Soar above Queenstown for an unforgettable dining experience, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame the sweeping lake and mountain vistas as the town glows below.

New Zealand with Bill Blosser

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Drink In Adventure

Track down the best of the country by boat, bike and helicopter with wine icon Bill Blosser

January 6 - 13, 2020

Sold Out - Call to Join Waitlist

8 Days, 7 Nights

Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Queenstown

Price from

$8,000

per person, based on double occupancy

Questions? Text or call us
+1 (855) 219-8018

It’s summertime in January—and the wine is flowing. Big sun-filled skies cast a golden glow over rows of vines and rugged New Zealand peaks. You coast on a bike in short-sleeves, stopping at artisanal wineries to savor award-winning wines all the way to the coast. We’ll ride ferries to winery-dotted islands and take VIP helicopter rides to picnic in scenery plucked from the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien. All our food is fresh and succulent and unforgettable—oysters harvested from the bay, lamb or venison sourced from the rugged highlands. Each course is prepared with panache by Michelin-star chefs for us and our legendary companion.

Joining us on this unforgettable New Zealand journey is a true wine icon of Oregon and his wife. Bill Blosser not only helped put the Willamette Valley on the world’s wine map with his Sokol Blosser winery but rivals Burgundy for producing the world’s premier pinot noir. He’s the kind of guy who can appreciate savoring wine with good company. We love that he’s not only committed to creating fantastic wines but for his eye in sustainability. He’s proven time and time again how vineyards can support land preservation. Yep. Bill and his wife, Dorinda, are the perfect travel companions to uncover the best of New Zealand.

This Modern Adventure dream trip involves tasting a lot of fantastic wine and personal interactions with winemakers. It’s also about getting into incredible scenery and experiencing one of the world’s most fascinating cultures. Any visitor to New Zealand tends to consider it the trip of a lifetime. This one goes beyond that. We dine with vintners, attend Maori dance rituals, and experience the very best of New Zealand. Join us. We promise you’ll talk about this one the rest of your life.

Savor

New Zealand’s award-winning wines at epic wineries hand-selected by Bill Blosser

Explore

The world’s most astonishing scenery—by bike, helicopter, gondola and foot

Connect

With Maori culture, local winemakers, and with people as joyful and inspiring as you!

Rejuvenate

In perfectly situated boutique accommodations—on bays, in wineries, at the foot of peaks

3 Reasons to Travel with Bill Blosser

It's a rare combination of passion and social justice that defines Bill Blosser, co-founder of Sokol Blosser winery and among the very first to produce Oregon's legendary Pinot noirs in the 1970s. Bill is a sustainability pioneer, and a green thumb with a heart of gold who leads by example: Sokol Blosser is certified organic, a certified B Corp, and the first U.S. winery to receive the prestigious LEED certification. Bill's passions are wine, people, and the land itself—and they're shared with his wife, Dorinda. We're honored to travel with both of them.

He's Passionate

When Bill first set out to preserve Oregon lands for agricultural use, he met with plenty of resistance. That didn't stop him. Over the years he's been deeply active in conservation and sustainability, ensuring Oregon wines have a positive impact on the people and lands that produce them.

He Loves Wine

You might think someone as instrumental as Bill would like to kick back for a moment and rest after so many years of hard work. Not this guy. You can still find him working the harvest today, lending a hand wherever it’s needed.

He Loves New Zealand

Bill loves New Zealand like an Oregon summer, or a fine pinot. Bill and Dorinda have traveled all over New Zealand and are thrilled to share this amazing country—and its world-class wine regions—with us.

Your Experience

New Zealand 2020_Group of travelers relaxing and chatting in a stylish living room with rustic décor, leather and white sofas, and a warm, inviting atmosphere — capturing the spirit of connection on a Modern Adventure experience in New Zealand.
“New Zealand is not a small country, but a large village.”
Peter Jackson

Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Queenstown

New Zealand 2019_Aerial perspective from inside a helicopter cockpit flying above dramatic rugged mountains at golden hour, showcasing New Zealand’s alpine landscape.
New Zealand 2019_Close-up of ripe dark grapes hanging on a vineyard vine, surrounded by green and golden leaves in New Zealand wine country.
New Zealand 2020_Māori performers dressed in traditional attire with tā moko body art performing a haka or cultural dance on a modern covered terrace.
“The haka reminds us of the fragility of life. How little time is given to each of us. How much we still have to do. It reminds us: This is our time.”
James Kerr

Eight days in New Zealand. We’ll join Bill and Dorinda to track down some of the world’s best wines by foot, by bike, by boat and by helicopter.

New Zealand 2020_Group dining experience featuring beautifully plated local dishes, fine wine, and candlelight ambiance — guests enjoying a communal meal highlighting New Zealand’s vibrant culinary scene with Modern Adventure.

Day 1 | January 6

January 6, Mon

Summer in January? Welcome to New Zealand! We’re setting up for our start in Auckland, the country’s buzzing center of art, fashion, food and—of course—wine. After meeting Bill and Dorinda and checking into a harborside hotel, we’ll delve deep into the area’s rich Maori culture. These indigenous peoples have traditions spanning centuries from their unique language, literature, folklore and perhaps most known, their performing arts. We’ll get to experience a performance of their spine-tingling, foot-stomping haka war dance. This dance showcases their Polynesian heritage, stories and identity through synchronized timing, posture, footwork and sound.

For dinner, we’ll head to woodsy-chic foodie spot Depot from acclaimed chef Al Brown. We’ll feast and get a meet-and-greet, then toast to our life-changing week to come.

New Zealand 2020_Atmospheric wine cellar with arched brick ceilings and walls lined with wine bottles, featuring warm amber lighting and a small table in the center.

Day 2 | January 7

January 7, Tue

Today we get fully immersed into world-class New Zealand wines. We follow an Auckland local tradition by ferrying to nearby Waiheke Island, a tranquil oasis brimming with vineyards. We’ll meet the vintner of Passage Rock for a personal tour and tastings, then visit Stonyridge Vineyard to sip Cabernets and its cult-fave Larose. Then we dine on local fish, lamb or duck cuts in the vines of Tantalus Estate, where every course is paired with its wines (or excellent on-site beers).

We return to Auckland by the ferry, where you have the evening to explore nearby Wynyard Quarter or quirkier “K Road” for dinner or drinks.

New Zealand 2019_Vineyard stretching toward the golden Cragg Range mountains under a clear blue sky in Hawke’s Bay wine country.

Day 3 | January 8

January 8, Wed

After waking for a big breakfast, we’re headed deeper into the kiwi wine scene. 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 almost press up against your personal patio at Craggy Range Winery.

First, we’ll have a wine-filled lunch feast—with coastline views stretched out below us—at the award-winning Mission Estate Winery, an elegant estate first set up by missionaries from the Loire in 1851—and now home to New Zealand’s oldest wines.

We follow with dinner and a wine tasting and gorge ourselves on the private tasting menu prepared by our winery’s head chef Casey McDonald, a worldly Michelin-star vet recently returned home to New Zealand. The wine, and the stories, will flow into the night!

New Zealand 2019_Cyclist riding along a dirt path between rows of green vineyards under a bright blue sky with rolling hills in the distance.

Day 4 | January 9

January 9, Thu

The only thing better than exploring New Zealand’s brilliant mountain scenery is doing it with wine. Today we get onto bikes, and take on an easy 16km (about 10 miles) of trails from foothills to the coast, stopping at artisanal wine producers along the way. Our first stop is Black Barn, famed for its Bordeaux-style reds, where we’ll have a tasting (and perhaps a peek in the cellar).

Then we’ll coast on limestone trails alongside the Tukituki River towards the coast for lunch at the modern, German-run Elephant Hill, before getting a final tasting at Clearview Estate taking in wide-open cape views. The evening is open to exploration. Enjoy the views, dine at Craggy Range or one of many nearby wineries.

New Zealand 2020_Aerial view of Queenstown with calm lake waters, snow-capped mountains, and pastel dawn light creating a peaceful alpine scene.

Day 5 | January 10

January 10, Fri

Our sense of adventure amps way up today. We begin with a short flight to New Zealand’s South Island—known for its fjords and rugged mountains and sprawling skies—where we’ll relocate to the country’s adventure capital, Queenstown.

We’ll take in a bird’s eye view from its Skyline Gondola overlooking a panorama of snow-capped peaks and the vast clear-water Lake Wakatipu. Dinner’s a special treat, with a feast of local meats (venison, rabbit, lamb, squid, oysters) at Botswana Butchery, occupying a historic cottage across from the lip of the lake. We’ll eat well here, and toast the start of our final New Zealand stop. But rest up: our biggest day is yet to come.

New Zealand 2019_A breathtaking view of Earnslaw Burn near Glenorchy, featuring cascading waterfalls, glacial cliffs, and a helicopter landing beside a winding alpine river under a clear blue sky.

Day 6 | January 11

January 11, Sat

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 snow-dusted peaks below us. We’ll land for a stunner one-hour hike capped with lunch before the glacial Earnslaw Burn falls seen in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit movies.

Afterwards, our helis take us over a dramatic gorge to Lowburn Station, where we’ll visit a working alpaca family farm, and meet the owner of Mt. Rosa wines for a personalized tasting of the area’s distinctive pinot noirs coupled with artisan cheeses as we look over alpine meadows. We ride next to Mt. Difficulty, for a tasting in the Barrel Room winery, then meet Bill and Dorinda’s winemaker friend Blair Walters for another tasting, wine and easy-going conversation at the stunning setting of Felton Road Winery.

Day 7 | January 12

January 12, Sun

Our adventure continues today with a ride along New Zealand’s “most dangerous road,” built in the gold-rich Skipper’s Canyon during the late 1880s. Don’t worry. We’ll take it easy, as we hug roadside mountains as vertical drop-offs to the canyon floor are a foot away! We pass a narrow one-lane suspension bridge, stop at a schoolhouse deep in the canyon for a picnic lunch, then stop over at Mt. Edward Winery for our lance chance at a classic wine tasting. We’ll meet with the winemaker and hear about their fully committed organic approach to growing grapes and their all-natural approach to winemaking.

We’ll meet up for our farewell dinner at the Amisfield Winery, a seven-course “trust the chef” affair of locally sourced ingredients and delicious wines matching each step of the way—the perfect cap to an incredible trip.

Four hands clinking white wine glasses together over a cheese board at a wine tasting

Day 8 | January 13

January 13, Mon

Alas, our time together with Bill, Dorinda and New Zealand is ending. After a big final breakfast, we’ll 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!

Where We Sleep

New Zealand 2019_Luxurious interior of the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour featuring elegant modern design, soft lighting, water features, and refined décor creating a serene ambiance.

Prepare for high style and design in some of New Zealand's most stunning locations—on the water, in the vines, at the base of mountains

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Auckland

You’re met with a “bonjour” at this sleek, stylish Auckland hotel set triumphantly in the emerging waterfront neighborhood of Wynyard Quarter on the Viaduct Harbour marine (and footsteps from the ferry to tranquil, winery-filled Waiheke Island). Your modern room’s big windows and balconies take in the waterfront and city skyline. Downstairs, you’ll find local art and Maori-inspired designs in the bold, welcoming lounge and sitting areas, along with a deck cafe and an indoor heated lap pool and gym.

Rustic terrace with vine-covered pergola overlooking Craggy Range vineyards in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Craggy Range

Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay

We’re setting up neck-to-neck with the glorious vines at this premier winemakers’ boutique cottages. Each comes with kitchen and living room areas, with big windows and a free-standing wood burner if the evening gets brisk, plus a patio looking over the tidy rows of grapes that bask in the sun below the winery’s namesake craggy peak of Ta Mata.

Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Queenstown

You’ll love our last base. Set at the foot of a mountain in New Zealand’s adventure capital, this new luxury hotel offers full-on modern comfort with emphasis on natural beauty. Rooms look over snow-capped peaks and silvery surface of Lake Wakatipu. In addition to the five-star comforts of this 22-room hotel, you’re footsteps from central district’s shops, restaurants and bars.

New Zealand 2019_Expansive view of lush green vineyards in Marlborough, framed by golden hills and open skies, showcasing the region’s famous wine country scenery.

Book New Zealand with Bill Blosser

Number of Travelers

Payment

Reserve your spot today with a $1,500 per-person deposit plus room supplements (if relevant). Please see our terms and conditions for full payment details.

$8,000

per person, based on double occupancy

Can't travel on these dates?
Call us at
+1 (855) 219-8018

Looking for a Private Trip?

In addition to our Tastemaker trips, we also design some of the most incredible private travel experiences available. We are a full service agency and our travel designers are ready to craft your next adventure.

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Questions?

That’s OK, we have answers.
Read our FAQs below. Or text or call us at +1 (855) 219-8018 to speak with a Modern Adventure Trip Specialist.

  1. What does the price include?

    Seven nights at unique four- and five-star accommodations; internal flights between cities as mentioned in itinerary; private travel for all day trips and excursions; private tours with local guides and cultural experts; exclusive VIP access and tastings; guided activities, adventures and expeditions; entrance fees; daily breakfast, lunches and most dinners; local beverages with meals; transfer to departure airport; gratuities for local staff.

  2. What does the price not include?

    International roundtrip airfare; travel insurance; transportation to the trip’s starting point; activities not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; food and beverage not included in itinerary; gratuity for tour leader.

  3. Where does this trip start and end?

    Our adventure begins at 9:00am on Monday, January 6, 2020 at the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand. The closest airport is the Auckland Airport (AKL). We recommend arriving on or before January 5 to ensure you’re at our starting point on time.
    Our last day is Monday, January 13, 2020. The closest airport is the Queenstown Airport (ZQN) in Queenstown, New Zealand and is a 20 minute drive from the hotel. Your flight home can be scheduled at 9:00am or later.

    Detailed arrival and departure guidance is provided in your post-purchase trip materials, including recommended routes, transfer options, and timing considerations. If you have specific questions before booking, our team is always happy to help.

  4. Do I need to pay a solo traveler supplement?

    For solo travelers, there is a $2,000 single-supplment fee—paid at the time of booking to secure a private room. If you would like us to pair you with a roommate, that option may be available upon checkout—these spots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

  5. Who is going on this trip?

    We limit the group to no more than 20 fellow travelers and our Modern Adventure team. Our experiences are fun and inclusive and you can expect to be joined by a diverse group in terms of age, background and interests—including solo travelers, couples and friends traveling together. This adventure is for travelers age 18 and above.

  6. Who is leading this trip?

    This trip is led by an expert Modern Adventure Trip Leader. They’re an experienced travel guide, a representative of Modern Adventure and your go-to person for questions or concerns on the trip. We’ll be joined throughout our adventure by local, expert guides who are deeply knowledgeable with respect to local cultures, customs and history and are passionate about sharing that with us. We will also be joined by special guest Bill Blosser.

  7. What travel documents are needed?

    US citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from New Zealand. US citizens are eligible for a visa wavier and therefore do not need a visa for tourist stays of three months or less. Under the visa wavier program, US citizens will be required to have a NZeTA, which can be applied for prior to travel and is valid for multiple visits for up to two years. For full requirements and information visit the New Zealand Embassy. For citizens of other countries, please check with New Zealand’s embassy or consulate for information and requirements.

  8. How strenuous are the activities?

    This adventure will require intermittent effort throughout and you should have an average amount of energy to participate.  Activities will include walking medium distances over uneven terrain and involving steps, a 10-mile fully-supported bike ride through flat terrain, and an easy-to-moderate hike. Some locations could present challenges to persons with special needs.  If you have any questions or concerns about particular activities of trip aspects, please reach out and we can answer additional questions.

  9. What is the cancellation policy?

    We understand plans can change. Here’s how cancellation fees are incurred depending on when you let us know:

    • More than 150 days before departure: $1,500 per person deposit
    • 150–121 days before departure: 50% of the total trip price
    • 120 days or less before departure: 100% of the total trip price

    For the full details, please see our terms and conditions.

  10. When will my final balance be due?

    Your payment schedule depends on how far in advance you book your trip:

    • At the time of booking: Pay your $1,500 deposit per person.
    • 180 days before departure: 50% of your trip cost is due.
    • 120 days before departure: Full balance is due.

    We’ll send you secure payment links and reminders before each due date to make the process easy. If you book within 120 days of your trip, the remaining balance is due within 10 days.

  11. Is this trip the right fit for me?

    Modern Adventure trips are active, immersive small-group experiences. Our itineraries often involve sustained walking and standing throughout the day, including stairs, uneven terrain, cobblestones, unpaved paths, and moving between experiences at a pace that keeps the day flowing for the group.

    These experiences are not suitable for travelers who require physical mobility assistance, personal care support, or significant itinerary modifications in order to participate. In many destinations, accommodations for significant physical limitations may not be possible without materially altering the experience for the individual traveler or the group.

    All travelers are responsible for informing Modern Adventure of any physical limitations, medical considerations, or concerns before booking, or as early as possible before departure. Please don’t hesitate to contact us before booking if you have any questions. We want every traveler to feel confident, comfortable, and fully prepared for the journey ahead.

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