Wairarapa Wine Tour - a 5 day New Zealand Tour
Day 1 - Leaving Tauranga we head south and make our first stop for morning tea (it's our shout) and a chance to get to know each other. Suitably refreshed we continue towards Taupo, around the lakes eastern shore line for our lunch destination at Licorice cafe. (lunch is at your cost today).
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We then continue south through the stunning scenery of the Tongariro National Park to our first nights accommodation at the Powderhorn Chateau Oakune. Plenty of options here, you could take a swim in the indoor pool, take a riverside walk into town or just relax before we enjoy dinner together at the Powderhorn restaurant this evening.
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Day 2 - After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we continue south towards the Wairarapa and take a break for lunch just outside Palmerston North at the stunning Greenhaugh Garden. They have been designated a Six Star Garden - a Garden of International Significance - by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Here we will enjoy a light lunch in the attractive Giraffe Room overlooking the stunning gardens( lunch is included today).
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Suitably refreshed we continue our journey to our Martinborough hotel, arriving in time to enjoy the lovely location and relax by the pool before we dine at the hotel.
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Day 3 - After a leisurely breakfast this morning we begin our day with a visit to the impressive Brancepeth Homestead, one of Wairarapa's grandest and most treasured historic sites. Established in 1856, Brancepeth was one of the largest sheep stations in New Zealand and we will be taken a guided tour of the property by the owner. We will also enjoy morning tea here before departing to our next destination.
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A short drive along the backroads brings us to our lunch destination which today is Luna Estate Winery. Here we will sample their premium wines as we enjoy a light lunch in this great setting on the terrace (lunch is included today).
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With so many great boutique wine producers in the area we will select another winery or two to visit after lunch before heading to Greytown to explore it's main street with many boutique shops and cafes. Returning to Martinborough we will dine out at another local winery with a chance to sample their wines before dinner.
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Day 4 - Today we leave our Martinborough hotel and head to Wellington, but along the way we have time to enjoy some local sights and visit a few more wineries.
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Our first stop is Stonehenge Aotearoa to learn about New Zealand's unique open air astronomical observatory. This was built based on the ancient knowledge of stone circles and has been adapted to the conditions here in New Zealand. Our guide will explain the significance of the stones and how they are still used in modern times.
Join us as we visit one of New Zealand's great wine regions, the Wairarapa. Sample some amazing wine and food plus see many other sights....
Our tour includes great wineries, restaurants, and museums. We have guided tours at Te Papa, a historic Wairarapa homestead and also visit New Zealand's very own Stonehenge! We travel via the central plateau ( 1 night at The Powderhorn Chateau ) then to the Wairarapa for 2 nights based in Martinborough. Our final night is spent in Wellington and then we fly back direct to Tauranga. We do include wine tasting at many great wineries but also offer much more on this great value trip.
What's Included:
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5 days on tour
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4 nights quality accommodation
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Door to door service (Tauranga area)
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Quality air-conditioned vehicle
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Full commentary by your guide
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Wine tastings at 5 wineries
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Wairarapa historic homestead tour
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Visit to Stonehenge Aotearoa
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Two morning teas
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Lunch at historic Wellington pub
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Lunch at Luna Estate winery
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Lunch at Greenhaugh Gardens
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Four evening dinners
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Breakfasts each day
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Plenty of time to relax
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Air NZ flight from Wellington
You will see:
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Stunning scenery throughout
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Wairarapa Winery's and vineyards
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Wellington and the Rimutaka Hill
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Martinborough and Greytown
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Lake Taupo
Not included:
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Any lunches unless specified*
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Cost of morning/afternoon tea stops*
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Any alcoholic beverages with meals
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If you do not wish to taste the wines or beers during our visits, then alternative beverages will be offered instead.
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Another boutique winery becons and after a short drive we arrive at the Gladstone Winery, its location right beside the Ruamahunga River offers a perfect mix of soil (light alluvial river deposits over a shingly gravel substrate) providing a free draining environment. Our hosts will explain the history of the vineyard as we taste their award winning wines.
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Having tried some wines its time for lunch, so we head to the historic Gladstone Inn which first opened its doors in 1870. “The Gladdy” as it’s locally known, started life as a ferry house beside the Ruamahanga River, way back when a horse and cart were the only mode of transport. While the building you’ll find today has gone through various transformations, you’ll still find the same welcoming, country atmosphere (lunch is at your cost today).
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After lunch we have time for another boutique winery visit if you want before departing the Wairarapa for Wellington where we will spend our last night on this wonderful trip. Our route over the Rimutaka Hill offers great views of the rugged landscape and was the location of the famous Fell Engines that hauled trains up the inclines on this, the steepest section of New Zealand railway. Today our route is much easier.
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Arriving at our waterfront city central hotel we have time to freshen up before dinner.
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Day 5 - It may be our last day of the trip but we still have plenty to see and do before we take our direct flight back to Tauranga this afternoon.
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We begin with a visit to New Zealand’s national museum – Te Papa Tongarewa, for a private guided tour of the museum, including the much-awarded Gallipoli exhibition - The Scale Of War. This is a truly moving experience and is a significant part of New Zealand's history. The exhibition is due to end in April 2022 so a good time to visit.
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Departing Te Papa, a short drive through the central city brings us to one of New Zealand's most historic pubs - for our included lunch today. The Thistle Inn is one of New Zealand's oldest public houses, originally built in 1840 by Scotsman William Couper. Originally standing only a few metres from the shoreline, patrons often arrived by boat, including - according to legend, the Ngati Toa warrior chief Te Rauparaha.
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Heading to the airport after lunch we will have time to see some of the city sights along the way and be at the airport in good time for our direct flight home.
If you have bought wines during this trip don't worry, as we will deliver the wines to you after the following tour.
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All Hinterland multi-day tours can be taken by clients from any region of New Zealand or Australia. Please contact us for details. Additional charges may apply.
