Welcome to Auckland
On arrival at Auckland Airport you will be greeted with a private transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city and its selection of bars and fine restaurants.
Hotel: Skycity Grand Hotel
Experience the very best of New Zealand’s fresh food and wine produce on this luxury self drive tour, staying in boutique accommodation throughout and some truly unique culinary experiences.
Highlights:
On arrival at Auckland Airport you will be greeted with a private transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city and its selection of bars and fine restaurants.
Hotel: Skycity Grand Hotel
Today you will head out to the streets of Auckland on a Big Foody Taste Bud Tour, going behind the scenes of the local markets, visiting coffee roasters and ice cream parlours.
Hotel: Skycity Grand Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Private transfer to the rental car city depot where you will collect your rental car for your exclusive use. Enjoy the drive through farmland, lakeland and forest until the distinctive smell of sulphur and constant steam drifts let you know you are in tempestuous, geothermal Rotorua. Tonight enjoy a memorable night of culture, song and dance followed by dinner cooked the traditional way on hot stones underground at a Maori Hangi & Concert Evening.
Hotel: Peppers on the Point
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the morning at leisure taking in the spectacular views from your hotel before venturing into Rotorua to enjoy the many sights and activities on offer. This afternoon make your way to the base of the Skyline Gondola for your Volcanic Hills wine tasting experience.
Hotel: Peppers on the Point
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the scenery as the road changes from forest to rugged mountain ranges and then to fertile vineyards as you continue on to Hawke’s Bay, known for its Art Deco architecture, gourmet food and world-class wineries.
Hotel: Breckenridge Lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Today is free to enjoy the local sights and activities. Recommended Optional Extra: Visit Elephant Hill, a stunning and innovative winery estate and restaurant located on the idyllic Te Awanga coast, 30 minutes’ drive away.
Hotel: Breckenridge Lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the clean, green Wairarapa scenery as you drive south through to Martinborough, home to over 25 boutique vineyards. Take your time and stop to enjoy the various cellar door experiences available.
Hotel: Peppers Parehua Country Estate
Meals: Breakfast
Today’s gourmet food and wine tour takes you by car with your driver/guide around the small towns of the south Wairarapa: exploring the pretty historical township of Greytown and the celebrated Martinborough wine village. The focus is both fine food and wine, savouring tastes of both from specialty producers. Go where few visitors can, up close, meeting innovative people dedicated to being the very best they can be with their premium boutique brands. The delicious three course tasting lunch is matched with premium Martinborough wines.
Hotel: Peppers Parehua Country Estate
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Travel to Wellington and drop off your rental car at the Interislander Ferry depot in time for your ferry crossing through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton.
On arrival, take the Seafood Odyssea cruise to your luxury accommodation in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Queen Charlotte Sound with seemingly endless bays and coves to explore. Visit a New Zealand King Salmon Farm and enjoy a fabulous tasting matched to a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Dinner is included at your accommodation at the Bay of Many Coves this evening.
Hotel: Bay of Many Coves
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Enjoy a full day at your leisure on the Marlborough Sounds. Dinner is included at your accommodation this evening.
Hotel: Bay of Many Coves
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Take the water taxi back through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. On arrival collect your rental car and travel down the East Coast to Kaikoura. You may wish to travel via Blenheim – well known as a centre of New Zealand’s wine industry. Follow the ruggedly beautiful coastline between the surging Pacific Ocean and the steeply rising Kaikoura ranges. Kaikoura is renowned for its seafood dishes.
Local specialties include grouper, cod, mussels, paua (abalone) and the town’s namesake – Crayfish (lobster). Other delights such as oysters, scallops and whitebait are available when in season. Your overnight accommodation is at the luxury Hapuku Lodge famed for its impressive food menu and outstanding rooms.
Hotel: Hapuku Lodge
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Continue down the coast, across broad, braided rivers and the rich patchwork farming landscape of the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Hotel: Hotel Montreal
Meals: Breakfast
Travel south along the coast to the historical town of Oamaru. The rest of your day is at your leisure to explore this delightful township and relax in your luxury lodge style accommodation where dinner is included.
Hotel: Pen-Y-Bryn
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Enjoy a full day at your leisure. Dinner is included at your accommodation this evening.
Hotel: Pen-Y-Bryn
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Journey in-land today to the beautiful gold-mining town of Arrowtown. The rest of your day is at your leisure.
Hotel: Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the day at your leisure – explore the world class food and beverage options and sophisticated shopping outlets available in the town.
Hotel: Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Following breakfast at your Arrowtown accommodation travel to Queenstown where your journey ends.
All prices are per person and based on 2 sharing a double or twin room. Price shown based on low season travel from May to September, subject to availability. Hotels specified are subject to availability and may be substituted by one of a similar or higher standard. Supplements will apply if alternative hotels are booked.
Relaxed and enjoyable self drive tour. Book them as they are or ask your consultant to add extra days in the places you choose.
Your self drive includes:
We are currently contacting all customers whose holiday may be affected by the current travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
For the latest Government advice regarding travel to any particular country please visit the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice