Discover New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

CW
Crush Wine Experiences
  • Email address verified
17 reviews
Feb 18 - 28, 2026
Group size: 8 - 16
Discover New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand

Crush Wine Experiences
  • Email address verified
17 reviews

Feb 18 - 28, 2026
Group size: 8 - 16

About this trip

North & South Islands: Sun, Sea, Cuisine, and World Class Wines


Overview:

February is a great time to see New Zealand. The summer light is golden, the air crisp and clear. And over 11 days and 10 nights, this journey spans both North and South Islands—from the harbor city of Auckland to the alpine beauty of Queenstown. It's a path less traveled, yet rich in all the things that matter: wild landscapes, honest food, good wine, and the stories of the land.

On the North Island, you’ll walk the coastline of Auckland, then sail to Waiheke for a day of food and wine in the sun. There are redwoods in Rotorua—tall, quiet, ancient—and the steam and fire of Waimangu. You’ll share a Māori feast under the stars and see the green hills of Hobbiton where the stories live.

Then south to Blenheim, for Marlborough’s sharp white wines and seafood pulled fresh from the Sounds. In Queenstown, the mountains stand like old friends. You’ll cruise the lake, dine by firelight at Walter Peak Station, and raise a glass in Central Otago, where the Pinot Noir runs deep. 

Restful stays. Seamless travel. Unforgettable meals. It’s New Zealand, off the beaten path—and in perfect season.


See full day-by-day itinerary here

What’s included

  • 11 days/10 nights
    Arrive Auckland, Depart Queenstown. Full itinerary and hotels here: https://bit.ly/43zA9py
  • Transportation
    Local transport throughout the program, including coach travel and local ferries
  • Local Flights
    New Zealand air flights while on the tour
  • Local Guide
    Full time local guide and tour manager from tour start to finish
  • Tour Director
    Full time wine & food host / Sommelier for entire trip
  • Welcome Dinner
    At a renowned restaurant in Auckland's Commercial Bay
  • Auckland
    Auckland tour and lunch
  • Meals
    20 meals
  • Wineries
    6 winery visits & tastings on Waiheke Island, in Marlborough, and Central Otago
  • Wine Cruise
    Exploring the stunning Marlborough Sounds
  • Olive Oil
    Estate tour experience and tasting
  • Waiheke Island
    Full Day Gourmet Food and Wine Tour
  • Hobbiton
    Hobbiton Movie Set for a guided tour and lunch
  • Waimangu Geothermal
    Tour of the world’s youngest geothermal area
  • Te Pā Tū
    Traditional Cultural Evening and Dinner
  • Redwoods Forest
    Canopy Treewalk
  • Odyssea Cruise
    Sampling local seafood in the stunning Marlborough Sounds
  • Lake Wakatipu Cruise
    Including Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ Dinner
  • Farewell Dinner
    At an iconic restaurant in Queenstown
  • Airport transfers
    Arrival day and Departure day transfers
  • and much more!

What’s not included

  • Airfare
    Flights to/from New Zealand
  • Travel Insurance
    Highly recommended
  • Gratuities
    For local guides and coach drivers
  • Activities not listed
  • Meals not listed

Available Packages

Double Occupancy
Deposit: $2,100
Available until January 10, 20264 left

 Double occupancy: 2 guests, 1 room. For full itinerary, Download Brochure. 

$7,000
Deposit: $2,100
Single Occupancy
Deposit: $2,370
Available until January 10, 2026Sold Out

 Single occupancy: 1 guest, 1 room. For full itinerary, Download Brochure.

$7,900
Deposit: $2,370

Available Add-Ons

Pre-night stay at QT Auckland Hotel
$225
Only 2 left

1 night pre-tour at the QT



Your Organizer


CW
Crush Wine Experiences
17 reviews
Experience small group, multi-day tours off the beaten path. Our food, wine, and cultural excursions span the world's most interesting regions, and include an American wine host/Sommelier along with charismatic local guides.

Reviews

Sam & Alicia (sp?) were incredible tour guides, and the trip was diversified…mixing interesting experiences w/unbelievable wineries/tastings, underground city tour, buffalo mozzarella farm, Pompeii…couldn’t have been any better! The three hotels we stayed in were lovely. The last one was really not going to open everything up until June 1, so it seemed somewhat “shut down” in some respects. I would tour w/Sam & Alicia again…definitely! And it was fun to have my winemaker, Miro & his fun wife, Molly on the tour as well. Could not get over how fun (& crazy) the participants were…we all got along so well! Great, memorable trip…thank you! *lynn
By Lynn C for ZAP! Naples, Amalfi Coast & Campania Tour on May 25, 2025
Thank you so much, Lynn! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour. It was a pleasure meeting you and Dom and having you with us. Alice and I loved sharing the experience with such a fun, adventurous group. We’re delighted the mix of wineries, culture, and cuisine made it memorable. We’ll pass along your kind words to Miro and Molly too. Hope to see you on another adventure!
By Crush Wine Experiences on May 26, 2025
CW
This trio had a lot of his and downs but ultimately the price we paid did not meet our expectations. We felt hotels were of low quality, wine and food provided were low quality, sequence of events were poor. Highlights being a great wine and food experience, the local guide Alice was wonderful, and the people on the group were nice. We felt back to back lunch’s at wineries were not planned well, quality overall was low, the elderly couple on the trip was taken care of by guests, price did not match the low quality. A lot of time spent on travel as well, not experience.
By Nick K for ZAP! Naples, Amalfi Coast & Campania Tour on May 18, 2025
Dear Nick, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the ZAP! Naples, Amalfi Coast & Campania Tour. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that the experience didn’t meet your expectations, and we appreciate both your praise and your concerns. This tour is a bit different from others we host in that a portion of the price supports Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP), a California non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Zinfandel. It also includes the presence of a California-based winemaker, which we believe adds a unique dimension for wine lovers, though we understand that this may not have been apparent in the overall experience. Regarding the hotels, our accommodations are all 4-star properties that we’ve carefully selected for comfort and location. While we recognize they may not meet the standards of 5-star luxury resorts, they are consistently well-rated and chosen to support an itinerary filled with daily excursions and activities. These same hotels have been used in all our past Naples, Amalfi Coast & Campania tours with positive feedback. (This includes a version of this itinerary from just last month.) As for the wine and food, we’re a bit puzzled by the contrast in your review—on one hand noting the quality as low, while also highlighting a great food and wine experience as one of the tour’s strengths. We’d truly welcome any specific feedback you’re willing to share so we can better understand and improve. In Irpinia, the wine region of Campania, our visits are structured to maximize the day by including two wineries in the same general area, separated by lunch. Travel time is kept to a minimum, with no leg longer than an hour or so. We aim to strike a thoughtful balance between exploration and relaxation. Lastly, we want to address your concern about the elderly couple. Throughout all group activities—walking tours, winery visits, meals, and transportation—both Alice and I were attentive to their needs and safety. While we can’t accompany guests during their free time, we regret that it felt like their presence affected your experience, and we thank you for your compassion toward fellow travelers. We sincerely appreciate your candid feedback and are always working to refine our tours. Thank you again for traveling with us. Warm regards, Sam Kimball Crush Wine Experiences
By Crush Wine Experiences on May 19, 2025
CW
It was a wonderful vacation. Our organizer Sam, tour manager Sergio and various city tour guides made sure that everything went well. The itinerary was a perfect mix of activities, sights, free time, wine tastings and food. Plus we had an incredible group of people who came together on this trip to experience southern Italy.
By Norma F for Exploring Puglia & Matera on May 15, 2025
A fantastic trip! Well organized, great tours and activities with free time each day as well. Highly recommend traveling with Sam!
By Robin G for Exploring Puglia & Matera on May 14, 2025
We had a great time! Great people to share the experience with, great food and wine, and good accommodations! I definitely recommend this tour and look forward to doing more in different areas in the future. We have our eye on the New Zealand tour early next year. :-) Cheers! Robert
By Robert C for Exploring Puglia & Matera on May 14, 2025
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