North Island Food & Wine Tour of New Zealand

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Auckland

  Welcome to New Zealand!

  On arrival, you will be picked up at Auckland Airport and transferred to your hotel by private transfer.

  In the evening, have dinner at the Orbit rotating restaurant that is situated at the top of Sky Tower while enjoying incomparable 360-degree views over Auckland and the surrounding area.

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  • Auckland

• Day 2: Auckland, Twilight Wine & Dine Tour to Waiheke Island

  Waiheke, the third-largest island of New Zealand, is rich in beautiful beaches, vineyards, olive groves, and slap-up restaurants. Late this afternoon, you will have an exclusive tour to Waiheke Island, visiting two award-winning vineyards and enjoying a two-course dinner with a glass of wine at the second vineyard.

  The rest of the day is yours to explore the city of Auckland, such as taking a stroll through Albert Park, exploring the Auckland War Memorial Museum, or Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.

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  • Auckland

• Day 3: Auckland - Rotorua, Indigenous Maori Experience

  Meet your driver in the lobby at your hotel this morning and then start the journey to Rotorua, a charming town that is known as the center of Maori culture and rich in geothermal resources. After arrival, you will have some free time to marvel at its geysers, steaming lakes and rivers，or relax in a bubbling mud hole or multicolored hot spring with healing properties.

  In the evening, you will visit the Maori village, being greeted with a traditional challenge at the gate of the Marae - the traditional Maori meeting place - and then experiencing Maori rituals. Afterward, you will be invited to the "Hangi", a traditional Maori feast cooked in a huge earth oven heated by glowing stones.

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  • Rotorua

• Day 4: Rotorua - Napier

  Head further south today. On the way, your driver may recommend a stop at the famous Hobbiton Movie Set if you would like to experience the real Middle-earth featured in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit films.

  Later on, you will continue the journey passing by Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, until arriving in Napier located in Hawke's Bay.

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  • Napier

• Day 5: Napier, Art Deco Walk & Mission Estate Winery Tour

  Napier is famous for its beautifully preserved Art Deco buildings dating back to the 1930s. This morning, following a local guide, you will walk back in time to enjoy its stunning streetscape and listen to the stories about the massive earthquake that happened in 1931 and the efficient rebuilding succeeding.

  After it, visit the Mission Estate Winery, the most time-honored winery in New Zealand. In this tour, you will enjoy the beauty of the historic seminary that houses the winery now, learn about the history of the Mission Estate Winery, and taste some cheeses and selected wines produced here.

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  • Napier

• Day 6: Napier - Martinborough, Private Transfer to Martinborough

  Heading off further south today to the scenic Wairarapa region until getting to your destination Martinborough, a wine region that is notably known for producing some of the best pinot noirs of New Zealand. Most of the wineries here are family-owned, producing only 1% of the country's wine output but famous all over the world for their full-bodied flavors.

  After arrival, explore some wineries in the town on your own.

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  • Martinborough

• Day 7: Martinborough - Wellington

  A free morning for your own exploration. There are some luxury and informative winery tours at your choice in which you can experience the unique features of Martinborough, meet its people, and enjoy local wines.

  Late in the afternoon, proceed to Wellington for the night.

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  • Wellington

• Day 8: Wellington, Zest Food Tour - the Capital Tastes

  Join in a morning walk to taste a range of savory products, meet some of the makers, learn about the development of the foodie's scene of Wellington, and discover the cultural, historical as well as architectural landscape along the way.

  The remaining time of today is yours to explore more in the city on your own. You may like to visit the Te Papa National Museum for an interesting insight into the history and culture of New Zealand or take a cable car to the botanical garden for a walk and a fantastic view over the city. For film fans, a tour to the Weta Workshop and Peter Jackson Workshop is also a good choice.

  In the evening, you can take an optional tour to Zealandia to see some nocturnal animals. With a little luck, you may also hear or see the Kiwi bird, an endangered flightless bird and at the same time the national symbol of New Zealand.

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  • Wellington

• Day 9: Wellington - Departure, Private Transfer to the Airport

  Your New Zealand trip ends today. You will be picked up at your Wellington Accommodation and be dropped off at the Airport Wellington for your further travels.

  We hope you had a wonderful time in Aotearoa and to see you again very soon. Safe travels!

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