April 2010

Sunday 25    April              Depart Wichita, KS

Monday 26    April              Cross International Dateline

Tuesday 27   April               Arrive Auckland New Zealand (D)

                        Arrive Auckland

                        Meet and Greet and transfer to hotel.

                        Afternoon sightseeing tour of Auckland city

                        The tour today will include a drive around some of the waterfront area along
with a stop on the summit of one of the volcanic peaks for a sweeping view
over the city and harbour.  Included in the tour is a stop at the Auckland
Museum for a privately guided tour of the exhibit which highlights
New Zealand’s involvement with the World Wars. The “Scars on the Heart”
exhibit presents the human cost of war seen from the New Zealand
perspective.

                        Stay at Heritage hotel. (or similar)

                        2 Nights

                        Early Evening:

An Introduction to New Zealand’s Wines Lecture by Guy in your hotel.
This will include a presentation of the specific wines you will be experiencing
during you time in Auckland.

                        Welcome to New Zealand dinner.

Dinner tonight introduce the finest and freshest of local produce accompanied
by some Auckland region iconic wines.

Wednesday 28   April          Auckland. Waiheke Island Wines (B, L,)

                        Cooked breakfast will be served at your hotel. 

Walk the short distance to the ferry terminal where you will board the ferry
to Waiheke Island – one of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf.  Since the late
1970's Waiheke's benign Mediterranean climate has seen the growth of a
flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low
quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international
award-winning wines. The big Bordeaux-style reds of Stony Ridge,
Goldwater Estate and Peninsula Estate are now appreciated by wine
lovers all over the world, and more than 30 vineyards have followed in
the footsteps of the original three.

Begin tour of Island including tasting at 3 Vineyards.

Lunch at a local Café with Wine while enjoying views over the island
and harbour.

                        Return to city late afternoon

Met with Guy in your hotel to discuss and review the Wines you have
tasted last night and today.

Evening at leisure

Thursday 29   April              Auckland to Rotorua (3 ˝ hours)   (B, D.)

                        Cooked breakfast at the hotel.

Depart from Auckland city and travel into the rich farmlands of the Waikato
region.  Pass through small country towns until arriving into the local centre
of Matamata where a stop will be made for a traditional Kiwi morning
tea. Longlands Farm and Restaurant is situated in the fertile Waikato
farming area of Matamata, New Zealand, nestled beneath the spectacular
Kaimai Ranges. Longlands Farm is a typical example of dairy farming in
the area however it is unique in that the owners have created a small
restaurant adjacent to their home, where groups from all around the globe
can sample some of the finest rural cuisine while experiencing how
a rural New Zealand family live.  Continue over the hill clad Mamaku
ranges into Rotorua arriving mid day.  Lunch will be at leisure on arrival.

                        Stay at Heritage hotel (or similar)

                        1 Night

                        Afternoon sights in Rotorua

Visitors from around the world have been coming to Rotorua since the 1880s.
The city is best known for its thermal activity with geysers, mud pools, hot
pools and steam vents providing spectacular sights. Thermal waters are used
to treat ailments as well as provide bathing and relaxation. The tour coach will
call for you for your tour of Rotorua. 

Visit the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, here young Maori carvers
are taught the skills of their ancestors,  – a guided tour shows you traditional
crafts of flax weaving, wood and jade carving. Following this you will see pools
of bubbling mud, spouting geysers, silica terraces and steam pouring out of
vents at your feet.  It is then  off to Rainbow Springs for a guided tour of
the freshwater springs full of  Rainbow and  Brown trout (underwater gallery
for viewing) in their various stages of development.  Following Rainbow
Springs visit the Kiwi Encounter to have a close look at the hatching
of New Zealand’s iconic bird. 

This evening, attend a Maori Hangi (feast.). The food is cooked in the
traditional Maori manner by natural   steam in a pit in the earth. A wide
selection of foods is generally provided including wild pork, lamb and
seafoods.  Dinner will be followed by a Maori Cultural performance,
which includes many traditional action songs.

Friday 30   April                   Rotorua to Nelson, Blenheim  (B,D)

                        Breakfast in the hotel.

                        Transfer to Rotorua airport.

                        Fly Rotorua to Nelson. (time to be advised)

On arrival in Nelson you will be met by your South Island Coach and driver.

Sightseeing tour of Nelson before travelling onto Blenheim, in the centre of the Marlborough Wine area.

Lunch is at leisure.

Stay Copthorne Marlborough hotel. (or similar) 2 Nights                  

Tonight Guy will lead Tasting and discussions on the various wines produced in Marlborough including those from Hunter Wines. 

Evening – Visit Hunter Winery – one of Marlborough’s best wineries and
winner of many awards.

Dinner will be at The Hunter Winery's restaurant and café;
enjoy two of life's more sedate pleasures - food and wine.
The menu has a distinct Marlborough flavour and is designed to complement
Hunter’s Vineyards’ wines.                 

Stay Copthorne Marlborough hotel. (or similar)                               

2 Nights

Saturday 01 May          Blenheim – Marlborough Sounds – Marlborough Wines (B,)

Breakfast is served at the hotel. 

Travel this morning to Havelock where you will enjoy an informative, relaxing
and fun cruising the inner Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds, two of the main
Sounds that make up the Marlborough Sounds. Take in the natural beauty
of this tranquil environment; learn about the history of the Marlborough
Sounds and the pioneering families who have settled here. Visit a Greenshell
Mussel farm where your launch captain will explain the intricacies of
growing this delicacy in the Sounds.  While at the mussel farm freshly
steamed mussels are served with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc,
a wonderful wine and food match in a beautiful part of Marlborough.

Lunch is at Leisure

Today visit the famous Cloudy Bay Winery. No other Kiwi wine has found
such a following, continually the most sought after Sauvignon Blanc in the
world. Taste the famous Sauvignon that has put the winery on the world map
in such a short time.

Met with Guy in your hotel to discuss and review the Wines

you have tasted last night and today.

Evening at leisure.

Stay at Copthorne Marlborough hotel. (or similar)                             

Sunday 02  May             Blenheim to Christchurch. (B)  Canterbury Wines

Breakfast is included at the hotel today.

Drive south to Kaikoura, an area rich in marine life and the home of the New
Zealand Whale Watching industry.  A stop will be made in Kaikoura for lunch
(own cost) continue along the scenic coastal route to Christchurch.

At the Waipara area Guy will lead you on a visit to some local Wineries for
tastings

Stay at Heritage hotel.

                        2 Nights

                        Dinner at leisure in Christchurch.

Monday 03 May                 Christchurch. Sightseeing  (B, D.)

Breakfast is included at the hotel today.

Undertake a morning sightseeing tour of Christchurch – “The Garden City”.  
See the Avon River, the Port Hills and the many beautiful gardens that have
given the city its reputation.

The afternoon is free for you to explore the city further. You might like to
consider taking the tram to the Museum and Art Centre and of course no visit
to Christchurch is complete without touring the Christchurch Cathedral. 

This evening, Guy will introduce you to the Wines of Canterbury, before you
transfer for your farewell dinner at the Curators House in the Botanical
gardens. Tonight enjoy the finest cuisine from Canterbury with matching
regional wines for your final night in New Zealand.

Tuesday 04  May             Depart New Zealand for Wichita, KS (B)

Breakfast is included at the hotel today.

                        At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your

                        flight to the USA.

                        TOUR ENDS…..

   $4,450.00 per person based on double occupancy ~ Single supplement 

$1,935.00 (Price is based on minimum of 22 tour participants and July

 2009 currency rates (subject to change.)

General Tour Inclusions

• First class accommodations as listed or similar

• All transfers and tours by private charter motorcoach

• Sightseeing as listed in itinerary

• The services of experienced, English-speaking driver/guides

• Meals as shown in the itinerary (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner

•  (1 lunch includes wine and 3 of dinners include wine)

• Current New Zealand GST.  Changes to this tax rate will result in changes in the cost

• Round-trip coach excursion airfare from Wichita, Kansas

• Deposits:  $350.00 per person deposit is required to hold reservations for trip. 

• Final Payment is due Feb 24, 2010. 

Sunflower Travel Corporation

1223 N. Rock Road, Bldg, G, Suite 200

 Wichita, KS 67206

  316-634-1700

bhansen@sunflowertravel.com

Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.  For further insurance

 information and a brochure, contact Sunflower Travel.

Cancellation:  A handling fee of $50.00 per person plus any applicable

vendor fees will be charged after receipt of deposit.  From 90 days to

departure, $350.00 per person plus any penalties assessed by hotels,

transportation companies, airlines and other purveyors of service will

be charged. 

Travel Documents:  Valid passport (not included in price)

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