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14-Day Exclusive Gourmet journey through NZ

14-Day Exclusive Gourmet journey through NZ

With its unique gastronomy and a wide selection of wines and craft beers, it promises an adventure that will not disappoint. Embark on a culinary journey and discover the passion of top Kiwi chefs. Their culinary prowess has not only helped New Zealand earn the reputation of an international destination for discerning foodies but also ignited a love for food among Kiwis. The food here is not just fresh, diverse, and delicious, it's a testament to the dedication and love these chefs have for their craft.

As New Zealand-based Times travel writer Brian Ng rightly said, New Zealand is a top destination for dining, thanks to its “famous multiculturalism” and culinary influences. Whether you are a wine enthusiast or a food connoisseur, New Zealand’s range of flavours will surely delight you. But the abundance of fresh seafood, succulent lamb, and seasonal produce truly sets New Zealand apart. Each dish celebrates the land's richness and freshness, offering a vibrant and unique culinary experience. And some regions really take the cake when it comes to food. Explore some of the best places for foodies in New Zealand.


Day 1: Auckland city arrival (2 nights)
  • Airport Meet and Greet, transfer to hotel.

  • Central Auckland is a hub of urban delights set against beautiful coastal scenery. Known as 'the city of sails,' Auckland is home to waterfront restaurants, award-winning menus, and bustling food hubs. Discover the area on a walking food tour. You can find world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment in the city centre. Splurge on designer fashion, indulge in Pacific Rim cuisine overlooking the harbour, and discover buzzing waterfront precincts.

  • Ahi Restaurant strives to deliver the best of NZ cuisine. The dining experience takes shape long before you arrive: Chef Ben Bayly has scoured New Zealand for the finest ingredients; our drinks list champions the best of local wine and spirits, and the organic vegetables are grown by our team at Ahi Kitchen Garden in South Auckland.
Day 2: Auckland - Waiheke Island 
  • Just 40 minutes by ferry from Auckland, Waiheke Island is known as a wellspring of food, wine, and spectacular scenery. In landscape, lifestyle, and experience, it is a world away. Sample gourmet cheese, breads, and wines while you visit an olive oil farm and wineries.

  • Join laid-back locals Jane and Darren (your guides for the day) and discover the best of Waiheke's vineyards. Explore Te Motu Arai Roa, where you’ll learn about the cultural significance of Waiheke, our Polynesian roots and our past, present and future. Listen to the ancient stories of our people and get an insight into the world of Te Ao Māori.

Day 3: Auckland - Rotorua
  • Zealong is the only commercial tea estate in NZ producing 100% organic award-winning tea. Ideally located close to Hamilton, Zealong offers unique tours and high Tea.  

  • Rotorua is well-known for its fascinating geothermal activity, Māori culture, hot springs and mud pools.

  • Experience the best of Māori culture with Māori villages, lively performances, ta moko tattoo experts, and delicious hāngī. The Māori hāngī is a traditional way of cooking food. Find out what a hāngī involves and where you can try one for yourself.

Day 4: Rotorua – Lake Taupo – Hawkes Bay (2 nights)
  • Napier, located in Hawke's Bay, has beautifully preserved 1930s architecture, which is the city's unique point of difference.

  • Craggy Range Restaurant is the culinary heart of the Giants Winery. The intimate, comfortable, and relaxed space is the perfect setting to enjoy Head Chef Casey McDonald's regionally inspired menu, which celebrates Hawke's Bay's elements and abundant produce.

  • Ever wondered what the difference is between Brie & Camembert? What wine is best for your favourite blue, or would you just love to know more about cheese? Then join me, Master of Cheese Juliet Harbutt, for a fascinating, fun and unmissable experience.

Day 5: Hawkes Bay 
  • Guests start the day with a truffle hunt at Sacre Monte, warmed-up with hot chocolate and rum at the truffiere, a rundown on the history, varieties and harvesting of truffles, followed by hunting and foraging, topped-off with lunch back at The Manse for a four-course truffle lunch – black truffles in each course, truffle creme brûlée for dessert.

  • Or: Welcome to Farmhouse Kitchen, where you will get an authentic food experience. The Family-Run cooking school looks forward to welcoming you to our new custom-built kitchen, where you can take hands-on cooking classes.

Day 6: Hawkes Bay – Martinborough - Wellington (2 nights)
  • The Silky Oak Chocolate Company is heaven on earth for Chocoholics! Visit Silky Oak Chocolates to tempt your tastebuds and learn more about the evolution of this delicious indulgence 

  • Viist a Manuka Honey center. New Zealand's world-famous Mānuka honey has natural antibacterial properties. It’s used in a wide range of food and drinks, as well as in health products and skin care and is a favourite take-home souvenir. 

  • Wander amongst the oldest olive trees in Martinborough, learning about the different olive varieties and what happens throughout the olive year. Learn how to taste olive oil like a professional, and use extra virgin olive oil and the full range of infused oils in quick, easy and spectacular recipes.
Day 7: Wellington City - Area Tour
  • Learn a thing or two about Wellington's food and drink scene. Sneak down Hannah's Laneway searching for secret foodie spots such as Fix & Fogg peanut butter, Wellington Chocolate Factory, and Goldings Free Dive bar.

  • Craft beers are a growing phenomenon in New Zealand, and microbreweries can be found nationwide, including in Wellington. 

  • New Zealand's tremendous capital is known for its vast food scene. We may be a teensy bit biased, but we reckon Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington has some of the best restaurants in the country. 
Day 8: Wellington – Blenheim - Kaikoura (2 nights)
  • On New Zealand's South Island, Marlborough is the largest wine-growing region and home to the world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc. Take a wine tour or explore the Marlborough Sounds.

  • Relax and enjoy the stunning Marlborough Sounds with the exclusive afternoon Seafood Odyssea Cruise departing Picton. As you cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui, sample local seafood, such as salmon and Greenshell mussels, with Marlborough sauvignon blanc for the definitive wine/food match.

Day 9: Kaikoura
  • The picturesque coastal town of Kaikōura is the perfect place for marine life encounters and coastal walks.  Kaikōura is a base for wildlife experiences of all kinds – it’s also a great place to eat crayfish(opens in new window) (in the Māori language, 'kai' means food, and 'kōura' means crayfish.

  • Take a cooking class and culinary adventures in the heart of New Zealand. Immersive and hands-on paddock-and-sea-to-plate cooking experiences inspired by the wild and natural Kaikōura region.
Day 10: Kaikoura - Christchurch (2 nights)
  • Jenny Caring, the food writer and creative energy of Lyttelton’s Ground Culinary Centre, guides tours and retreats. With foraging expert Peter Langlands, you are guided to the world of wild ingredients. From mushrooms to weeds, porcini to broom flowers, you’ll be surprised at what can easily be found and consumed.

  • Inner city Christchurch’s indoor market is a vibrant community of specialist stores, cafes, and fresh food markets, providing visitors with a classic food highlight year-round. Mingle with locals as they shop and enjoy a leisurely coffee with your newly acquired goodies in your tote.

Day 11: Christchurch - Akaroa
  • Akaroa is renowned for its fine dining and farm-to-plate food culture, yet the grab-and-go-and-eat street food scene offers plenty for visitors on the move. French-inspired bakeries, waffles and a farmer's market.

  • Enjoy a tour through an authentic, family-run sheep and cattle farm, followed by a hot drink and delicious home baking. See how everyday life is on a farm. You will get to meet the animals up close, go inside a wool shed, meet our main working dogs, and have some spectacular photo opportunities as we take you to some of the most beautiful spots on the farm.

  • The Tramway Restaurant offers a unique luxury dining experience on a heritage tram. It provides curated seasonal dining combined with evening sightseeing in central Christchurch.
Day 12: Christchurch –  Mt Cook National Park
  • Stop at the Barkers Foodstore. Barkers is a small family-owned enterprise, and the produce for all its sauces and conserves is sourced locally. 
  • Have a stop for a famous local Pie. The locals recommend that you try a salmon and bacon pie at the award-winning Fairlie Bakehouse.

  • If there’s one dessert Kiwis are most proud of (and will fight the Australians for), it’s pavlova. And no one bakes a better pav than Angie Taylor. Angie delivers a warm dose of Kiwi hospitality as a local host when tour guests drop by her family home, Morelea, near Lake Tekapo. Together with her husband Stan, they welcome visitors from far and wide for a barbecue lunch at their home and a slice of her famous pavlova.

  • Picturesque by day and dazzling by night, Lake Tekapo/Takapō is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it the perfect spot for stargazing.
Day 13: Mt Cook National Park - Queenstown (2 nights)
  • Central Otago, on New Zealand's South Island, is known for its wine, cycling and powerful landscapes. Taste your way around the sunny Central Otago's Pinot Noir vineyards, cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail or explore picturesque heritage towns. As cliché as it sounds, one of the most incredible things about Central Otago is the people. Step inside any local eatery when you've spent the day cycling, and you'll receive a good old-fashioned welcome.

  • The Cloudy Bay Shed is located on our Northburn Vineyard, just 7 minutes from Cromwell in Central Otago. It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a tasting, glass of wine, or light lunch.
  • Gold miners established Cromwell, but now its treasure is stone fruit. Explore nearby ghost towns and soak up the tranquil lakeside scenery. A visit from December to March is a colourful experience, with trees laden with cherries, apricots, nectarines, and peaches, as well as a chance to see harvesting in action.

  • The artisan Single Malt Distillery nestled in the beautiful Cardrona Valley offers traditionally made spirits from scratch, the time-honoured way. We welcome you to come and visit us for food, cocktails, tours, and tastings.
Day 14: Queenstown  
  • Queenstown is world-famous for delicious food, fantastic wine, and epic nightlife. With over 150 bars, restaurants and cafés, there is something for everyone. Home to some of the best restaurants in New Zealand, fine dining in Queenstown will exceed your expectations. 

  • Eat and drink like a local at the many unique eateries in the Queenstown area. Queenstown's busiest burger joint, Fergburger, is world-renowned for its creative, delicious gourmet burgers.

  • End your trip with an absolute highlight and take the ultimate Picnic Heli experience to stunning Earslaw Burrn. Your ears fill with the rush of waterfalls; your eyes feast on the dazzling glacier hanging above you, and your nose enjoys the fragrant, local wine in your glass.   
OUR Selection of Luxury Stays

Plan Your Tour

Highlights

The itinerary will be 100% tailored to your interest and budget.
A personal and experienced driver-guide will make your trip seamless.
Taste some of the best fare this Country has to offer.
Enjoy fun activities while discovering The soule and lifestyle of our People.

 



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