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 A Gay Travel New Zealand Cultural Tour. Experience epic natural beauty fills these distant islands in the southwest corner of the Pacific. On our Vineyards and Vistas tour we will explore the North and South Islands, encounter the unique melding of British and indigenous Pacific cultures, and enjoy the friendliness of the Kiwis who love their country intensely. On this Gay cultural tour of New Zealand, we travel from the sail-filled harbor of Auckland to charming Wellington, the capital. Then, we travel to remarkable Wanaka, and then to the adventure capital, Queenstown, both towns set on large glacial lakes. Weather permitting, we will explore the spectacular Milford Sound by air and boat. And enjoy a morning jetboating up a glacial river seeing pristine alpine wonders.
We start our journey in the largest city, Auckland, enjoying a cruise in the City of Sails before jumping into the delectable world of New Zealand wine & gin tastings on charming Waiheke Island.
Then, in Wellington, our harbor front hotel gives us quick access to an immersive tour into the culture and treasures of the native Maori and the city’s café culture. We will explore hidden culinary treasures and artistic personalities on a walking tour of the city center.
Flying south, we begin our exploration of the Southern Alps while in Wanaka. The great expanse of this rugged, mountainous landscape is revealed on our short flight to Milford Sound, a majestic fjord where we cruise out to the Tasman Sea and back, spotting for seals and perhaps dolphins while getting sprayed by epic waterfalls as we pass under towering cliffs.
Then around Queenstown, we savor excellent pinot noirs, enjoy the longest jet-boat in the region and enjoy wonderful meals all while soaking up some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world!
• Sail in Auckland Harbor to the artist and vineyard enclave of Waiheke Island
• Savoir the delicious offerings of wine throughout New Zealand.
• Taste our way through Wellington’s unique gourmet shops and craft eateries
• Be inspired by the unique culture of the native Maori
• Soak up majestic alpine vistas while exploring glacial Lake Wanaka
• Cruise through a stunning fjord, Milford Sound
• Explore small boutique towns full of rich culture
• Jetboat braided glacier rivers and deep into awe-inspiring mountain terrain
• Relax and explore Queenstown: parks, cafes, wine tastings, and endless scenery
Day 1 -
 Most flights from North America arrive early morning.
Mid-afternoon, we will sail for a few hours on our own yacht around Auckland’s tranquil harbor, enjoying a broad view across the country’s largest metro area. Try your hand at the helm sailing our fine vessel. Later this evening, we wander to our waterside restaurant that prides itself on its use of the finest, freshest seafood and local ingredients.
Our centrally located luxury hotel is a great base to walk and explore the waterfront and the main core of the city.
Known as the 'City of Sails', Auckland extends over a narrow isthmus of land between the Pacific Ocean the Tasman Sea, that includes 49 dormant volcanoes. This cosmopolitan city has a population of around 1.5 million. And the city’s subtropical climate, lush vegetation and easy access to the coast and outdoor activities consistently earns it a place in the top five rankings in international lifestyle surveys. A melting pot of 190 different ethnicities, Auckland is the world’s biggest Polynesian urban population. This diversity is reflected in the lively arts and culture scene, a wide range of food and craft markets, and outstanding restaurants. The dozens of islands of the Hauraki Gulf form a distinctive aspect of the Auckland landscape and provide a magnet for those who sail, fishing enthusiasts and hikers.
(Please take note that if you are flying westerly from North America, you will need to depart two days before the day you wish to arrive in New Zealand. Due to the international date line, a day is "lost" when you fly west, but you’ll regain it when you fly home at the end of the trip.)
Day 2 -
 Today we head to the Today we head to the Downtown Auckland Ferry Terminal to go on a lovely 40-minute cruise to Waiheke Island through the picturesque Hauraki Gulf, a surprisingly refreshing escape so close to a major city, containing beautiful beaches, dozens of vineyards, olive groves, native bush, and relaxing seaside villages. Upon arrival, we will be met by a local island tour guide who will reveal the island to us throughout our stay.
Our first stop is for a soothing walk as we roam a hillside sculpture and butterfly garden.
Afterward, enjoy wine tastings at a small organic vineyard, followed by lunch at another boutique vineyard.
Our last stop, located high on a ridge overlooking the harbor and small islands in the distance, is the local distillery. Former pastureland has been painstakingly developed into a garden that exemplifies the botanical story of the gin produced and served onsite. Taste a range of their offerings while learning about their botanicals and taking in the spectacular view.
Day 3 -
 Late this morning we will fly to the southern tip of the North Island, to the country’s capital, Wellington.
Here, we will enjoy a late lunch on the waterfront. Situated on a beautiful harbor, the city is known for its boutique café and gourmet restaurant culture, its vibrant arts scene, and an outdoor lifestyle. Just beyond the main waterfront, the city is surrounded by mountains. Homes perch precariously as they climb ever higher on the hillsides. But the central core of the city is easily walkable. Wellington pulses with a warm and welcoming heart.
The afternoon is free for you to explore the city, to enjoy the waterfront, and perhaps take the tram up for a wander among the botanical gardens. This evening, we will gather for dinner at one of Wellington’s best restaurants.
Wellington has a small gay scene, so in the evenings a few of us may go out and visit with the locals. Or our stay may cross-over the dates of the annual Fringe Festival, allowing us to consider a performance.
Day 4 -
 New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, welcomes us this morning for an introductory overview tour. Perhaps most interesting is the story of the Maori people that is cleverly revealed through remarkable Maori taonga (historical treasures). And on other floors, we get a deeper understanding of the local geology, ecology and especially of today’s Kiwi culture, often a melding of Maori culture of the Pacific with some British values and traditions.
This afternoon, we taste our way around the capital as our local guide and gourmet guru introduces us to the city, its local tastes, products, and creative artisans. Stroll behind the scenes at some favorite Wellington food places, taste hidden culinary treasures, and meet some of the people behind a selection of the city’s best food.
Day 5 -
 Another day in Wellington allows time to continue to explore they city on your own, its galleries, shops and other museums, relax and enjoy a walk along the waterfront to the beach at Oriental Parade and further out to outlying bays, or maybe a longer walk on part of the City to Sea walkway.
Most of us, however, will escape to nearby Martinborough for the day, a delightful country village less than an hour from the city. Our guide will show off the area, introduce to a few local vineyards and stop at an olive oil farm, allowing us to get a feel for the quieter life in the New Zealand countryside. Afterward, we return to Wellington.
Day 6 -
 On this morning’s southerly flight, we fly across to the South Island, and then directly above or along a chain of mountains that creates the backbone of the South Island, the Southern Alps. A huge tectonic fault along the west coast of the South Island causes these peaks to climb ever higher, over 12,000 feet in places, despite being less than forty miles from the ocean.
Glaciers formed eons ago in the Alps—sometimes more than several thousands of feet thick—carving dramatic terrain around Wanaka, our destination for two nights, leaving grand glacial lakes that are dozens of miles long and almost a thousand feet deep. Our boat ride this afternoon takes us out on Lake Wanaka, where we stop for a walk on a pristine, predator-free island. We’ll encounter the rare, flightless Buff Weka (extinct on the mainland since 1920) and learn of the efforts to save this and other rare flightless birds. Enjoy a relaxing one-hour hike to reveal the island’s secret – a lake on top of the island. Have High Tea overlooking the lake (on an island in a lake) and drink in the vibrant birdsong and a panorama of the Southern Alps spread out before you. Plant a native tree if you wish as part of your eco-experience. Or skip the hike and enjoy the birdlife and vistas from the beach and shelter at the island base with your own afternoon tea. On our return to Wanaka, we check into our lakeside hotel for two nights.
Day 7 -
 Our goal today is to see Milford Sound, which is likely New Zealand’s most talked about landscape. If the weather cooperates, we promise you a remarkable day!
Despite Captain Cook’s misnomer, Milford Sound is really a fjord, one of seventeen or so here on the southwest coast. These huge waterfilled valleys that were carved by behemoth glaciers have almost vertical cliffsides and jagged peaks, much like those in Norway. Multiple waterfalls drop hundreds of feet from those cliff edges. And seals and dolphins often visit the safety of this long ribbon of protected water. Its beauty has earned it designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Area.
We enjoy the immensity of Milford Sound and parts of Fiordland this morning by both air and sea. We fly in small, light aircraft for about 40-minutes over dramatic Mt. Aspiring (the Matterhorn of the south) and multiple Fiordland mountain ranges, valleys, glaciers, and icefields, before arriving at the Tasman Sea. And then we fly up the fjord to our landing strip near the marina. Once on our small ship, we cruise out to the Tasman Sea and back, watching for marine life, enjoying those sky-scraping cliff tops, and then see who wanders forward on the ship to be blessed by water spray as our ship edges its bow under tumbling waterfalls.
On our return flight, we see more of Fiordland, including a part of the famed Routeburn Trek, one of the ten Great Walks in New Zealand, and across the Dart and Shotover Rivers, once the haunt of thousands of gold miners. We might also see Sutherland Falls, which at 1904 feet is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy Wanaka.
Day 8 -
 Our guide will inspire us with views and stories as we drive downriver from Wanaka, passing several of the areas where gold was discovered in the 1860s. We then follow one of several glacial rivers to an area that is home to large orchards and excellent vineyards. We stop to enjoy a wine tasting and gourmet platter for lunch at a favorite vineyard before continuing to Queenstown, perhaps with a few other stops of interest along the way, including a brief stop at the original bungy bridge, where the commercial sport started almost four decades ago.
Queenstown is an alpine city known for its ideal location on glacial Lake Wakatipu, and the towering peaks around it, including the Remarkable Range, which truly lives up to its name. And for its numerous cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, and all things outdoor extreme, from bungy jumping to river surfing through class IV rapids with a helmet and a kickboard (see our active NZ trip, Wild Kiwi, for those type of adventures!). We will have three nights here.
Day 9 -
 We find ourselves enjoying the peacefulness of morning as we drive along the lake to Glenorchy, one of the most scenic short road trips in New Zealand.
Hugging Lake Wakatipu, our drive reveals sweeping views of the lake framed by forested cliffs rising to mountain ridges that are often capped in snow. At lake’s end, several milky blue rivers braid their way through grassy flats populated with cattle or sheep, an iconic scene of bucolic New Zealand.
An exhilarating ride in a jetboat takes us up one of those silvery-blue glacial rivers and deep into the national park, navigating the ever-changing shallow river channels of the braided glacial river system. Discover hidden valleys, waterfalls, natural and cultural points of interest. And enjoy a short walk in an ancient beech tree forest – an atmosphere you may recognize from the Lord of the Rings films.
On our return, we will stop for a while to explore a lakeside trail or enjoy a swim in Lake Wakatipu, before arriving back in Queenstown. Remainder of day is at your leisure.
Sometime during our stay, be sure to take advantage of a gondola ride to a spectacular view high above the town. We include a ticket for you to enjoy the Skyline Gondola, which will whisk you smoothly up 450 metres to Bob’s Peak. From the top, enjoy breath-taking views that extend almost 360 degrees from Coronet Peak around to the Remarkables and on to Cecil and Walter Peaks on the other side of Lake Wakatipu.
Day 10 -
 We have an extra day to relax and enjoy this last full day in New Zealand on your own or with friends. Wander through the Queen’s Garden, go jet-boating or perhaps participate in your own wine-tasting tour, relax and do a bit of last-minute shopping for friends at home. Or spend a few hours cruising the lake on the original steamship that has provided transportation around the lake since its arrival in 1912, The Earnslaw. Our trip host and the hotel staff will be happy to help you determine the best way to pursue your interests today. We also hold this day open in case weather prevented us from flying to Milford Sound from Wanaka a few days earlier, in which case we will try again today, but this time from Queenstown.
This evening, we celebrate our Kiwi adventure together at our farewell dinner at one of the best restaurants in Queenstown.
Day 11 -
Today is the day we say goodbye to this beautiful country. We’ll be collected from our hotel and transferred to Queenstown Airport.
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