Luxury Indulgence & Romance

If your holiday is all about time for two, you’re going to love the romantic retreats, fresh air fun and tempting gourmet experiences of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.

 

Luxury Indulgence Itinerary Ideas

Don't miss

Indulge yourself staying at one of the many lodges, boutique hotel or heritage B&B’s along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail this winter, enjoy spa treatments, breakfast in bed and sensational home cooked meals matched perfectly with local wines.

 

Downtown Wellington offers a warm escape from winter. The many restaurants, bars, cafes and galleries provide cosy shelter from the elements. Winter is an ideal time to explore the city’s art galleries and museums. Be sure to explore Te Papa, the Museum of Wellington City & Sea and the City Gallery Wellington.

Accommodation and dining suggestions


 
Day 1
Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay

  • Arrive in the Art Deco City of Napier, the northern end of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.

  • Hire a bike and cycle around the wineries, gathering a few bottles as you go with Bike About Tours www.baytours.co.nz or On Yer Bike Winery Tours www.onyerbikehb.co.nz

  • Visit the Silky Oak Chocolate Company and take a tour of the chocolate museum before tempting your taste buds with the delicious selection of handmade chocolates on offer.
    www.silkyoakchocs.co.nz

  • Visit the Indulge Hawke’s Bay Speciality Store and taste some of the delicious wines that the Hawke’s Bay has to offer.  www.indulgehb.co.nz

      
  • Or take an evening progressive dinner tour with Odyssey New Zealand and visit a range of Hawke’s Bay’s top wineries, tasting their food and wine along the way
    www.odysseynz.com


Day 2
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay

  • Start your day with an early monring Balloon ride for sweeping sunrise views of the region.

  • Play a round of golf at Cape Kidnappers Golf Course, rated 27th best Golf Course in the World by leading publication Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses 2005. The course sits high on the cliffs of this iconic landscape and offers a unique golfing experience for all levels to enjoy.
    www.capekidnappers.com

  • Tantalise the taste buds as you explore the farm gate and artisan food producers along the Hawke’s Bay Food Trail. Try fruit, honey, cheese, olives, wine, chocolate and much more. Collect a copy of the Food Trail map from any Hawke’s Bay i-SITE visitor centre or visit
    www.savourhawkesbay.co.nz

Stop at...

Havelock North village for boutique fashion, art galleries and local gourmet foods.

The weekend Farmers’ Markets to mix with the locals and taste the delicious array of Hawke’s Bay produce and gourmet foods

Soak in the hot pools overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Ocean Spa complex

 


For a romantic night in Hawke’s Bay...

Arapata Lodge, Havelock North www.arapatalodge.co.nz

Breckenridge Lodge, Taradale www.breckenridgelodge.co.nz

Cape South, Havelock North www.capesouth.co.nz

Cardoness Lodge www.cardoness.co.nz

The County Hotel, Napier www.countyhotel.co.nz

Craggy Range Retreats, Havelock North www.craggyrange.com

The Crown Hotel, Napier www.thecrownnapier.co.nz

The Dome Luxury Penthouse Apartments, Napier www.thedome.co.nz

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers www.capekidnappers.com

The Masters Lodge www.masterslodge.co.nz

Scenic Circle Te Pania Hotel, Napier

www.scenic-circle.co.nz

Woodhill Executive Homes www.woodhillhomes.co.nz

 

Indulgent Dining…

Black Barn Winery,  Havelock North

Glen Etive Restaurant, Havelock North

Craggy Range Winery Terroir Restaurant, Havelock North

The Chambers Restaurant Napier

Take Five Outside, Napier

Pacifica Restaurant, Napier

Church Road Winery Taradale

Mission Estate Winery Taradale

Sileni Estate’s Winery Hastings

Vidal Wines, Hastings

Clearview Estate Winery, Haumoana

Estuary's Restaurant, Ahuriri

 
Day 3
Hawke's Bay to Tararua
Hawke's Bay to Tararua

Hawkes Bay to Wairarapa

  • Drive South today along State Highway 2 through the Tararua District following the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail signs into the Wairarapa region.

Stop at...

Explore the colonial village of Greytown, browse the antique, homeware and fashion shops and
art galleries.

Give in to your sweet tooth at Schoc, an artisan chocolate studio located on the main street
of Greytown.
www.schoc.co.nz

Indulge in authentic French breads and pastries handcrafted at The French Baker.

Take a scenic helicopter flight to Wharekauhau Country Estate for lunch, enjoying breathtaking views of magnificent Palliser Bay before being set down outside one of New Zealand’s most exclusive lodges. Enjoy a gourmet dinner and some of the finest local wines, better still, stay
the night.
www.wharekauhau.co.nz


Day 4

Wairarapa

  • Experience the luxury and elegance of touring the vineyards in Martinborough in a traditional Horse and Carriage
    www.horseandcarriage.co.nz

Stop at...

Martinborough town square for a coffee and to browse the stores and Martinborough Wine Centre.


For a romantic night in Wairarapa…

Wharekauhau Country Estate www.wharekauhau.co.nz

 

For more romantic accommodation options see our Wine and Food and Art Culture and Heritage itineraries.

 
Day 5
Wairarapa to Wellington
Wairarapa to Wellington

Wairarapa to Wellington

  • A brief drive to the compact capital city known for its vibrant arts and cultural scene and
    rich heritage.

  • Walk around downtown and harbour-side, visit galleries and shopping in Lambton Quay and the national museum of Te Papa Tongarewa on the harbour waterfront. Follow the Writers Walk around the waterfront with the best ice-cream ever from Kaffe Eis.

  • Because the best way to discover a new place is through its food, set out on a Zest Walking Gourmet tour
    www.zestfoodtours.co.nz

  • Meet designers and explore Wellington’s best luxury products on a Wild About Wellington City of Style tour.
    www.wildaboutwellington.co.nz

  • Enjoy a pre theatre dinner followed by live theatre, or performances of the national orchestra or ballet. Wellington has live shows almost every evening of the year.

  • For four out of the last five years, Wellington has been home to New Zealand's Restaurant of the Year 'Logan Brown'.

Stop at...

Kaffee Eis on Oriental Parade, enjoy the best ice-cream ever, more than thirty flavours to
choose from.

Kura Ora and Te Papa's Museum store for stunning mementos of your holiday.


For a romantic night in Wellington…

Ohtel www.ohtel.co.nz

Villa Margarita www.villamargarita.co.nz

Museum Hotel www.museumhotel.co.nz

 

Indulgent dining

The Matterhorn, Cuba Street

Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club Restaurant, Oriental Parade www.martin-bosley.com

Logan Brown, Cuba Street www.loganbrown.co.nz

Arbitrageur www.arbitrageur.co.nz

The Ambeli www.theambeli.co.nz

 
Day 6
Wellington to Marlborough

Wellington to Marlborough


Day 7
Marlborough
Marlborough

Marlborough

  • Tour the wineries of New Zealand’s largest wine growing region, sample New Zealand’s internationally-acclaimed Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

  • Relax and unwind over a leisurely lunch at one of the many award winning winery restaurants.
    www.winemarlborough.net.nz
  • Take a twilight cruise over the summer season in the Marlborough Sounds enjoying local wines served with fresh seafood. In Queen Charlotte Sound enjoy the Salmon and Sav Cruise with Cougar Line www.cougarline.co.nz or from Havelock board the Greenshell™ Mussel Cruise with Marlborough Travel. www.marlboroughtravel.co.nz
  • For the ultimate indulgence take a heliwine tour of the region or fly along the Kaikoura coastline to Kekerengu for lunch at “The Store”.
    www.windhawkhelicopters.com

  • At Herzog, join their Michelin star practiced chefs for the ultimate “behind the scenes” experience to observe how they run their kitchen in preparation for the evening service. Then head out to the restaurant for some serious pampering
    www.herzog.co.nz

Stop at...

Makana chocolate factory on Rapaura Road and watch the confectionery masters at work.


For a romantic night in Marlborough…

Bay of Many Coves Resort, Queen Charlotte Sound www.bayofmanycovesresort.co.nz

Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Blenheim www.mvh.co.nz

BEC Spa Resort, Blenheim www.becspa.com

Craglee Lodge, Queen Charlotte Sound, www.craglee.co.nz

Maison Grange, Blenheim www.maisongrange.co.nz

Herzog Vineyard Cottage, Renwick www.herzog.co.nz

 

 

See our Wine and Food and Art Culture and Heritage itineraries for more romantic accommodation options

 

Indulgent dining:

Herzog Winery and Luxury Restaurant www.herzog.co.nz

Gibbs Restaurant www.gibbs-restaurant.co.nz

Hotel d'Urville www.durville.com

 

 
 
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