The Classic Wine Trail Self-Drive

• Taste your way through New Zealand’s significant wine regions on this journey from Auckland to Queenstown.
• Stay amongst the vines at five of the exclusive Maui Winery Havens.
• Stay at Mercury Bay Estate – the northmost Winery Haven, with stunning views of Mercury Bay, and just 15 minutes from Catherdral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
• Spend the night at Linden Estate in Hawke’s Bay.
• Explore the Marlborough Wine Region, Marlborough Sounds and Gibson Bridge Winery.
• The wine region of Central Otago where you’ll stay at Carrick Wines Winery Haven.

Day 1: Auckland Arrive Auckland – the City of Sails – and experience all that this stunning harbour city has to offer. Enjoy a plethora of sights and activities, both on land and sea. Breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, invigorating walks, outstanding food and wine and idyllic islands are all waiting to be discovered. Waiheke Island, just 40 minutes by ferry across the Hauraki Gulf, is a wine lover’s paradise, with many vineyards and wineries offering tours and tastings.

Day 2: Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula (175km/109 miles) Leaving the city behind, head south on the Pacific Coast Highway to the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, famous for it’s golden-sand beaches, bush walks and rainforests. Here you’ll find Mercury Bay Estate, where you will spend the night. This family-owned working vineyard and winery offers a cellar door and restaurant where you can relax, taste the wines and enjoy delicious food.

Day 3: Coromandel to Rotorua (214km/133 miles) Head inland to Rotorua, the geothermal centre of New Zealand to experience geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pools. Nearby Lake Taupo is the largest fresh water lake in New Zealand, and offers plenty of options for hiking, fishing and cruising on the crystal clear waters.

Day 4: Rotorua to Hawke’s Bay (202km/126 miles) Head south to beautiful Hawke’s Bay – one of New Zealand’s premier wine producing regions. Linden Estate’s vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Esk Valley hills, giving stunning views through the valley. Spend your evening here, with the opportunity to enjoy wine tastings and the Estate’s restaurant.

Day 5: Hawke’s Bay to Martinborough (292km/181 miles) Enjoy the scenic drive from Hawke’s Bay to the Wairarapa Wine Region. Head to Martinborough Wine Village, and Coney Wines where you can enjoy the ambience of dining amongst the vineyards at the on-site restaurant, with wines to match.

Day 6: Martinborough • Wellington • Marlborough (221km/137 miles) Drive to Wellington and board the InterIslander ferry to cross the Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. From here you’re just 30 minutes drive from Gibson Bridge, a boutique family owned vineyard and winery in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, producing small quantities of premium wine.

Day 7: Marlborough Sounds • Blenheim Today, take the opportunity to explore the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, and the charming village of Blenheim.

Day 8: Marlborough • Kaikoura • Christchurch (322km/200 miles) Leave the Marlborough region today and head south to Christchurch, stopping at the seaside resort of Kaikoura en route where you may see whales, dolphins and seals in their natural playground.

Day 9: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (228km/142 miles) From Christchurch, head south to Lake Tekapo, a great base for exploring local attractions; New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook, is just an hour’s drive away.

Day 10: Lake Tekapo to Central Otago (204km/127 miles) Drive to Bannockburn in the wine region of Central Otago. Here you’ll find Carrick Wines, one of the oldest vineyards in the region. Enjoy a lunch of seasonal, local produce at the restaurant, and enjoy your overnight stay amongst the vines.

Day 11: Central Otago to Queenstown (60km/37 miles) An hour’s drive will bring you to Queenstown, where you’ll end your journey. A great place to source gourmet food and wine, here you will find top class restaurants, local food and wine producers and a stunning backdrop of lakes and mountains found nowhere else on earth.