DAY 1 WAIHEKE ISLAND

Waiheke Island 

Early morning we will have time to enjoy our surroundings on the island

This afternoon we pay a visit to two spectacular wineries on the eastern shores of the Island Man o War and Passage Rock

Dinner – Degustation Dinner Mudbrick

 

DAY 2 WAIHEKE ISLAND

This morning we take part in a cooking class with a focus on the seafood of New Zealand.

The class will culminate into a 3 course lunch that you have prepared with Shared Kitchens Julie Biuso.

This afternoon we will visit Kennedy Point and meet with cellar host Peter White

Dinner – The evening is yours

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DAY 3 NAPIER, HAWKES BAY

2 nights 

 

We start the day with a visit to Brookfields renowned for aromatic wines as well as full bodied Bordeaux blends and a hillside Syrah.

Mid morning we drive out to Te Mata Peak through the Tuki Tuki Valley one most beautiful vineyard drives in New Zealand. The 360 degree views from Te Mata are simply amazing and look out on the fertile valley of the Heretaunga Plains.

Lunch will be at Black Barn

This afternoon we explore the Gimblett Gravels sub region and visit 4 wineires. We meet with  Lorraine Leheny & Warren Gibson of Bilancia. Bilancia is a small Hawkes' Bay producer of exceptional Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier and Syrah. We will also meet with Daniel Brennan owner of Decibel wines. Daniel will taste current and previous vintages of his single varietal Malbec.

Dinner Tonight –  Free night

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DAY 4 NAPIER, HAWKES BAY

Today is free day to enjoy time at the lodge, explore Art Deco Napier or venture back out to the wineries.

Dinner Tonight Craggy Range

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DAY 5 MARLBOROUGH

2 nights 

 

Today we delve into the luscious wines of Marlborough starting with a visit to the No1 Family Estate where you will taste vintage and non-vintage Methode.

After lunch we explore Renwick sub region and meet with Anna & Jason Flowerday owners of Te Whare Ra. Their 11 hectare vineyard is one of the oldest in Marlborough and is Certified Organic.

Lunch will be at Wairau River

Dog Point Vineyard is a boutique and family oriented business producing

wines with a clear point of difference. We will meet with winemaker Ivan.

We then meet with Kevin Judd owner of Greywacke Wines and the founding

winemaker of Cloudy Bay.

Dinner Tonight - Herzog Degustation

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DAY 6 MARLBOROUGH

Today is a free day.

 

DAY 7 NELSON - ABEL TASMAN 

2 nights 

This morning we drive to Abel Tasman National Park and arrive at the retreat midday.  

 

DAY 8 NELSON ABEL TASMAN

Abel Tasman is stunning with secluded beaches and steep granite cliffs climbing out of the sea. There so many activities to keep you busy, walking, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, sky-diving, sailing, swimming with the seals and dolphin-spotting. A helicopter can be arranged to drop you at remote spots for walking or private picnics at otherwise inaccessible beaches.

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DAY 9 QUEENSTOWN 

Early morning we take a flight to Queenstown and spend the morning exploring downtown.

Lunch will be at Amisfield Lake Hayes

We stay in the Gibston Valley and drive to Valli Wines and meet one of New Zealand’s most awarded Pinot Noir winemakers Grant Taylor.

We now visit Peregrine wines.Their prime focus is on growing premium Pinot Noir and white varieties from their estate managed vineyards. These are all meticulously hand-tended and farmed under a sustainable philosophy.

Dinner Tonight Saffron

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DAY 10 QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND

Milford Sound is situated on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a world renowned area of extraordinary beauty. Milford Sound is actually named incorrectly a sound, it actually is a true Fiord, which measures 12 km long and is up to 320 meters deep. The Fiord receives an average yearly rainfall of approximately 7.5m (300 inches) because it is situated on one of the world's most formidable coastlines, which is subject to rapidly changing weather conditions. The weather is famous for its ability to deteriorate or improve within a very short period of time. These dramatic weather patterns result in some of nature's most amazing scenery transformations, especially when viewed from one of our scenic Milford Sound flights. At any time on the Fiords visitors may see seals, dolphins, penguins and other New Zealand native wildlife.

The evening is yours

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DAY 11 QUEENSTOWN

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(B,L)

This morning we drive down to Clyde and visit Two Paddocks. Two Paddocks is a family vineyard that specialises in premium quality Pinot Noir wine. Sam is a great believer in Terroir which is evident in all his wines. Two Paddock vines are planted in two different locations around Alexander and one in the Gibston Valley and each vineyard is prized for the its unique grape growing potential.

We then enjoy lunch at Carrick

After Lunch, we visit Felton Road the vineyards of Bannockburn are nestled into small macro climates surrounded by high mountains, many of which are snow-capped all year round. Though the location is on the edge of sustainable viticulture these macro climates consistently combine hot days, cool nights and long dry autumns: perfect for the creation of fine Felton Road Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.

Dinner tonight

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DAY 12 QUEENSTOWN - DART RIVER SAFARI

(B,L)The Wilderness Safari takes you on a spectacular 1 1/2-hour Jet Boat journey through the Dart’s ever-changing braided river system, where you’ll be thrilled by your Jet Boat's capabilities including jet spins and awed by your surroundings of breath-taking snow-capped mountains, ancient native forest, waterfalls and glacial valleys frozen in time. It includes an easy guided 30 to 40-minute walk through the ‘Heritage Trail’ at Paradise, where your knowledgeable guide will enliven your walk with an informative and entertaining commentary about the ancient native beech forest, the unique flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating Maori and colonial history of the area.

Dinner Tonight – The Bunker

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