Itinerary Details
Swain Destinations: New Zealand - Escape to Luxury
Day 1 Welcome to Auckland & Auckland Private Tour
Upon arrival into Auckland, you will need to clear customs and make your way into the main arrivals hall from where you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.
Begin your time in Auckland with a private tour of the city combined with a transfer from Auckland Airport. You will be met on arrival for your transfer and half day introduction tour of Auckland before being taken to your accommodation.
Tamaki Makaurau, the Maori name for Auckland (meaning a city of 100 lovers), is aptly named with visitors experiencing first-hand why locals love this beautiful, geographically and culturally diverse city. Enjoy an extraordinary first impression of New Zealand and optimize your time on your first day in Auckland. The Auckland Private Tour will take in selected historical and cultural sites of significance, cityscapes, harbor views and coastlines, views of ancient volcanic peaks, and parks with unique flora and fauna in New Zealand's largest city.
The Hotel Britomart
Day 2 Auckland Wine and Dine - Matakana Country and Cuisine - Private Tour
Matakana is fast becoming one of the favorite destinations for locals and visitors to Auckland. With its boutique cuisine & wine experiences it is a must do on any trip to Auckland. Within easy reach of Downtown Auckland, Matakana is another special region with its spectacular Hibiscus Coastline and fertile countryside areas which are home to some of the best kept secrets that the Auckland region has to offer. With its lush landscape and fertile farmlands this private tour allows you to choose an exclusive itinerary with the option of including in local producers of honey, cheeses, yogurts, wine, chocolate, ice cream, organic blueberries, and oysters.
There are other activities on offer from a New Zealand farm show, reptile park, superb coastlines and stunning beaches, to snorkeling at Goat Island Marine Reserve. This Private Wine & Dine Tour from Auckland allows you to choose an exclusive itinerary on the day to match your interests with the option of including local producers of delicious foods and beverages.
On the way to or returning from Matakana, enjoy standing in front of a huge Kauri tree (Kauri are the 2nd largest trees in the world by volume of wood), visit the Puhoi Bohemian Village famous for its delicious cheeses and visit Waiwera with the option of visiting its thermally heated hot pools. Enjoy the scenic Hibiscus Coastline, simply enjoy walking along the magnificent Orewa Beach, take a refreshing dip in the ocean or learn all about New Zealand farming at Sheepworld near the country town of Warkworth.
Return to Auckland City after a special day in one of New Zealand's most beautiful regions that are a dream come true for guests that love great food, wine and scenery.
The Hotel Britomart
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Travel to Rosewood Cape Kidnappers via Napier
Takeoff to Napier and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Ahead of your flight, you will be transferred from your accommodations to the Auckland Domestic Airport.
Transfer from Napier Airport to Rosewood Cape Kidnappers by private vehicle.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
Meals: B
Day 4 Rosewood Cape Kidnappers at Leisure
Located on the North Island in Hawke's Bay, one of New Zealand's most important wine districts, Cape Kidnappers has a rich history beginning with its discovery by Captain James Cook in 1769. Rosewood Cape Kidnappers is a truly five star experience.
On the exterior, the lodge will resemble a cluster of farm buildings. Local materials are incorporated into graciously scaled rooms full of natural light and unexpected treasures. Comfort and ease are at a premium with each room taking on a character of its own while harkening back to the rural feeling of the New Zealand sheep station and wine country. Spacious cottages, each with breathtaking views, open to large porches overlooking a stunning Pacific panorama. The cottages feature calm colors and materials that suggest a traditional rural farm yet contain all of the modern amenities one could wish for.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
Meals: B
Day 5 Rosewood Cape Kidnappers at Leisure
Critics and golf devotees alike have already fallen in love with Cape Kidnappers' links-style golf course - it has been voted the 27th best golf course in the world. Now golfers and non-golfers alike will have a luxurious place to stay while exploring the wonders of Hawkes' Bay.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
Meals: B
Day 6 Travel to Bay of Many Coves
Transfer from The Farm at Cape Kidnappers to Napier Airport by private vehicle. Transfer provided by The Farm on a private vehicle basis.
Takeoff to Blenheim and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Welcome to Blenheim. Upon arrival, walk towards the baggage area to meet your driver who will be waiting with a sign.
Transfer by ferry from Picton to the Bay of Many Coves.
Bay Of Many Coves
Meals: B
Day 7 Queen Charlotte Track Walk & Wildlife Tour - Private Guided Walk
Meet your Wilderness Guide and board the shared water taxi, journeying from Bay of Many Coves to Ship Cove past salmon farms and sea birds on a beautiful voyage. This fascinating and remote historic and scenic reserve was visited by Captain Cook several times in the 18th Century as well as being a significant historical site of early Maori occupation.
Your guided walk along the Queen Charlotte Track begins at Ship Cove and ends at Endeavour Inlet. It is a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track with many beautiful views to be had across the Queen Charlotte Sound. Your informative local guide will talk about the European and Maori history of the area, as well as provide detailed information on the birds and plants you encounter along the way.
A freshly packed lunch is supplied, and you can enjoy a cup of plunger coffee or tea along the trail while taking in the views of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. At the end of the walk, take the opportunity to purchase a cold drink or warm beverage at the historic Furneaux Lodge while you await collection by water taxi. It's a great way to toast a fantastic day out walking the Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds. Return to Bay of Many Coves is late afternoon.
Bay Of Many Coves
Meals: B, L
Day 8 Bay of Many Coves at Leisure
The activities available at Bay of Many Coves are voluminous and unique. Spend a day discovering the marine life of the Marlborough Sounds, partake in a guided walk of the Queen Charlotte Track, or kayak to a nearby Salmon Farm. Dolphins and Orcas abound and can be seen on one of several guided cruises as well. Perhaps consider going underground to view the stunning glowworms on cave walls, a short walk from the resort. All these experiences and more are available to you at the Bay of Many Coves.
Bay Of Many Coves
Meals: B
Day 9 Travel to Marlborough Lodge
Transfer by ferry from the Bay of Many Coves to Picton.
Enjoy a leisurely transfer from Picton to the Marlborough Lodge.
The Marlborough
Meals: B
Day 10 The Marlborough at Leisure
Marlborough and the top of New Zealand's South Island is a treasure trove of food, wine, arts, culture and scenery just waiting to be explored, and The Marlborough Lodge sits right in the heart of it all. Take a look at what appeals to you and your hosts can help you plan your itinerary whilst you are there. Alternatively, if you wish to stay close to home, there is plenty happening at the Lodge everyday within the 16 acre estate.
There are many onsite activities on offer each week (some are at additional cost), including Garden tour with the head gardener, cooking demonstration, wine tasting (during summer), mountain bikes, tennis courts, heated swimming pool and walk trails through the gardens. Other activities and day tours include wine, cruising, flightseeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing and golf. Self drive or let the lodge organize a guided tour with one of the local tour partners.
The Marlborough
Meals: B
Day 11 Travel to Queenstown
Takeoff to Queenstown and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Ahead of your flight, you will be transferred from your accommodations to the Blenheim Airport.
Rosewood Matakauri
Meals: B
Day 12 Milford Ultimate - Helicopter Excursion
Perfected over the years, the Milford Ultimate is Over the Top's trip of a lifetime. Relaxed and unhurried, you can make the most of each incredible environment your pilot takes you to. Leaving Queenstown, fly west over the high-country peaks of Queenstown toward the 'Main Divide' of the Southern Alps and into the World-Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. The scenery unfolds dramatically with vast U-shaped glacier carved valleys rich with primeval beech forests. The Milford Ultimate includes four landings, each at diverse and pristine locations where you can sip the pure waters of an alpine lake; take in the majestic Milford Sound; stroll along uninhabited wild, yet beautiful, west coast beaches, see the blue ice on glaciers high in the Alps and the fiords' coastal rain forests. At each landing site, the helicopter will shut down for you to enjoy the quiet sound of the mountains. Perhaps a curious Kea, New Zealand's native parrot, will drop in to say hello. No two Ultimate trips are the same. Today's excursion includes a gourmet picnic hamper of delightful cheeses, cold meats, breads, salads and fruit (please advise of any dietary requirements ahead of time). Sip champagne and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages at a location far from where others may travel. Allow up to 4 hours total time (depending on length of stay at landing sites). Weight restrictions apply to helicopter travel, so the operator will require passenger weight information prior to confirming this excursion.
Rosewood Matakauri
Meals: B, L
Day 13 Rosewood Matakauri at Leisure
Enjoy a picturesque day at leisure at Rosewood Matakauri surrounded by views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Take in the scenic area with a relaxing cruise on the TSS Earnslaw, or experience a breathtaking jet boat ride through Shotever River.
Rosewood Matakauri
Meals: B
Day 14 Travel to Christchurch
Takeoff to Christchurch and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Otahuna Lodge
Meals: B
Day 15 Christchurch City Garden Tour
Explore the garden city and the surrounding areas of Christchurch with a small group of guests in a deluxe mini-coach. Departing from your hotel, the tour heads through Christchurch and by the city's center. Next, the tour heads towards the Port Hills, which overlook Christchurch, and offer stunning views of the city, Canterbury Plains, Lyttleton Harbour and the distant Southern Alps. After dropping into Lyttleton Harbour, you will have time explore a private garden that has been growing since 1865 and includes a variety of exotic trees, shrub rhododendrons, camellias and a good variety of New Zealand native plants. Head over the crater rim to another private garden that is 15 years old; the garden has a strong New Zealand theme and a largely formal layout. Within the evergreen structure of totara hedges, there are many native New Zealand plants and hybrids of exotic varieties raised in this country. The tour then heads back towards Christchurch city, stopping for a relaxing lunch, then a visit to the botanical gardens. Here you will see exotic trees that are some of the largest, the tallest or the oldest of their kind in New Zealand. You will see spectacular color, intriguing sculptures and memorial plantings that celebrate local and international history. If time permits, a stop will be made at another public garden that is rich in history, color and tranquility. Your guide will drop you back at your accommodation at the end of the day, around 4pm.
Otahuna Lodge
Meals: B, L
Day 16 Depart Christchurch
Meals: B
