Travel Kuoni

New Zealand Grape Escape Self-Drive

Spend two weeks exploring the country’s best wine regions.

Your north-to-south self-drive takes you via New Zealand’s finest vineyards, including Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, and the world’s southernmost wine region, Central Otago. You’ll stay in gorgeous lodges and hotels along the way, sipping on the country’s Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noirs, Syrah, and Merlot as you roam.

Self-drive
14 nights

Wine enthusiasts, or simply those who would love to try different tipples in extraordinary locations across the North and South Islands.

Itinerary overview

Days 1-2

Split up your journey to the Land of the Long White Cloud with a few days in sultry and sophistic...

Day ​3

Fly to Auckland on an overnight flight.

Days 4-5

You’ll have two nights to relax and explore Auckland at your own pace while you adjust to your ne...

Day 6

You’ll collect a hire car from Auckland and drive three hours to Rotorua. On the way, you could v...

Days 7-8

Napier's beautiful art deco town is next. You’ll stay for two nights, giving you time to see the ...

Day 9-10

Onwards to the Martinborough Hotel, a three-and-a-half journey south. Staying in the heart of Mar...

Day 11

A comparatively quick journey brings you to Wellington, where you’ll spend the night in the natio...

Days 12-13

After arriving in Picton on the South Island, you’ll drive to Blenheim in the heart of New Zealan...

Day 14

Your journey south continues, stopping overnight in Christchurch to break up your journey and hav...

Day 15

Stay on the shores of Lake Tekapo in Mackenzie Country and be dazzled by the starry nights – this...

Days 16-17

The penultimate leg of your journey brings you to Central Otago – the world’s southernmost wine r...

Days 18-19

The trip comes to an adrenaline-fuelled close in Queenstown, the ‘adventure capital of the world’...

Extend your holiday

Hop over to Fiji for some serious downtime on paradise island shores. Pick your resort, pick your...

Days 1-2

Singapore

Split up your journey to the Land of the Long White Cloud with a few days in sultry and sophisticated Singapore. Check out its gardens, street food scene and sensational shopping before heading back to the airport.

Day ​3

Overnight flight

Fly to Auckland on an overnight flight.

Days 4-5

Auckland

You’ll have two nights to relax and explore Auckland at your own pace while you adjust to your new time zone. There are museums aplenty, as well as viewpoints like Mount Eden and the Sky Tower. We highly recommend heading over to one of the bay’s islands for a different perspective and a slower pace.

Day 6

Rotorua

You’ll collect a hire car from Auckland and drive three hours to Rotorua. On the way, you could visit Hobbiton Village to tour The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies movie sets. The highlight of any visit to Rotorua are the unique geothermal wonders – you can see geysers, bubbling mud pots and steaming hot springs. Take some time to discover more about the Maori people – this region is the heartland of the country’s indigenous culture.

Mitai Maori Cultural Experience
Rotorua, Hobbiton & Waitomo

Enjoy an evening of cultural discovery and indigenous stories at Rotarua's Mitai Maori Village. The experience starts with a welcoming ceremony and continues with a cultural performance and the chance to watch as Maori warriors paddle a war canoe along the Wai-o-Whiro stream. A generous buffet dinner, packed with regional dishes that have cooked in a traditional hāngī pit is served before you wander through the forest to the site of the old village where you'll learn about the Maori way of life and their history.

• Duration: evening
• Start time: 6pm
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Te Po Indigenous Evening Experience
Rotorua, Hobbiton & Waitomo

The first geothermal wonderland was opened to visitors almost 200 years ago, and now, you can experience the legacy for yourself. Treat your tastebuds to a hearty buffet dinner in Pātaka Kai Restaurant and immerse yourself in history and culture in the hand-carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. You’ll enjoy a pōhiri (traditional welcome), followed by a waiata (song) and mōteatea (traditional chant) before stretching your legs on a blissful starlit saunter. 

Suitably relaxed, get set to hunker down with a creamy hot chocolate and steamed pudding on the geyser terrace.

• Daily departures
• Operates year-round 
• Starts: 5.30pm
• Group experience

Days 7-8

Napier/Hawkes Bay

Napier's beautiful art deco town is next. You’ll stay for two nights, giving you time to see the town’s beautiful architecture and visit vineyards of Hawke’s Bay, a sunny wine region where Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir grapes through in the gravelly soils and those oaky Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays are produced.

Best of the Bay
Napier & Hawke's Bay

Enjoy a full day exploring the beautiful countryside and meeting the locals around Hawke’s Bay. Take a walk through Napier, famed for its Art Deco buildings. As you travel, you'll encounter local artists displaying their paintings and sculptures. You'll also have a chance to taste delicious creations from talented food producers. When you visit a rural coastal settlement, a Maori local will welcome you to her land and share with you her spiritual beliefs and offer you a glimpse into her rich and fascinating culture. Last stop will be at a winery where you can taste the local wines.

This private tour can be personalised to your interests. 

• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Day 9-10

Martinborough

Onwards to the Martinborough Hotel, a three-and-a-half journey south. Staying in the heart of Martinborough wine village puts award-winning vineyards within touching distance, many of them family-run, small-scale operations.

Day 11

Wellington

A comparatively quick journey brings you to Wellington, where you’ll spend the night in the nation’s capital. Check out the waterfront museum Te Papa for a deep dive on New Zealand and head up to the top of Mount Victoria for some sweeping city views. Movie fans and Tolkienists should plan a trip to Weta Workshop to peek behind the scenes of the country’s film industry.

Weta Workshop Tour
Wellington & Martinborough

Wētā Workshop has been creating physical effects, props and creatures for film and TV since the late 1980s, and chances are you’ve already seen their work without realising it. From The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to Avatar and Black Panther Wakanda Forever, this Wellington-based studio has helped bring some of cinema’s biggest worlds to life.

Step behind the scenes at Wētā Workshop’s creative home base and get a close-up look at how things are made. This isn’t about green screens and computers. It’s about sculpting, moulding, painting and problem-solving, the hands-on craft that turns ideas into objects actors can interact with.

Your guide walks you through the workshop’s story, from its early beginnings to the award-winning operation it is today, explaining how different departments work together to create props, costumes and creatures. Along the way, you’ll see and handle pieces from across the workshop, including weapons, armour, prosthetics and detailed models, with the stories behind how they were made.

• Start time: 9am 
• Duration: 1½ hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Days 12-13

Blenheim

After arriving in Picton on the South Island, you’ll drive to Blenheim in the heart of New Zealand’s most famous wine region – Marlborough. Place yourself within easy distance of the vineyards and tasting distance of those world-famous Sauvignon Blancs and you’ll get a taste for some incredible New World wines.

Marlborough Icons Tour from Blenheim
Abel Tasman & the North West

Depart from Blenheim for this full-day tour which journeys through the renowned Marlborough wine region. Visit wineries and enjoy two fine wine experiences before continuing on through the Marlborough Sounds for a unique seafood cruise. Learn about the local history, visit a marine farm and stop to sample some fresh seafood paired with a glass of sauvignon blanc before your return journey.

• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Day 14

Christchurch

Your journey south continues, stopping overnight in Christchurch to break up your journey and have some time to explore the city's creative side and resilient attitude.

Day 15

Lake Tekapo

Stay on the shores of Lake Tekapo in Mackenzie Country and be dazzled by the starry nights – this region is part of an international Dark Sky Reserve.

Days 16-17

Gibbston Valley

The penultimate leg of your journey brings you to Central Otago – the world’s southernmost wine region and home of New Zealand’s renowned Pinot Noirs. It’s a fitting end to the wine-focused part of your journey across New Zealand.

Days 18-19

Queenstown

The trip comes to an adrenaline-fuelled close in Queenstown, the ‘adventure capital of the world’. Spend a couple of days exploring the epic natural landscapes from mountain to river to lake.

Milford Sound from Queenstown
Queenstown & Wanaka

Depart from Queenstown and travel along through the picturesque Southland farming country to Te Anau. Continue to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains and winding rivers. Throughout the journey, there will be multiple stops for photo opportunities, short walks, and the chance to learn about the fascinating local facts and stories. Embark on a nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord.

Admire spectacular alpine scenery and look out for unique wildlife including dolphins and seals, before heading back to Queensland.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.30am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Milford Sound Business Class from Queenstown/Te Anau
Fiordland, Invercargill & Stewart Island

Depart Queenstown or Te Anau in a luxurious glass-roofed vehicle, specifically designed for long-distance touring and sightseeing. With high panoramic windows you’ll travel with a guide in a small group of no more than 15 guests. Along the way, there will be many scenic stops. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is frequently referred to as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' because of its remarkable and dramatic landscapes.

On arrival, you will be welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine as you board the RealNZ Sinbad vessel for a guided cruise through this spectacular fiord. Indulge in locally sourced gourmet delights as you learn stories about Piopiotahi and Māori culture whilst keeping a look out for local wildlife. Add a final touch of luxury to this day with a stunning scenic 45-minute flight (extra cost).

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Milford Sound Coach and Cruise from Queenstown
Fiordland, Invercargill & Stewart Island

This full-day trip from Queenstown takes you from one alpine landscape into another, ending at one of New Zealand’s most recognisable natural landmarks. It’s a long journey, but the changing scenery makes the drive part of the appeal.

By late morning or early afternoon, you reach Piopiotahi Milford Sound, where the road ends and the fiord begins. Sheer rock walls rise straight from dark water, and the scale of the place is immediately apparent. From here, you board a purpose-built cruise vessel for up to two hours on the fiord. On the water, everything slows down. The boat moves steadily along Milford Sound, edging close to waterfalls and cliff faces, often drifting through mist kicked up by falling water. 

Rain only heightens the experience, with countless temporary waterfalls forming after heavier weather. Wildlife appears when it wants to. Seals are often seen hauled out on rocks, dolphins sometimes ride the bow wave, and penguins make seasonal appearances. The cruise passes St Anne’s Point Lighthouse and, if conditions allow, heads out toward the Tasman Sea where the fiord meets open ocean.

• Start time: 6.45am 
• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Lord of the Rings Full Day Tour from Queenstown
Queenstown & Wanaka

Discover locations from The Lord of the Rings films on this 4x4 off-road adventure which departs from Queenstown. See The Remarkables (The Misty Mountains), Deer Park Heights (The Battle of the Wargs) and the Kawarau Gorge (Argonath/Pillars of the King) plus many more. Continue to Arrowtown and experience some off roading as you follow a gold mining road up the river where you can try gold panning before enjoying views of the Wakatipu Basin from Skippers Canyon.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Extend your holiday

Fiji

Hop over to Fiji for some serious downtime on paradise island shores. Pick your resort, pick your spot on the beach and pick your perfect cocktail and you'll have the best far-flung escape imaginable.

Personalise your trip

Get in touch with one of our travel experts and we'll help plan your perfect holiday.

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