Whet Your Palate - New Zealand Wine - 14 Day Package from $2,515.00 per person

**MAY 2012 PROMOTIONAL OFFER**
Book your complete Travel Package by Thursday, May 31st, 2012 and receive the following:

• 1 FREE Wine Tour
  
• 1 FREE Fodor's Travel Guide for any of the destinations we specialize in
  
  Small Print - "Travel Package" must include international airfares & land-based services. Deposit of $300.00 per adult must be received by 5pm, May 31st, 2012. Offer applicable to any of the destinations listed in this website (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands & Tahiti)

To Book this package, or to request additional information, please call 800.409.8496 ext 7008 or fill out our contact form. You can also view our E-brochures here.

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1. Depart Los Angeles

In Flight – Cross the International Dateline (and therefore skip 1 day ahead) as you travel over the Pacific Ocean, on your way to the Southern Hemisphere.

Day 2. Arrive Auckland. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 3 night stay. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Day 3. Full Day Tour of Auckland and Surrounding Areas – Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning, and then feel free to explore downtown Auckland on your own. In the afternoon TIME Unlimited Tours will show you the best of Auckland and it’s beautiful surrounding areas. (B & L)

Day 4. Waiheke Island Wine Tour – Take a relaxing ferry ride from Auckland Harbor to Waiheke Island, where you will be met by a driver and escorted to some of the best wineries Waiheke has to offer. Although your arrival and departure times are flexible, here's what you can expect from a typical Essence of Waiheke tour. You will be picked up from the 10am ex-Auckland ferry or your accommodation on the island and travel in a comfortable minibus to three or more of the top vineyards on the island, according to your preference and seasonal availability.

Vineyards may include:
• Cable Bay
• Goldie
• Kennedy Point
• Mudbrick
• Obsidian
• Stonyridge
• Te Whau
• Jurassic Ridge
• The Hay Paddock
• Passage Rock
• Peacock Sky

An olive oil tasting may also be included if you wish. On the way, stunning scenery is absolutely unavoidable! You will also be entertained by a commentary on Waiheke from one of our experienced guides, all of whom are locals with extensive knowledge of the island, its people and its produce. The tour normally includes a two-hour lunch stop at a village or beachside café, or, for a memorable gourmet experience, at one of our top vineyard restaurants. Lunch is an additional cost. (B)

Day 5. Travel to Napier. Upon arrival you will transferred to your hotel for a 2 night stay. (B)

Day 6. Wine and Gourmet Food Odyssey - Savor some of Hawke's Bay's internationally acclaimed wine and food on this fabulous Odyssey. Relax where art meets science and take a behind the scenes look at a winery learning how the wine evolves from vine to glass. Travel from the country's oldest winemaking road through the acclaimed Gimblett Gravels area from which we taste award winning wines throughout the day. Learn about Wine & Food Matching while indulging in the finest local produce including meat, seafood, cheese, marinated vegetables, olives, breads and dips. (B & L)

Day 7. Travel to Wellington. After arriving from Napier you will be able to enjoy some leisure time in New Zealand’s capital city. Voted in 2011 by Lonely Planet as the “coolest little capital in the world”, Wellington is nestled between rolling hills and a stunning harbour, and has a vibrant and compact downtown area that's best explored on foot. Stay 2 nights. (B)

Day 8. Martinborough Wine Tour. Join Hammonds’ Sightseeing in comfort and style, leaving the driving and commentary to us whilst you enjoy views of our majestic Rimutaka Ranges and the rural landscapes that Martinborough has to offer. Experience some of Martinborough's leading top wineries, followed by a delicious gourmet lunch. (B & L)

Day 9. Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton (the Gateway to the South Island). Upon arrival into Picton you will be transferred by coach to Blenheim – the heart of the Marlborough Wine Region. Stay 2 nights in Blenheim. (B)

Day 10. 5 Hour Marlborough Wine Tour. Experience the magic of Marlborough with a visit to Marlborough's world famous wineries. Sample the wines, the olive oils and the gourmet foods that have put this region on the map as the gourmet province. Our medium tour usually starts around 10am has time for a lunch stop in the vineyards (own cost ) and visit a few more wineries after lunch finishing around 3pm. This tour has a flexible start time with the ability to start as late as 1.00pm if a lunch is not required. (B)

Day 11. Travel to Queenstown. The Southern Hemisphere's premiere four season alpine and lake town, Queenstown is nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the majestic Remarkables Range. The perfect year-round! (B)

Day 12. Dart River Wilderness Safari. The 'Wilderness Safari' is a diverse adventure exploring Mt. Aspiring National Park, a spectacular wilderness surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and mysterious hidden valleys shrouded in native Beech forest. You will experience the park through a combination of an exhilarating jet boating tour, a guided walk through the ancient forest and a back-country, 4WD safari. (B)

Day 13. Boutique Wine Tour. Appellation Central Wine Tours will guide you through an afternoon among the boutique vineyards and spectacular scenery of Central Otago; a perfect introduction to the region. (B & L)

Inclusions
• Tasting at 4 wineries in the Gibbston Valley, Cromwell and Bannockburn regions
• A delightful platter style lunch at Carrick Winery restaurant
• Visit to historic Old Cromwell Town (time and weather permitting)
• A stunning drive through the Kawarau Gorge whilst learning about the early pioneering history of this rugged region
• View the historic Kawarau Bridge and the original AJ Hackett Bungy jump

Day 14. Farewell New Zealand. Until next time…

Departures - You can depart any day

Prices:

Standard Hotel (3*) - $2,515.00 per person
First Class Hotel (4*) - $2,940.00 per person
Deluxe Hotel (5*) - $3,450 per person
Price includes 12 nights hotel accommodation, breakfast daily, 3 lunches, transportation, tours as specified above.

Specific Accommodations used in pricing:
3-Star Accommodation:
Auckland – Mercure Auckland
Napier – Napier Quality Inn
Wellington – Ibis Wellington
Blenheim – Scenic Hotel Marlborough
Queenstown – Sherwood Manor

4-Star Accommodation:
Auckland – Rendezvous Hotel Auckland
Napier – Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Wellington – Novotel Wellington
Blenheim – Hotel D’Urville
Queenstown – Copthorne Resort Lakefront

5-Star Accommodation:
Auckland – Skycity Grand Hotel
Napier – The Crown Hotel Napier
Wellington – Intercontinental Wellington
Blenheim – Chateau Marlborough Hotel
Queenstown – The Rees Luxury Hotel

Prices are from per person, based on low seasonality, prices will vary depending on your season.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

If you would like additional information regarding this package please call 866.643.2061. Alternatively you can fill out a request form to speak with one of our Certified Destination Specialists for help planning a trip to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, and Tahiti.