Day 1: Arrive in Wellington
On your arrival into Wellington Airport, you will be met by our local representative and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.
Wellington, the Capital of New Zealand, is known for its vibrant arts scene, world class café and restaurant culture and active outdoor lifestyle. This creative, cosmopolitan city is surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills and has an easily walkable downtown area set around an attractive waterfront. It offers a mixture of modern and older style buildings and the strong Victorian influence is testimony to Wellington's early establishment as the country's centre of political life. Of particular note is the Government Building built in 1876, the second largest timber building in the world. Wellington combines the sophistication of a capital with the warmth and personality of a village.
Day 2: Optional Tours
Choose between a full day guided Lord of the Rings Tour around Wellington or a full day guided wine tour to Martinborough in Wairarapa Valley, one of New Zealand’s best known wine regions.
OPTION 1 - Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour (Shared Small Group Tour)
This full day LOTR locations tour is a must for any LOTR fan visiting Wellington. You'll start with a visit to Mt Victoria lookout and then onto locations used in the Trilogy like the Outer Shire, Hobbiton Woods and Dunharrow. Travel to the Hutt Valley to Kaitoke Regional Park, the location of Rivendell. Along the way visit Isengard, Fords of Isen, the River Anduin and past the quarry where Helms Deep and Minas Tirith were filmed. Today tour also includes an Orc sized picnic lunch or café lunch plus a visit to the famous Weta Cave and the Weta Workshop tour.
OPTION 2: Full Day Martinborough Gourmet Wine Tour
Includes: Train/coach travel, wine tastings, local gourmet cuisine and sweet treats.
Depart by train for a scenic journey with stunning views of Wellington Harbour and the Wairarapa Valley. Experience four boutique award-winning Martinborough vineyards. Enjoy wine tastings throughout the day, a delicious local gourmet antipasto lunch in the charming wine village, a variety of gourmet delights and to finish, a delectable cheese platter and coffee.
Day 3: Day at Leisure
Day at leisure to explore Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, at your leisure.
Wellington is a compact city and best explored on foot. A good place to start is vibrant Cuba Street and down Wellington’s waterfront. Take a stroll to Oriental Bay or hire a bicycle if you wish to venture further along the bays.
The most prominent building on the waterfront and difficult to overlook is Te Papa Tongarewa museum. The national museum is a must-do with six storeys of interactive exhibitions on Maori and Polynesian history, geology, flora and fauna, and much more in an architectural wonder of a building.
Take the iconic cable car ride up into the Kelburn Hills. On a beautiful day, the views from up there are stunning and a stroll through the botanic gardens is a great way to make your way back down the city.
Day 4: Ferry to Picton & Drive to Blenheim
This morning you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to the ferry terminal where you will board the ferry bound for Picton. Check-in at the Interislander ferry terminal and board your vessel for the journey across Cook Strait. Depart Wellington and arrive into Picton harbour. The 92 kilometre voyage takes approximately three hours and is described as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world.
Upon arrival in Picton you will make your way to the car hire office where you will pick up your vehicle.
Depart the picturesque seaside town of Picton and take the short drive to sunny Blenheim, crossing the Wairau Plains past vineyards and orchards. Blenheim is the heart of wine-growing Marlborough, so you will see plenty of award winning wineries on the way into town.
Blenheim is the Marlborough region’s main commercial centre and the hub of its famous wine industry. From the kumara plantations of the early Maori, to the sheep farms of European settlers and present day success with grape and olive growing industries, Blenheim has long been a source of quality, bountiful produce. The surrounding Wairau Plains are dominated by rows of grape vines and scattered with wineries, with the compact, rural town making a great base to explore and indulge in the attractions of the region.
Your stay at Hans Herzog includes 2 nights accommodation at Herzog Vineyard Cottage, daily breakfast, Winemaker’s tour and tasting at Hans Herzog, 5-course degustation menu with matching Herzog wine on one night, 3-course bistro lunch and Winemaker’s platter with bottle of Herzog Pinot Noir delivered to the cottage.
Day 5: Winemaker's Tour & Tasting
Enjoy your Winemaker’s tour and tasting at Hans Herzog today.
Regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest world class wine & dine experiences Herzog’s is undoubtedly a true highlight for wine lovers and a must visit destination! The stylish Cellar Door emphasizes the reputation as one of Marlborough's most elegant Estate within beautiful grounds. Find the most eclectic and largest selection of wines and grape varieties in New Zealand, all exclusively handcrafted from grapes of the organic estate vineyard.
Day 6: Drive to Nelson
Depart Blenheim, cross over the Wairau River and make your way through the stunning Marlborough region. The lookout viewpoints along this drive are plentiful, so give yourself time to stop at each of them and take in the beautiful scenery. Take a small detour to the Cullen Point Lookout and breathe in the fresh air whilst overlooking Pelorus Sound. Continue on, following the Pelorus River (another filming location from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) where you will meet the Pelorus Bridge. In the Summer months, a great swim spot! And in the Winter, a nice spot to stretch your legs! As you leave the Marlborough region and enter the Nelson region, the road becomes hilly and sweeps up and over the Rai Saddle and Whangamoa Hill before running down to Tasman Bay and the City of Nelson.
Highlight of this drive: The 'Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World' - the historic town of Havelock, just a short detour off the main route to Nelson located at the meeting point of the Pelorus and Kaituna Rivers. If time permits, take the Greenshell Mussel Cruise for lunch, or take a small walk around the many walking tracks in the area.
Day 7: Hike Nelson/Motueka to Awaroa via Totaranui
After an in-depth briefing at Wilsons Abel Tasman base in Motueka, your driver will take you to Kaiteriteri, at the southern tip of Abel Tasman National Park, where you will board your Vista Cruise to Totaranui. Relax on the upper or lower viewing decks and enjoy a hot drink from the cafe. From Totaranui walk through mature beech and rata forests and along secluded golden beaches to the bearth-taking expanse of the Awaroa Inlet. Then, welcome to Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa, a faithful re-creation of the Wilson family's original home on the finest site in the bay.
Day 8: Hike Awaroa to Torrent Bay
After a relaxing night’s sleep and home-cooked breakfast overlooking the gardens by the sea at Meadowbank, you’ll be ready for your scenic day walk to Torrent Bay. Your walk is split into three sections, with the option of a boat pick up at each beach. If you're not feeling energetic, arrange for boat transfers before you leave the Lodge. Details and timings will be shared with independent walkers at the pre-departure briefing and at Meadowbank Homestead in Awaroa.
Day 9: Hike Torrent Bay to Motueka/Nelson
Wake up to morning light on the golden sands of Torrent Bay and perhaps a coffee on the deck before breakfast. Then on your final day, walk the easiest section of the coastal track from Torrent Bay to Marahau, with panoramic views across Tasman Bay to Nelson. Along the way you will rediscover the pristine bays and beaches named by French Explorer, Dumont D'Urville in 1827.
Upon completion of your three day hike, you will be transferred back to Kaiteriteri by boat and on to your accommodation in Nelson by vehicle.
Day 10: Depart Nelson
You will be met at your accommodation by your driver and transfer to Nelson Airport.
