Foodie New Zealand holiday package with fine wine and fresh seafood

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Auckland
• 3 nights Blenheim
• 2 nights Kaikoura
• 2 nights Christchurch 
• 1 night Mount Cook 
• 3 nights Queenstown 

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Auckland

On arrival in Auckland, you'll be met at the airport and drive into the city to check in at your hotel for 2 nights. Why not head straight out for dinner - whether you fancy fine dining or something more low key, Auckland has so many fantastic restaurants and bakeries, where you can try some of the most famous Kiwi dishes. Don't forget to taste the local pavlova, enjoy a tasty meat pie and tuck into some delicious hokey pokey ice cream. 

Included: Transfers, 4* hotel 

Day 3: Waiheke Island 

Today you'll head off on a tour of Waiheke Island, a beautiful spot that combines scenic landscapes, wonderful food, tranquil wineries and a relaxed atmosphere that's perfect for your first day in New Zealand. You'll start with a visit to a boutique vineyard for a wine tasting, whilst trying Te Matuku Bay oysters and local Waiheke honey. From here, you'll visit the Allpress Estate to enjoy some of their fantastic olive oils and learn about the island's renowned olive oil production. Tuck into a relaxed lunch at the next vineyard before finishing the day at The Heke, a little brewery where you can taste their local beer, gins and liquors. Your tour will finish at Oneroa Bay, where you can enjoy a stroll along the golden sands, enjoy a drink at the local coffee shops before heading back to the ferry terminal to return to Auckland.

Included: Waiheke Island tour with ferry, 4* hotel  

Day 4: Fly to Blenheim 

Leaving the north island behind, today you'll fly to Blenheim, in the far north of the South Island. This quaint town is found in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, one of the most famous in New Zealand. On arrival, you'll pick up your hire car and drive to your hotel, checking in for three nights. If you'd like to enjoy a special dinner, we recommend booking a table at The Marlborough, a luxury lodge in the area - here you can enjoy menus that honour the seasons, with fresh and seasonal ingredients paired with the best New Zealand wines. 

Included: Transfers, internal flights, car hire, 4* hotel 

Day 5: Marlborough Sounds 

Today is yours to explore the nearby Marlborough Sounds, from the jumping off point of Picton. Why not enjoy breakfast by the harbour in one of the cosy cafes before enjoying the Bob's Bay Walk, an easy coastal track through native forest and past secluded coves. If you'd like something a little harder, the Queen Charlotte View Track is around 5km return from the car park and offer spectacular views over the sounds at the summit. 

In the afternoon, you'll head out on the iconic Seafood Odyssea cruise, sailing out into the Queen Charlotte Sound on a catamaran, discovering some of the best fish and shellfish that New Zealand has to offer. Feast on fresh King Salmon and Greenshell mussels prepared in several delicious ways. You'll visit the marine reserve, soak in the spectacular views of the Marlborough Sounds from the water and sip cold sauvignon blanc as you look out for dolphins that often follow the boat. It's a magical and tasty way to spend the afternoon. 

Included: Car hire, Seafood Odyssea cruise, 4* hotel 

Day 6: Marlborough Wine Region 

Spend the day exploring the wine region with a morning guided tour and an afternoon of self-guided fun! Start with three winery visits this morning, cycling along scenic trails, past river banks and down quiet roads. Your guide will explain about the history of Blenheim and the background of growing wine in this region, before sipping wine in the different vineyards and enjoying a grazing platter of local cheeses and fruit. They'll also give you maps and advice on how to spend your afternoon, based on what kinds of wine you enjoy and whether you'd like to explore small or larger vineyards. It's the perfect way to spend the day in Marlborough. 

Included: Car hire, morning guided wine cycle tour with afternoon self guided, 4* hotel 

Day 7: Drive to Kaikoura 

Spend the morning enjoying Blenheim at your own pace - perhaps visiting a couple of different vineyards from yesterday or enjoying breakfast at one of the iconic brunch spots around town, before driving south along the Pacific coast towards Kaikoura. Stop off in Kekerengu for a coffee on the way, tuck into some local crayfish along the coast and pull in at Ohau Point to admire the fur seals along the shore. From here, you'll start to see the mountains rise dramatically to your right as the vast ocean lies to your left and soon you'll arrive in spectacular Kaikoura, home to some of the most majestic coastal scenery on the South Island.

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel  

Day 8: Kaikoura 

Spend the day enjoying Kaikōura’s spectacular coastline and abundant marine life, with the mountains providing an impressive backdrop to your day. We've included a whale-watching cruise, taking you out onto the water in search of the whales found off the Kaikōura coast. Sperm whales can be found here year round, while humpbacks pass through on their migration from Antarctica between June and October. If you'd rather, we can change this to a whale watching flight or helicopter experience - these tend to be shorter but give you incredible views of the mountains and ocean, as well as the chance to see the whole length of the whale from above - it's pretty incredible! If you'd like to add this, just ask.

In the afternoon, we've booked you on a half day cooking class at the Hapuku Kitchen, a famous cookery school in the heart of Kaikoura. Working with expert chefs, you'll learn to prepare dishes like crayfish, free-range lamb and artisan breads, all paired with regional wines. As you cook, you'll learn about New Zealand's farm-to-fork food culture before sitting down to feast on the sensational dishes you've created. It's great to explore the kitchen garden, harvesting fresh herbs and vegetables so you get a real insight into the best of New Zealand's produce. 

Included: Car hire, whale watching cruise, Hapuku Kitchen Seasonal feast, 4* hotel 

Day 9: Drive to Christchurch

Today is your final drive down the coast to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. Spend the afternoon exploring the city's many pop-up bars, cafes and shops and learning about the history of the architecture and changes since the earthquake in 2011. You'll check into your hotel for one night, before heading off to enjoy the iconic Tram Dinner experience, where you tuck into a delicious meal as you enjoy a relaxed tram journey through the centre of the city. It's a fun welcome to the quaint city of Christchurch, all while enjoying a delicious dinner on board.

Included: Car hire, tram dinner experience, 4* hotel 

Day 10: Christchurch 

Today is yours to enjoy the quaint city of Christchurch. Why not go punting along the River Avon past the Botanic Gardens before heading out to join the foodie walking tour we've included today. Tuck into the best of Christchurch on the Kai Bites tour which blends Māori traditions and the importance of food (kai) in bringing people together. You'll learn about the role of native plants in New Zealand cuisine, as you try artisan cheeses, honey, coffee, craft beer and traditional ingredients like horopito and kawakawa, which have long been used in Māori cooking.

After this fascinating tour, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy the city - why not continue your foodie adventures at Riverside Market, where you can taste Asian street food and famous hokey pokey ice cream?

Included: Kai Bites food tour, 4* hotel 

Day 11: Drive to Aoraki Mount Cook 

This morning you'll head off on one of New Zealand's most spectacular road journeys, taking you from the Canterbury Plains into the heart of the Southern Alps. Drive through rolling farmland and past charming towns of Geraldine and Fairlie before reaching the famous turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, where the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd sits against a backdrop of mountains. 

Admire the spectacular views over the lake before driving a little further south to Lake Pukaki, where you'll following the bright blue waters towards Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. The final stretch of road will give you some of the best scenery in the country, with snow-capped mountains, glaciers and the vivid blue water making you want to stop every few minutes to take more photos. When you arrive, you'll check into your hotel for the night - spend your afternoon enjoying the views of the mountain, hiking along forested trails and gazing up at the stars after darkness has fallen. 

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel 

Day 12: Drive to Queenstown 

Leaving Mount Cook behind, you'll continue south through some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. Heading back along the shoreline of Lake Pukaki before turning south across the vast plains of the Mackenzie Basin, you can enjoy the views as you drive towards Wanaka. Arriving in the lake country, you'll have time to stop in Wanaka for lunch - why not head down to visit the famous Wanaka Tree or even head out on a cruise of the lake if you have time, before continuing on to Queenstown. 

Today is about enjoying the scenic driving, stopping to take photographs along the way and really soaking up this epic road trip across New Zealand. By the end of the day, you'll have arrived in Queenstown, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, the last stop on your trip. Head straight out for dinner - there are so many places to choose from, from craft breweries and local vineyards to high end restaurants in town. 

Included: Car hire, 4* hotel 

Days 13 & 14: Queenstown & Milford Sound 

On your first full day in Queenstown, we've included an indulgent day of wine tasting with a gourmet lunch - the perfect introduction to the incredible cuisine found in this region of New Zealand. You'll head out to explore the Central Otago wine region, visiting the sub regions of Gibbston Valley, Cromell and Bannockburn. You'll explore an underground wine cave, enjoying a 5 course lunch cooked in retired oak barrels and also explore the quaint village of Arrowtown, all while tasting delicious wines and learning about the region from your local guide. 

On your second day, we've included a scenic flight to Milford Sound, flying over the epic mountains between Queenstown and the coast. After landing, you'll head out on the relaxing nature cruise of Milford Sound, gazing out at the gushing waterfalls and misty peaks whilst learning about the incredible landscape that is the Fiordland National Park. Enjoy another spectacular flight back to Queenstown over the braided rivers of the Dart Valley, the epic glaciers of Earnslaw Burn and Mt. Tutoko before landing back in town. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the endless delights of Queenstown, whether you want enjoy one of the hundreds of tours on offer, drive down to Glenorchy to enjoy one of the most scenic road trips around or simply stroll around the lake to enjoy the views. 

Included: Car hire, Central Otago wine and lunch tour, Milford Sound flight and cruise, 4* hotel 

Day 15: Depart Queenstown 

This morning, you'll return your hire car to the airport in time to catch your flight back home. 

Included: Car hire, international flights

Day 16: Arrive UK