1. The Classic Wine Trail
2. Middle Earth In Wellington
3. Inspiration Tour (New)
4. Zest Gourmet Food & Wine Walking Tour
5. Maori Treasures Half Day
6. Intercity Travel Pass & Sectors
7. Kiwi Experience
8. The Pacific Traveller Self-Drive
9. NZ Fly Drive
10. New Zealand Adventure
11. Pacific Escapade Tour
12. Go Kiwi Hotel Pass
13. Golden Chain
14. Choice Australia & New Zealand Hotel Passes
15. Coral Princess Cruise
16. The Kiwi Experience Self-Drive
17. The Best of the North Island Self-Drive
18. The Original 'Cream Trip' Supercruise
19. Cape Reinga by Air & 4WD
20. Cape Reinga Wanderer

1. Intercontinental Wellington from £102.00
2. Mercure Wellington from £26.00
3. Peppers Martinborough from £106.00
4. James Cook Grand Chancellor from £30.00
5. Ruby House Kelburne Call for rates
6. Duxton Hotel from £109.00
7. The Bolton Hotel from £102.00
8. The Boatshed from £111.00
9. The Sands Apartments from £60.00
10. Okiato Lodge Call for rates
11. Paihia Beach Resort & Spa from £121.00
12. Pukematu Lodge from £69.00
13. Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands from £24.00
14. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs Call for rates
15. Princes Gate Hotel From £66.00
16. Royal Lakeside Novotel from £29.00
17. Millennium Rotorua From £60.00
18. Peppers On The Point from £247.00
19. Ibis Rotorua from £23.00
20. Hilton Auckland £67.00

Experience Type: Self Drive
Valid Period:01/12/06 - 01/03/08

Go Back

Show on Map

To book this experience call us on

0800 804 8911

The Classic Wine Trail

8 Days Auckland to Christchurch from £465

Day 1: Auckland – Napier
Travel south to Napier and enjoy the sights en route, such as glowworm caves at Waitomo and thermal wonders and Maori culture at Rotorua. At the end of your journey check into your hotel for the next two nights. Napier has many fabulous restaurants, which serve superb cuisine complemented by fine wines. (426 km / 265 miles)
Accommodation: Standard: The County Hotel, Superior: Cobden Villa (breakfast included)

Day 2: Napier
Take time to explore this beautiful region rich in history. In 1931 Napier and Hastings were struck by an earthquake, then rebuilt in a style that placed them at the centre of ‘modern’ architecture. Today you can absorb the splendour of Art Deco and Spanish Mission buildings that make the region one of the most architecturally interesting in New Zealand.

Day 3: Napier – Martinborough
Today, continue south to Wairarapa – the perfect rural retreat at the very heart of New Zealand. Here, discover Martinborough Wine Village, where twenty wineries are clustered around a quaint farming village. Check in to the Martinborough Hotel for your two-night stay. (266 km / 165 miles)
Accommodation: Standard and Superior: The Martinborough Hotel

Day 4: Martinborough
The key attraction of Martinborough, apart from its high number of sunshine hours, is wine and all that goes with it – tasting, buying, talking with winemakers, walking through vineyards and generally absorbing the atmosphere. Everything here is boutique-scale as the big wine producers are absent, Palliser Estate, producing only 20,000 cases each year, is by far the largest winery.

Day 5: Martinborough – Wellington – Blenheim
Enjoy the hour’s drive through the Rimutaka Mountain Pass to Wellington. On arrival you will have time to explore before dropping your hire car off and boarding the afternoon Interislander ferry to Picton (charge included). On arrival in Picton collect your new car and travel the short distance to Blenheim, where you will spend the next two nights. (112 km / 64 miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Blenheim Country Lodge, Superior: Old St Mary’s Convent (breakfast included)

Day 6: Blenheim
Today is free to explore Blenheim. More than 40 wineries are within ten miles of Blenheim, including the well-renowned Cloudy Bay Winery.

Day 7: Blenheim – Christchurch
Today, take the opportunity to visit Marlborough’s potters, craft shops and gourmet food producers before travelling south to Christchurch. (308 km / 192 miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Copthorne Central, Superior: The Charlotte Jane (breakfast included)

Day 8: Christchurch
Today is at leisure. Why not take a drive out to the French settlement of Akaroa with a stop at French Farm Vineyards for lunch? Your hire car is booked until tomorrow but must be returned no later than the time it was picked up on day one.