New Zealand: North & South Island

Welcome to New Zealand! On this arrival day, we set up for our start in Auckland, the country’s buzzing center of art, fashion, food and—of course—wine. Known as the “City of Sails,” the city’s volcanic peninsula extends between two harbors, making it a bucket-list destination for anyone who enjoys the water. After meeting up with Gina and the rest of the group, we check into our harbor-front hotel and then have a leisurely evening on our own to get excited for our adventure ahead.

This morning, we delve deep into the area’s rich Maori culture. New Zealand’s indigenous peoples have traditions spanning centuries, from their unique language to folklore and performing arts. Guided by a Maori local, we’ll discover Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) and nearby Waitakere Ranges, with its winding paths, towering kauri trees and views of black sand beaches, through their eyes. After working up our appetite and learning about ancient traditions, we’ll experience one with a local Maori lunch. 

We take a short flight to Hawke’s Bay on the east coast and set up in boutique cottages where rows of sun-kissed vines line the hillside at Craggy Range Winery. Dinner tonight is a private tasting menu prepared by their head chef and paired with Adelsheim wines. The wine, and the stories from today, will flow into the night!

The only thing better than exploring New Zealand’s brilliant mountain scenery is doing it with wine. Our first stop is Moana Park, known for its old-world approach to natural, easily drinkable wines.

Then we bicycle through 12km (7.4 miles) of limestone trails alongside the Tutaekuri River towards Church Road Winery, where we’ll sample pre-release wines in their barrel halls and caves—or opt for a van ride to Silky Oak Chocolate for a little palate-cleanser. Our last stop is a two-course lunch at Mission Estate, New Zealand’s oldest winery. Our wine-focused adventure wouldn’t be possible without their story. The evening is open to exploration. Enjoy the views, dine at Craggy Range or one of many nearby wineries.

Today we continue south with a drive to Martinborough past sprawling green farmland and mountain peaks looming on the horizon. The Martinborough Wine Region’s cool climate and balanced soil are perfect for Pinots and Chardonnays, much like Oregon’s Willamette Valley. We’ll get our first taste over lunch at Poppie’s, where they take a simple, hand-crafted approach to winemaking paired with decadent, seasonal tasting platters.

The afternoon is on our own to explore the town, beloved by New Zealanders as a fun holiday destination and wine lovers for its premium spot nestled in this unique wine country. We’ll meet back up for a fresh, locally sourced dinner at our hotel’s restaurant, Union Square. Paired with some local wine, it’s the perfect way to celebrate our journey so far!

We continue to savor the Martinborough region today with tastings at more premiere wineries. First up is Ata Rangi. Meaning “Dawn Sky” or “New Beginning,” this family-run winery is dedicated to nurturing the land for future generations. Famed winemaker Helen Masters will enlighten us about their approach and story. Next is a private tasting at Big Sky Wines, started by a local husband and wife with a deep winemaking history and passion for French wines. We end our afternoon at Moy Hall, with a casual and delicious seasonal lunch among the vines. The rest of the day is on our own to explore more of Martinborough, relax at the hotel or even seek out some more wine!

We bid farewell to our beautiful Martinborough cottage today. After a quick flight to New Zealand’s South Island—known for its fjords, rugged mountains and sprawling skies—our next stop is Queenstown, the country’s adventure capital. Fittingly, our first day here allows us to choose our own: Explore town at your leisure with stunning scenery of Lake Wakatipu and the aptly named Remarkables mountains; take in a bird’s eye view from the Skyline Gondola overlooking a panorama of snow-capped peaks and the vast lake from above; or visit historic Arrowtown, hot-bed of New Zealand’s gold rush and mining history.

Dinner’s a special treat, with a feast of local meats (venison, rabbit, lamb, squid, oysters) at Boardwalk, situated on the iconic waterfront. We’ll eat well here, and toast the start of our final New Zealand stop.

We rise early for a once-in-a-lifetime experience—to Middle Earth and back again! Riding our private helicopters, we hover close to rolling high-country fields and rugged peaks below us. We’ll land for a stunner one-hour hike through the Nevis Valley. Originally used as a trail system by the Maori people, European settlers began farming the area in the later 1800s and word spread about the gold in the pristine rocky rivers fed by the surrounding mountain ranges. Because of the valley’s remoteness, many of the old gold-miner huts still remain. So, we cap our hike with a gourmet-platter lunch at one of rustic picturesque huts dotting the winding riverside. After we soak in the views one last time, our helicopters fly us up and over the dramatic gorge and back to Queenstown. We’ll have the rest of the day on our own.

We begin today with a scenic drive through central Otago and Kawarau Gorge, where soaring trees line rocky shores and high bridges span over cerulean flowing rivers. We arrive at Burn Cottage for a behind-the-scenes tasting on this sprawling, family-run estate. Next, we head to nearby Valli to meet up with winemaker—and native Oregonian—Jen Parr to learn about her, the vineyard and the impact she’s had on New Zealand wines.

Our final stop is Mt Rosa Winery for a personalized tour overlooking alpine meadows, and a tasting of the area’s distinctive Pinot noirs. Head Chef Ben Batterbury will prepare us an exquisite four-course farewell meal paired with some of our trip’s tasting highlights, including our Adelsheim wines.

Alas, our time together in New Zealand is ending. This morning, we pack up and head to the airport, brimming with a week’s worth of the finest wines and landscapes of the world. Until next time!