Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail extends from Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, across the Cook Strait, to the Marlborough region at the top of the South Island. It starts in Napier, the most perfectly preserved Art Deco city in the world. Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt in Art Deco style and that style has persevered. A wonderful way to see the Art Deco buildings is to take a walking tour. The day I took the tour we had a girl from Amsterdam, a couple from South Africa and a couple of Brits. As we were walking, the tour guide just casually mentioned that one of the All Blacks had just opened a sandwich shop for his mum in Napier and he was there that day making sandwiches! Needless to say, that’s where I had my sandwich that day, courtesy of Tane Randall! Cape Kidnappers, the wonderful resort and golf course is also in this area. You can fly to Napier and they will pick you up at the airport. Driving from Auckland to Cape Kidnappers is about 6 hours. You can also take a helicopter from their sister property Kauri Cliffs in just under 3 hours. This is one of the best golf courses in the world! …to be continued…much more on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Check it out at www.classicwinetrail.co.nz
Tags: Art Deco, Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs, Napier, New Zealand, Wine
July 11th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail is a road journey that serves up fantastic food and wine, as well as all kinds of cultural and adventure experiences. You’ll discover five of New Zealand’s most scenic regions, including three major wine-growing areas. Visit Hawke’s Bay for fabulous reds, Art Deco architecture and wildlife tours; enjoy a beer at Mangatainoka’s Tui Brewery; explore the vineyards and historic towns of the Wairarapa region; shop, dine and be entertained in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city; then catch the vehicular ferry to Marlborough, where you can go fishing, kayak the waterways of the Marlborough Sounds and find your way to more than 50 cellar doors. From Hawke’s Bay in the North Island to Marlborough in the South Island, this is the motoring holiday that you can design to suit your taste.