NEW ZEALAND: GARDENS & LANDSCAPES 29 October – 19 November 2021

FROM £9,780 PER PERSON

Tour Leader: Antonia Lloyd Owen The tour has been designed by Antonia Lloyd Owen, focussing on a selection of the glorious gardens has to offer. Meet the garden owners and be inspired and informed by their garden creations, many influenced by the distinct and contrasting local flora and geology. Our tour starts on the in , the largest urban city in New Zealand which lies across an 11-kilometre-wide volcanic isthmus separating two harbours – the Waitemata and Manukau. From here we take a day trip to the beautiful, tranquil island of Waiheke with its stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and charming main town of Oneroa, full of art and crafts shops. We then visit Rotorua, located on the shores of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region, known for its geothermal activity, geysers and hot mud pools and an important centre in Maori history and culture.

New Plymouth is our base from which to explore the open gardens of the Taranaki Flower Festival, an annual event which showcases the many fine gardens in an area of unusual geology and a distinctive microclimate created by Mount Egmont, also known as Mount Taranaki. Our last stop on North island is , the cosmopolitan capital, nestled between a harbour and forest clad hills with national treasures, galleries and museums and renowned Botanical Gardens dedicated solely to native plants and a haven for native birds.

The journey across the Cook Strait, which connects New Zealand’s North and South Islands, is one of the most scenic in the world and takes us to the seaside settlement of Kaikoura on the rugged east coast of the , overlooked by -capped mountains and the waters off its shores a rich habitat for marine mammals and seabirds.

Our next stop is Christchurch on the banks of the Avon River, bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, and situated on the edge of the Canterbury plains stretching to the Southern Alps. From here we take the TransAlpine train to Arthur’s Pass. The train climbs to more than 2,953 feet through Arthur’s Pass National Park, the highest and most spectacular pass across the Southern Alps which affords stunning scenic views en route. We continue to Dunedin, a historic, university town that stretches around a sheltered harbour. The city features Victorian and Edwardian architecture and the nearby Peninsula is home to the impressive Larnach Castle.

We end our journey in Queenstown, located on the shores of , overlooked by the majestic Southern Alps. The city is known for its pure alpine air, stunning views across snow-capped mountains, and crystal-clear lakes. A real highlight will be a cruise on Milford Sound, the star of Fiordland National Park. Carved ten miles inland by a succession of glaciers, it was described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. The fiord’s cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky, waterfalls cascade hundreds of feet to the salt water below, and above it all Mitre Peak stands sentinel at an elevation of 5,540 feet. Auckland Omaio Gardens Waiheke Island

Glass Kitchen at Brick Bay Ayrlies Garden

22-DAY ITINERARY, DEPARTING 29 OCTOBER 2021 29 October London a twelve-acre regenerating or Woodbridge Garden. Mincher is native reserve. The garden was a large rural garden set amongst Suggested flights (not included in established ten years ago, however the remnants of an old orchard the cost of the tour) Emirates EK 4 over the last two years it has been with a Georgian styled home as departing London Heathrow at extensively remodelled to include a centrepiece. Features include a 20.40 hrs. hard landscaping from rock that is cottage garden leading to ‘kissing unique to Waiheke and a collection gates’ under trailing weeping willow, 30 October London / Auckland of Paul Dibble bronze sculptures. native walkways, expansive grassed (North Island) Take a short walk at Onetangi, a areas, spring plantings of cherries, 1.87-kilometre long, north-facing rhododendrons, camellias and acers, Arrive Dubai at 06.35 hrs and connect beach with beautiful old Pohutukawa and a traditional walled kitchen to EK 448 departing at 08.05 hrs. trees on the foreshore. garden. Woodbridge Garden, created Cross international date line thereby by Christine and Tony Peek, began losing a day. Lunch at the Mudbrick Vineyard restaurant with wine tasting. Briefly its life as bare farmland and over explore the beach and seaside village time, has developed into a beautifully 31 October Auckland at Oneroa including its art galleries designed space. It features hundreds Arrive Auckland at 08.50 hrs. Transfer and shops. Return by ferry to the of varieties of plants, trees and to the Hilton Hotel where three nights mainland and the hotel. Dinner under flowers including New Zealand are spent. The hotel is located three own arrangements. natives. Return to the hotel and hundred metres out to sea at the dinner under own arrangements. end of the Princes Wharf, offering 2 November Auckland & Albany unparalleled views over the city’s 3 November Auckland / Rotorua inner harbour, yet only five minutes’ Depart by coach for Matakana Depart by coach (with luggage) and walk from the heart of the city. to visit the wonderful garden of Omaio (by kind arrangement with drive to Rotorua via Hamilton. Visit Lunch under own arrangements. Mrs Liz Morrow). Perched on a cliff Ayrlies Garden (by kind arrangement Depart by coach for sightseeing overlooking the sea, it has been with Mrs Bev McConnell) widely tour of Auckland including a visit to created from native bush and lives acclaimed as the consummate New the National Museum with a Maori up to its Maori name meaning ‘place Zealand garden. It covers nearly 11 dancing display. Walk to dinner at the of peace, quiet and tranquility’. acres with ponds, waterfalls, lawns Harbourside Bar & Grill restaurant. While preserving the old native trees, and mature trees while offering including a 1000-year-old puriri tree, glimpses of the sea beyond. One lushly landscaped pond receives a 1 November Auckland & Waiheke and allowing the regeneration of tree tumbling cascade of water beneath Walk to the ferry terminal and take ferns, ground ferns and nikau palms, a graceful Mamaku black ponga, one the ferry to Waiheke Island. Visit the Liz Morrow has laid out the garden of the many species of tree ferns for private garden of the Sacred Blessing beds in flowing shapes that echo the which the country is famous. Bev Sanctuary, located in Enclosure Bay coastal setting. McConnell (owner) will greet us and on the northern side of Waiheke. Lunch at the Glass House at Brick tell of her ideas to mix native with It is a one-acre garden surrounded Bay including wine tasting. Drive non-native plants, such as on two sides by McKenzie Reserve, to Albany and visit Mincher Garden

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Greenhaugh Gardens Wellington proteas with roses or maples with Dinner at The Salt on the Waterfront and within walking distance from the bromeliads. in the Millennium Hotel. city’s many sights. Walk to dinner at Lunch at the Zealong Tea Estate. Visit a local restaurant. the tea estate and enjoy a tasting. 6 November New Plymouth / Continue to Rotorua and check in Wellington 7 November Wellington at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, Depart by coach (with luggage). Visit Drive to visit the exotic (and uniquely located on the picturesque shores the gardens of Greenhaugh near named) Otari-Wilton’s Bush, which of Lake Rotorua and set in park Palmeston North which surround was established in 1926 and is the surroundings, where one night is a colonial homestead built in 1874. only public botanic garden in New spent. Walk to dinner at the Terrace The two-hectare semi-formal gardens Zealand dedicated solely to native Kitchen. have been developed over the past plants. The cultivated area of the forty years, the background of garden is surrounded by a native bush reserve, and the collection 4 November Rotorua / New established trees a legacy of previous includes an 800-year-old rimu tree, a Plymouth occupants. Old roses, perennials, species of podocarp. Depart by coach (with luggage) and self-seeding annuals and bulbs are drive to New Plymouth via Taupo, restrained by box hedging closer Lunch under own arrangements. Taumarunui and Whangmomona. to the house. Shell rock paths lead Afternoon free for optional visits Guided tour of Te Puia which spans through the pergola to the more to either the Te Papa Tongarewa 70 hectares within the historic Te informal water and woodland – Museum of New Zealand, the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, gardens. country’s national museum with on the edge of Rotorua. It is home Picnic lunch. Visit the Matthews collections spanning five areas: Art, to the world famous Pohutu Geyser, Garden near Waikanae created History, Pacific, Maori, and Natural mud pools, hot springs and silica by Julian Matthews, one of New Environment. formations. It is also possible to see Zealand’s leading gardening writers Or the Wellington Botanic Garden the native Kiwi bird and the national and former editor of The Gardener (guided tour) which was first schools of wood carving, weaving, magazine. This is a large garden of established in 1868 and covers stone and bone carving. contrasting sun and shade areas 25 hectares of land on the side of Picnic lunch. Check in at the Novotel with the emphasis on foliage plants. a hill near central Wellington. It New Plymouth Hobson, with a There are contrasting themes – an harbours a fine collection of native striking modern design, where two historic, sunken, brick edged pond in and non-native flora, and in the case nights are spent. Dinner under own one area, while around the corner is of the latter the Australian garden arrangements. a modern courtyard with exuberant is especially worth a visit. There is subtropical style plantings. Continue also a cable car that runs to the top to Wellington and check in at the of the Botanic Garden and affords 5 November New Plymouth Bolton Hotel where two nights wonderful views of the city. Visit the open gardens of the are spent. The elegant apartment- Return to the hotel and dinner under Taranaki Flower Festival. style hotel is located in the hub of own arrangements. Lunch under own arrangements. Wellington’s central business district, Continue with further garden visits. adjacent to Parliament Buildings

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Kaikoura Flaxmere Garden

8 November Wellington / Kaikora of vibrant colours, native areas variety of exotic trees and shrubs, (South Island) and rhododendron and woodland many of which still stand on the areas. Inspired by the Australian perimeter of the garden. The garden Depart by coach (with luggage) for landscape designer, Paul Bangay, has a strong frame, with the formal the Interislander ferry terminal and owners Tom and Meg Macfarlane garden consisting of separate take the ferry from the North Island have incorporated hedges, balls, knot garden rooms of differing styles and across the Cook Straits to Picton, gardens and a unique ‘window’ hedge characters arranged about two axes. South Island. Continue by coach to that peaks into a private garden. There is a formal lawn, a rose garden lunch. Continue to Penny and John Zino’s enclosed in box hedges, traditional Lunch at the Wither Hills Vineyard Flaxmere private garden with its double herbaceous borders, a restaurant with wine tasting. Visit arresting view of the Southern Alps: square walled garden planted in Barewood Garden, which surrounds the main lawn sweeps away from colours of red and green, and a a 100-year-old farmhouse in the the 1890 farmhouse (rebuilt in 1973) walk of pleached hornbeams on Awatere Valley. In laying out the creating a vista to the peak of Mount stilts. A potager garden is arranged garden, owner Caroline Ferraby Te Koa. The site’s severe conditions about a large marble capital and a honoured the dictum of Gertrude informed the garden’s development. glasshouse and steps lead down to Jekyll, ‘Let the garden curtsey to the Strategically placed eucalyptus trees a woodland garden shaded by Pott’s house.’ A combination of colourful and conifers shelter the plantings original trees, densely planted with mixed borders, a summer house, a from the powerful winds that sweep rhododendrons, camellias and a good formal potager, a pond and sweeping down from the mountains, while the variety of New Zealand native plants. lawns makes Barewood one of selected plants must endure very Lunch at the French Farm Restaurant the premier gardens of the region. cold winters and dry summers. Those in Akaroa. Visit Fisherman’s Bay Continue to Kaikora and check in at that thrive are hardy shrubs, native Garden which is a haven in the the Sudima Hotel, on the shore close evergreens, rambling roses, shrub rugged and dramatic landscape to town with stunning views of both roses and mixed borders. of the Banks Peninsula coastline. the mountains and sea, where two Lunch at Flaxmere. Continue to The structure and texture of New nights are spent. Dinner at The Pier Christchurch. Check in at the George Zealand native plants combined Hotel. Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in heart with a diverse array of non-native of the town overlooking picturesque plants are used to create a truly New 9 November Kaikora Hagley Park and the River Avon, Zealand ambience. Winding paths Depart by coach to visit the where two nights are spent. Dinner at and a varied landscape have inspired picturesque seaside town of Kaikora. the hotel’s restaurant, Pescatore. a garden with many parts, including a traditional flower border, a herb Lunch under own arrangements. garden, a farm garden, a fern garden, Return to the hotel and afternoon 11 November Christchurch a shaded streamside valley and pond at leisure. Optional whale watching Depart by coach to visit the gardens and a wild, exposed rock garden. cruise at an additional cost. Dinner at on the Banks Peninsular. Ohinetahi Return to Christchurch. Dinner under a local restaurant. at Governor’s Bay has fine views own arrangements. down the length of Lyttelton Harbour 10 November Kaikora / Christchurch and up to the surrounding hills. A garden was first made on this site in 12 November Christchurch / Depart by coach to visit Waihui 1865 by T. H. Potts, New Zealand’s Arthur’s Pass gardens, established over 30 years first botanist who planted a great Depart hotel (with luggage) for the with over 170 roses in a selection

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TransAlpine Train toRiver Arthur’s Collon Pass Cura Trott’s Garden

railway station. Take the TransAlpine the Canterbury winds. An arresting Depart the hotel (with luggage) for Train to Arthur’s Pass. Transfer by feature that Alan Trott has created Queenstown. coach to the Wilderness Lodge where is a sinuous red border composed Lunch under own arrangement at a two nights are spent. The hotel is set primarily of plants that are red in restaurant en route. Check in at the on a 4000 acre working sheep farm foliage, stem or flower. Continue to Hotel St. Moritz where two nights and nature reserve in the heart of the Dunedin. are spent. The hotel is situated in Southern Alps and is surrounded by Picnic lunch. Check in at the the heart of Queenstown and with pastures and mountain scenery. Distinction Dunedin Hotel where two wonderful views overlooking Lake Lunch at the lodge’s Mount Rolleston nights are spent. One of the city’s Wakatipu to The Remarkables Restaurant. Optional guided walk oldest heritage buildings, this iconic mountain range. Dinner at the hotel. exploring and studying alpine property is conveniently located in vegetation. Dinner at the Mount the rejuvenated and vibrant exchange Rolleston Restaurant with views of area in the heart of Dunedin. Dinner 17 November Queenstown & the snow-capped mountains. at the hotel. Milford Sound Depart by coach for Milford Sound. Take a cruise on Milford Sound. 13 November Arthur’s Pass 15 November Dunedin Picnic lunch on board. Return to Optional guided walk. The lodge Depart the hotel for a guided visit Queenstown by aeroplane (weather offers two complimentary guided of Dunedin Botanic Gardens. Its permitting). Transfer to the hotel. tours each day. These vary between wide range of horticultural and Late afternoon free for exploring forest, fern and orchid walks, botanical collections includes roses, Queenstown independently Night Sky and the Southern Cross herbaceous and perennial borders, a (time permitting). Dinner at Rata stars walks, ‘Moa Forest’ riverbed rock garden, native plants and four Restaurant. adventures and sheep farm discovery hectares of Rhododendron Dell. An walks. important aspect of the gardens’ Lunch under own arrangements. work is the cultivation of rare and 18 November Queenstown / Optional guided walk. Dinner at the endangered native plant species. Auckland Mount Rolleston Restaurant. Visit Lan Yuan Chinese Garden, an Morning at leisure. authentic example of a late Ming/ Lunch under own arrangements. early Ching Dynasty Scholar’s Transfer to Queenstown airport. 14 November Arthur’s Pass / Garden celebrating the area’s Suggested flights (not included in Dunedin Chinese heritage. the cost of the tour Emirates EK Depart hotel (with luggage). Drive to Lunch at a local restaurant. Depart by 7572 departing Queenstown at 15.50 Ashburton to visit Trott’s Garden, a coach to visit Larnarch Castle on the hrs arriving Auckland at 17.40 hrs. 7-acre garden with unusual varieties Otago Peninsula. Afternoon tea at the Connect to Emirates EK 449 departing of beautiful trees including maples, castle. Return to the hotel and dinner at 21.15 hrs. magnolias, dogwoods, and an array under own arrangements. of white-stemmed silver birch. In addition to the woodland there is a 19 November Auckland / London bog garden, with the extravagant, 16 November Dunedin / Arrive Dubai at 05.25 hrs and connect prehistoric-looking giant rhubarb, Queenstown to EK 1 departing at 07. 45 hrs arriving and a long walk of abundant Morning at leisure with the option London Heathrow at 11.40 hrs. perennials carefully sheltered from to return to the Botanic Gardens.

020 3411 4595 | [email protected] | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK TOUR PRICES PER PERSON Main Tour Price £9,780 Single Supplement £1,945

MAIN TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

Queenstown • Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary • Breakfast daily; 12 lunches; 12 dinners • All entrance fees, visits, excursions and transportation as per the itinerary • Gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to guides/s; gratuities to driver/s • Porterage • Local English-speaking guide/s • The services of your tour leader throughout

Larnarch Castle MAIN TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES • International flights into Auckland and out of Queenstown • Travel insurance • Optional activities • Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / alcoholic beverages where specified / laundry etc.) • Government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 08/02/21

Please note we have not included the cost of the flights in the tour price. Please contact us for prices should you wish to book them through us.

Queenstown YOUR TOUR LEADER

ANTONIA LLOYD OWEN

Antonia joined Specialtours (part of The Ultimate Travel Company) in 2002 with a degree in History of Art and Architecture and a finely tuned appreciation for music and the decorative arts. Having lived in Spain and worked in Germany and Austria, she feels comfortable in these countries and has since widened her interest to Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, The Baltic States and New Zealand. She has planned and led tours for the Art Fund and several prestigious American museum and garden groups.

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