10 Day Green Gourmet North

Enjoy a gourmet wine and food tour of Waiheke Island today. A natural complement to the fine wines you will taste is a range of hand-made specialty foods and locally-grown produce. A visit to a local olive oil mill is followed by two boutique vineyards, each offering a range of gourmet tastes to accompany their wines, such as succulent oysters straight from Te Matuku Bay, wild honey, vincotta, the famous local green herb spread and a small cheese board. On Saturdays, your tour may also include a visit to the Waiheke Market. Today’s most arduous task will be selecting one of the great cafes for dinner.

Return to Auckland by ferry, collect your rental car and head south to Taupo. You might like to go via Waitomo and take a guided tour of the glow-worm caves. Acacia Cliffs Lodge is perched high on a ridge above Lake Taupo and offers spectacular views of the lake and the surrounding area. Dinner at the lodge is a special experience (bookings in advance required). (2 nights)

So many things to do… a spectacular scenic flight over Lake Taupo, the Huka Falls and the towering volcanoes, fly fishing in secluded rivers, golf at Wairakei international golf course or the Kinloch Club, sail to the Maori Rock Carvings or explore the world heritage Tongariro National Park……there’s so much more.

Catch a float plane from Lake Taupo to the summit of Mt Ruapehu. A circuit of the summit allows you to view into the Crater Lake and the ski fields on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu. Travel onto Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom) to view in the centre of this classic volcano, then over Mt Tongariro viewing the craters before returning to descend over Lake Taupo and land on the lakefront.

From here you have quite a variety of scenery as you ascend to the volcanic plateau then across mountains and valleys to Hawke’s Bay. Make your way to Napier city which was destroyed by an earthquake and fire in 1931. Napier was rebuilt in the Art Deco style and is known as one of the best Art Deco cities of the world. Art Deco tours are available, and you can also take a walk along Marine Parade or up Bluff Hill to enjoy the fabulous vista from there. Your host is a renowned chef and dinner at the lodge is highly recommended (bookings essential). (3 nights)

A complete action packed day highlighting the best Hawke’s Bay has to offer. Start the day in the picturesque Esk Valley Region. Take a full behind the scenes tour of Church Road winery, the Tom McDonald Cellar and NZ’s only wine museum. Enjoy lunch with wine at the country’s oldest and grandest winery, the Mission Estate. After lunch visit one of Hawke’s Bay’s small boutique wineries and take another behind the scenes look at how wine evolves from the vine to the glass on a smaller scale. A great contrast to the larger production winery from the morning. Travel through NZ’s most prestigious wine growing district the Gimblett Gravels from which we taste award winning wines throughout the day. Finish with a gourmet platter at award winning restaurant and winery Vidal. Indulge in the finest local produce including meat, seafood, cheese, marinated vegetables, olives, breads and dips.

Led by a Maori elder from Waimarama who tells the stories, tales and legends of this area your half day tour today is a unique opportunity to gain insight into modern day Maori lives and culture and their local history. From atop lofty Te Mata Peak in Havelock North enjoy the panoramic views across the plains to the summits of the five pillars that hold up the heavens. It is the story of creation; ancient gods and rebellious offspring. Leaving the majestic Pillars of Heaven we will then travel down to Civic Square, Hastings, to the Pillars of the Plains. These carved totems represent all of the eighteen tribes of this area. Unique ancestors, each with their own tale and individual carving style provide a fascinating link to their descendants who still thrive today. Your guide provides their insider’s perspective to our local Maori People and relates stories of historical and contemporary Maori culture to provide you with their unique and personal point of view.

Drive south today to the Wairarapa, a rural retreat in the very heart of New Zealand. Greytown, on the main highway is a pretty small town. Stop in at Martinborough, a unique wine village with over 20 boutique vineyards – a nice area to pause for coffee or late lunch before continuing onto Wellington, the nation’s capital. Return your rental car when you arrive. (2 nights)

Wellington is the absolute arts capital of New Zealand. Beautiful Victorian buildings sit beside daring architectural designs. Museums and galleries display the best of the world’s historical collections and the latest works by contemporary New Zealand artists. Enjoy a morning tour exploring the city’s art and architecture. Visit private studios to see New Zealand artists at work, and learn about the culture and work of internationally-renowned artists and craftspeople.

Explore the art collection at some of New Zealand’s leading galleries, and learn about our rich mix of Maori, Pacific, and European history. Browse for unique gifts at exclusive city stores that sell pieces from leading Pacific Rim artists. Take a stroll along the waterfront from the City Gallery to Te Papa. The waterfront is a living work of art, packed with poetry, sculpture, artwork and people, and set against one of the world’s most spectacular harbours.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll transfer you to Wellington airport in time for your onward flight.