2024 Gardens & Wineries of Marlborough Region
Come join Girls on the Road Again (your bloke is welcome to join you) as we are heading to New Zealand’s Marlborough region for 7 nights, 6 days of private garden tours, winery visits all intermingled with visiting some amazing destinations which showcase the beauty of this region.
Want to join us, literally, back your bag and meet us in Christchurch as we’ve got everything covered (apart from your occasional cup of coffee) – airport transfers, accommodation, continental breakfast, lunch, dinner (with wines of course), coach transport, entrance fees plus more! A couple of bonuses – return from Blenheim to Christchurch onboard the scenic Coastal Pacific train plus enjoy an afternoon workshop where you’ll create your own beautiful earrings inspired by the locations you’ve visited
With a minimum of 10 and maximum of 16, this is an amazing small group tour and if you are a solo traveller, there is no additional cost for a room on your own.
24th February
If you’re flying to Christchurch plan to arrive before 3.00pm – your airport transfer is included. If you’re driving, meet us at Commodore Hotel and please contact the hotel to arrange parking if you want to leave your car.
On arrival at Commodore Hotel, check into your room, then meet our hosts for pre-dinner drinks and receive your goodie bag, followed by dinner.
Included: Airport transfer provided by Commodore Hotel, accommodation, pre-dinner drinks, dinner with wines.
25th February
After breakfast, it’s bags out and off we drive to Blenheim. As we drive along the Kaikoura coastline, we’ll be stopping along the way for seal and dolphin watching (pack some binoculars).
Lunch today is at Kaikoura – freshly caught fish (Blue Cod maybe) & chips sounds good. After lunch, time to walk around Kaikoura before it’s back on board our coach and off to Blenheim. Check into our hotel where you’ll be staying for the next 5 nights – Hotel d’Urville, a boutique hotel where we have all the rooms booked. After a big day, dinner tonight is at our hotel.
Included: Breakfast, accommodation, lunch, dinner with wines
26th – 29th February
Over these next few days, we’re heading to lots of amazing places.
Two privately hosted garden tours with afternoon tea – award winning Paripuma a 5 star New Zealand native garden and Weldon House where this garden is classified as of national significance.
A visit to the Marlborough region isn’t complete without heading to Picton – here we enjoy a water taxi ride to visit Arapawa Blue Pearl Farm at the head of the Marlborough Sounds. We are treated to a beautiful paua (abalone) lunch, glass of bubbles and a tour of the paua farm. It’s an opportunity to look at and buy some their beautiful exquisite jewellery. Check out a video of from our last visit – click here.
Visit to Pelorus Bridge home of one of the movie set from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Let’s have a grab a coffee maybe a beautiful cheese scone and head down to the river – enjoy our morning tea at the river’s edge. Maybe, like many of our other times we’ve visited, you’d like to venture in for a swim in the river (pack your bathing suit and towel). At this location, we can be totally absorbed in nature, listen to the birds, walk through NZ’s native South Island forest and take a walk around the tracks at this amazing location.
Enjoy lunch at Havelock sitting on the veranda at Slip Inn located on the edge of Havelock’s marina. Havelock is known as the world’s green-shelled mussel capital of the world and we have a special lunch organised for you plus of course we’ll start with a glass of bubbles. Time for a wander around Havelock’s shops after lunch and maybe you’d like to indulge in an ice cream while you shop. We take a short drive to the lookout where you have expansive views over Havelock and up Pelorus Sound.
Enjoy a couple of long lunches at local wineries – Wither Hills is one of our favourites, here we pair your lunch with their wines, but of course we start with a glass of bubbles – you choose, rose, dry or sweet.
We have a stunning farewell dinner organised on our last night in Blenheim at Harvest Restaurant. Enjoy a pre-dinner glass of bubbles while we walk around the beautiful grounds.
Included: Breakfast, accommodation, morning tea (where noted), lunch (with wines where noted), dinner with wines, entry fees, water taxi.
1st March
Our last garden tour today with a visit to Horsentia House and if hydrangeas are your passion, you can indulge here as there are 100’s of varieties which Huguette has planted.
A very short drive and we check out Makana – Blenheim’s chocolate factory, OMG this place is highly recommended by Lesley 🤣.
Lunch today is at Blenheim’s railway café, then board the Coastal Pacific train on a 5 hour journey to Christchurch. It’s time to sit back, maybe buy yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the view. If you’re a photographer head to the open air carriage to capture some spectacular scenery. This train journey is one of New Zealand’s most scenic train journeys and takes you along rugged coastlines, across remote beaches, between mountains and sea, on a timeless journey of breathtaking beauty. You’ll be met at Christchurch by Lesley and transferred to Commodore Hotel.
This is our last meal together let’s toast to what an amazing time we’ve had!
Included: Breakfast, accommodation, garden tour, lunch, dinner with wines, Coastal Pacific train, transfer to hotel.
2nd March
Well, that went really fast, today once you’ve checked out Commodore Hotel will transfer you Christchurch Airport for your connecting flight or if you drove, pack your bags and off home. We hope to see you again, very soon.
Included: Transfer to airport from Commodore Hotel
What’s Included
- Fully escorted from the time you land at Christchurch Airport until you’re returned to Christchurch Airport
- Small group – minimum 10, maximum 16
- Seven nights, six days
- Sumptuous continental breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Wines, beer & sparkling water with dinner and wines with lunch where noted
- Three private garden tours
- All entry frees to activity outlined above
- Luxury Mercedes Benz coach
- Earring painting workshop
- Coastal Pacific train journey – Blenheim to Christchurch
What’s Not Included
- Travel to and from Christchurch Airport
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended to be taken out on payment of deposit
- Mobile phone roaming if from outside New Zealand
- Morning & afternoon teas (unless noted)
- Purchases of a personal nature, including mini-bar, room service, etc
- Alcohol after or before dinner unless noted
- Visas, if required for entry to New Zealand – if you require assistance, please contact your travel agent.
Cost
- Per person, total cost = NZ$6,900
- No solo traveller surcharge – your own room at no extra cost
NZ$500 deposit secures your place on this tour
Balance is payable 6 weeks prior to departure – payable on invoice by credit card, option for bank transfer available.