Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package
Taste your way through Australia and New Zealand on this culinary tour. Visit Tasmania, Melbourne, and Sydney, then visit the New Zealand Wine Trail.
This special Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package was planned for a 40th birthday for a couple from Seattle. They wanted to see the highlights of Australia and New Zealand while tasting the renowned food and wine of these fabulous countries.
Their Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package started in Tasmania with a private wilderness and wildlife tour. They got to see Australian wildlife in its natural habitat while enjoying a fabulous meal made with native local ingredients, paired with local Tassie wine. Then they traveled to chic Melbourne, where they toured this food-loving city with a chef. They also spent 2 nights at the Lake House, a boutique retreat known for its innovative cuisine. They finished the Australia portion of their trip in cosmopolitan Sydney and were treated to an exclusive tour of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest fish market and other foodie stops in Australia’s capital.
They continued their Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package in Hawke’s Bay, the beginning of the famous New Zealand Wine Trail. They drove at a leisurely pace to Martinborough, Wellington, and finally the world-famous Marlborough wine region. Along the way, they enjoyed private wine and food tours and stayed at charming, boutique lodges surrounded by stunning New Zealand scenery.
They finished their Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package with a very special experience in Marlborough, an area known for its Sauvignon Blancs. They enjoyed wine tastings followed by a cruise through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. They visited a local greenshell mussel farm—the area is renowned for greenshell mussels—and enjoyed freshly steamed mussels paired perfectly with local Sauvignon Blanc.
At last, their Australia and New Zealand Culinary Package came to an end. They enjoyed a scenic flight over the Cook Strait and the North Island back to Auckland, where they caught their connecting flight home.
Hotel Lindrum
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Begin your vacation in Tasmania. Arrive in Launceston on the island of Tasmania and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. Known for having some of the purest air, water, and wilderness in the world, Tasmania is an outdoor lover’s dream, as well as a fabulous destination for food and wine lovers, being famous for cool-climate wines and artisan food makers.
The Sebel Launceston
Day 2
The morning is yours to spend at your leisure. Then it’s time for Craig’s legendary Quoll Patrol tour—a huge favorite for our travelers. On this private tour, you’ll have the chance to see Australian animals in their natural setting and to dine under the stars on gourmet “bush tucker” fare. These native ingredients are unique to Australia and will be paired with Australian wines. A photographic safari will give you the chance to capture the elusive platypus or Tasmanian Devil in the wild while dining on the best of the best that can be had out in the wilderness.
The Sebel Launceston
Day 3
Spend the rest of your Tasmania vacation exploring the famed Tamar Valley with a private guide. Your guide will be the same authentic Aussie bushman you met the night before, whose expertise of food and wine can only be matched by his knowledge of the local flora and fauna. Enjoy an intimate and personalized day in the heart of high-yielding vineyard country, seeing orchards, scenic pastures, and forests. Taste the diversity of the Tamar Valley wineries—from family-run producers to state-of-the-art wineries. Enjoy lunch at famous Strathlynn Restaurant at Ninth Winery.
The Sebel Launceston
Day 4
Take a short flight up to Melbourne today and check into your stylish, contemporary hotel in the city center—private airport transfers included. Tonight, you have a private tour of Melbourne after the sun goes down and the lights turn on. Enjoy panoramic views from the Skydeck, followed by a dinner at one of the hottest dining spots in the city, and finish with cocktails and soft jazz on a rooftop terrace overlooking Federation Square and the Southbank Promenade.
Hotel Lindrum
Day 5
Today, a chef will take you on a private journey through the Mornington Peninsula, including morning tea, lunch, all food and wine tastings, all produce, and a cooking class. Optional touring suggestions include golf, the Great Ocean Road self-drive, helicopter flight to the Twelve Apostles, Yarra Valley wine tasting, and a hot air balloon flight over the city.
Hotel Lindrum
Day 6 – 7
This morning, pick up your rental car and drive to the town of Daylesford. Your accommodations here are stunning. The Lake House, a tranquil retreat along Lake Daylesford and the Wombat State Forest beyond, is home to a renowned restaurant with cutting-edge, modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients. The cellar is nothing to sneeze at, with 800-some interesting and edgy wines from around the world and around the corner. Optional recommended activities include: food and wine tours, hiking and animal spotting, quirky art shopping in town, or treatments at the spectacular spa.
The Lake House
Day 8
Fly to Sydney today, where you will be privately escorted to your downtown hotel. We’ll arrange dinner reservations for you each night that you’d like them. Sydney is iconic in every way. The Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the zoos and lively neighborhoods, Darling Harbour and its array of quirky dining establishments—all of it is delightful and worth thorough exploration. Your boutique hotel is perfectly situated to walk to all of these sights and restaurants.
The Grace Hotel Sydney
Day 9
A relaxed, private food and wine tour of Sydney’s world-famous Fish Market Auctions and the best of the city’s foodie scene is the plan of the day, including the foodie stops along Queen Street and Woollahra, as well as a gourmet luncheon at the award-winning Catalina’s in Rose Bay. Optional upgrade: Enjoy a scenic seaplane flight from Rose Bay over the city today or a scenic helicopter flight tonight.
The Grace Hotel Sydney
Day 10
A private transfer takes you to the airport this morning for two short flights to the North Island of New Zealand and the start of the New Zealand Wine Trail, Hawke’s Bay. After picking up your rental car, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sunshine and delicious red and white wines of this vineyard region. Your accommodations are in the heart of Napier, the largest town in Hawke’s Bay, and home to several fabulous restaurants and charming art deco architecture.
3.5-star hotel in downtown Napier
Day 11
Enjoy a private tour today with Long Island Guides through the vineyards and food-makers of Hawke’s Bay, visiting premium sites while you sit back, relax, and enjoy Kiwi hospitality. With an itinerary customized to your interests, you’ll talk to wine personalities who are passionate about crafting world-class wines. Enjoy a gourmet luncheon at a winery during your tour.
3.5-star hotel in downtown Napier
Day 12
Drive a few hours today through rolling green hills to Martinborough, the smallest destination on your list, but not the smallest in reputation. Visit the Wine Centre in the heart of the village and explore local wineries. Your accommodations this evening are in a historic country cottage, perfectly restored and oozing with sophisticated charm.
Peppers Parehua
Day 13
Today, enjoy an exclusive food and wine tour for up to four passengers only with Zest Food Tours. This delicious tour of the region around Martinborough takes you on a relaxed and personal experience. You’ll go where few visitors can, up close, meeting innovative people dedicated to being the very best with their premium boutique brands. Your 3-course tasting lunch will be paired with wines, possibly from the very vines you can see from your table.
Peppers Parehua
Day 14
A 2-hour drive brings you to the capital city of Wellington this morning. Wellington is filled with cafés, museums, and art; theatre performances and galleries abound. Late this morning, you have a private tour of the National Museum, Te Papa, located minutes from your hotel. You’ll see all of the museum’s major artworks, Maori treasures, the world’s only discovered colossal squid, and other highlights with a private guide.
3.5-star hotel in downtown Wellington
Day 15
Spend the morning on a foodie’s half-day wine tour with Zest Food Tours, exploring the culinary treasures of this city. Meet chefs and indulge in some of New Zealand’s iconic foods. In the afternoon, you’ll board the InterIsland Ferry to the South Island, with access to the premium onboard lounge. Settle into your comfortable accommodations in Blenheim, the capital of the famous Marlborough wine region.
3.5-star lodge in Blenheim
Day 16
Today, enjoy a taste of Marlborough, the official capital of New Zealand wine and the quintessential New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy a range of wine tastings (including famous Cloudy Bay) along with gourmet treats before heading out to experience a stunning cruise through the Marlborough Sounds. Visit a greenshell mussel farm and taste a local favorite: freshly steamed mussels matched perfectly with a complimentary glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
3.5-star lodge in Blenheim
Day 17
A private transfer takes you to the airport this morning to enjoy a scenic flight over the Cook Strait and the North Island back to Auckland, where you’ll board your international flight back home from your Australia and New Zealand vacation.
About this vacation
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