Wine and Rail Adventure WITH CHRIS HARDING 15 DAYS: 15 – 30 OCTOBER 2015

Savour the wine regions of New Zealand’s South Island by train and luxury coach and feast on a springtime palate of scenery, heritage, fine food and wine.

in association with

• WELLINGTON • NELSON • BLENHEIM • • • QUEENSTOWN • MT COOK • WESTPORT • HANMER SPRINGS • IN A EXPLORING THE WINE REGIONS OF: GREAT TRAIN JOURNEYS ON: Day 1 • Thursday 15 October: ARRIVE WELLINGTON

• NELSON • Heritage steam train on the Coastal Pacific On arrival in Wellington, make your way to our hotel and check in. You may wish to arrive a day or two • MARLBOROUGH REGION railway to Christchurch earlier to explore this great capital city.We meet tonight in our hotel for an informal drink with our tour • CENTRAL OTAGO • Dunedin to Middlemarch on the Taieri leader Chris, followed by a wonderful welcome dinner with Chris and our fellow travellers. Tonight, to put • CANTERBURY PLAIN Gorge Railway the New Zealand wine story in perspective, we sample North Island wines as a prelude to what’s ahead • The iconic TranzAlpine journey in the South Island. • Ashburton and Weka Pass Heritage Railway Overnight: Amora Hotel, Wellington (D) Day 2 • Friday 16 October: WELLINGTON—NELSON OVERVIEW Board the Interislander ferry for the three-hour trip across the Cook Strait from the North Island to the South, New Zealand is a special place for many reasons but its wineries and collection of great train journeys and marvel at the scenery as we glide up the stunning Marlborough Sound to Picton. Wine Spectator make it a remarkable destination—where great flavours and great travel meet. Extending 1,600 kilometres called this “one of the most spectacular ferry rides in the world”. Our coach rolls on down to Nelson and from sub-tropical Northland (36° S) to the world’s most southerly grape growing region of Central Otago dinner tonight showcases wines of this famous region. (47° S), the vineyards of New Zealand benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate (no Overnight: Trailways Hotel, Nelson (B, D) vineyard is more than 120 kilometres from the ocean) with long sunshine hours and nights cooled by sea breezes. Day 3 • Saturday 17 October: NELSON—BLENHEIM

New Zealand wine is distinctive for its purity, vibrancy and intensity. The long ripening period—a result After a visit to the morning markets, we take a trip to Nelson’s “must see” visitor attraction, the World of cool temperatures—allows flavour development whilst retaining fresh acidity, a balance for which of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum. In The WearableArt™ Gallery, admire the 60 spectacular New Zealand wines are renowned. Home to 700 wineries, the New Zealanders manage to produce great creative garments, some award-winning and the majority of which featured in the latest annual World of diversity in high quality wines. WearableArt™ Awards Show. Then experience one of the largest private car collections in Australasia in The country’s rail network boasts more than 3,000 kilometres of 3’6” gauge line, over 60 different heritage the Classic Cars Gallery, showcasing the art of motoring in a world-class exhibit. Next we explore some wineries and experience a delicious tasting lunch at Brancott Estate Winery, home groups and some truly spectacular journeys. This tour makes the most of the offerings on the South to the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc plantings and situated in the heart of the Marlborough Wine Island with train journeys and luxury coach connections linking the major wine regions, cities and natural Country. We’ll continue along Eighty-Eight Valley to St Arnaud on stunning Lake Rotoiti (formerly Lake landscapes in one compact adventure. Arthur), an alpine lake in Nelson Lakes National Park and a remnant of massive glaciers that once covered the area. From there we travel through the Wairau Valley onto Blenheim. Overnight: Scenic Hotel Marlborough, Blenheim (B, D) YOUR TOUR LEADER

Chris Harding recently retired as the manager of the Railway Bookshop at Sydney’s Central Station.

He also spent many years with the steam operating company, 3801 Limited, and conducted tours of Sydney’s disused tunnels for the Australian Railway Historical Society. He is often called upon to talk about railway history on radio. His early career with the Bank of New South Wales/Westpac Bank gave him the desire and opportunity to travel.

Chris’ interest in wine has seen him travel far and wide exploring wine regions and meeting wine makers. His experience in New Zealand has covered both the famously fine wines of the country and its iconic train journeys. He has recently hosted his second highly successful railway adventure to Switzerland and will be hosting a number of similar adventures in 2016 RAILWAY Day 4 • Sunday 18 October: MARLBOROUGH REGION Day 8 • Thursday 22 October: DUNEDIN

We explore the wineries of the Marlborough region today on a specially arranged wine Dunedin is New Zealand’s largest city by area and perhaps the most tour with expert local guides. Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine growing region spectacular in terms of divergent landscapes. We spend half a day and boasts an international reputation for producing the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. In touring this Scottish-influenced city: Larnach Castle stunningly situated fact, 77% of New Zealand’s total wine production comes from Marlborough and 86% of overlooking Otago Harbour; the Royal Albatross colony located at the Marlborough’s wine production is the flagship varietal Sauvignon Blanc. Its Chardonnay, foot of Taiaroa Head and winner of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are also considered of exceptional quality. The for 2015; and the fascinating Toitū Otago Settlers Museum. Afterwards afternoon and evening are at leisure to enjoy some of the regions interesting offerings or we will enjoy lunch in Glenfalloch Gardens on the Otago Peninsula. take the opportunity to linger at your favourite winery. Gaelic for ‘hidden glen’, the gardens were established in 1871 and are Overnight: Scenic Hotel Marlborough, Blenheim (B) now operated by the Otago Peninsula Trust for locals and visitors to enjoy. Following lunch, the afternoon and evening are free for you to Day 5 • Monday 19 October: BLENHEIM—CHRISTCHURCH enjoy. Perhaps stroll around to Speight’s Brewery, producing ales since 1876 or, if chocolate is more to your taste, pay a visit Cadbury World Today’s highlight is our run along the stunning Kaikoura coastline to Christchurch on where the cafe is open til 4.30 pm every day. board the steam train Ab608 Passchendaele. The Ab608 was built in 1915 and named Overnight: Park Regis Hotel, Dunedin (B, L) Passchendaele in 1925 in memory of all of the railwaymen who fell in the Great War. After a major restoration taking many years and at a cost of over half a million dollars, she Day 9 • Friday 23 October: DUNEDIN—QUEENSTOWN has now been completely and lovingly restored. We will reach Christchurch, situated in the Canterbury region of the South Island, in the late afternoon when we will have the The grand Dunedin Railway Station (the most photographed building opportunity to visit the city centre. Hit by devastating earthquakes in 2011 and 2012, in New Zealand) is the departure point for a “world class experience” Christchurch lost many of its heritage buildings and churches. However, the city is as on the Taieri Gorge Railway from Dunedin to Middlemarch across vibrant as ever with its open air markets, shipping container retail precinct and other the spectacular Taieri Gorge through ten tunnels and over dozens of innovative buildings like the Cardboard Cathedral, or Transitional Cathedral, cited by dramatic bridges and viaducts. There will be stops along the way with Lonely Planet as one of the many reasons to visit Christchurch. opportunities to take photos and stretch our legs. From Middlemarch Overnight: Chateau on the Park, Christchurch (B) we will travel by coach onto Queenstown through the barren thyme and schist covered hills of the Alexandra basin, past the vineyards of Day 6 • Tuesday 20 October: CHRISTCHURCH Cromwell and Bannockburn, and via the Kawarau Gorge, once a major gold mining area. We will stop at a winery for lunch on the way. This This morning we embark on a half-day tour. First stop is the Ferrymead Heritage Park, evening we will take an evening cruise on New Zealand’s longest lake, an early 1900s (Edwardian) township complete with its own school, church, jail, railway picturesque Lake Wakatipu, on the iconic steamship TSS Earnslaw, station and more. We continue on to the International Antarctic Centre where we will watched over by the towering Remarkables. This is followed by a learn about life in modern day Antarctica and the Scott Base, hang out with Little Blue BBQ dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, Walter Peak High Penguins and even experience (and survive) an Antarctic storm! Country Farm. This afternoon is at leisure or there is time to join an optional wine tour before we meet up Overnight: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown (B, L, D) again for dinner on Christchurch’s famous Tramway Restaurant. This is a unique way to view the inner city of Christchurch while enjoying a delicious evening meal. Day 10 • Saturday 24 October: Overnight: Chateau on the Park, Christchurch (B, D) QUEENSTOWN—CENTRAL OTAGO—QUEENSTOWN

Day 7 • Wednesday 21 October: CHRISTCHURCH—DUNEDIN Today we explore the wineries of Central Otago. Compared to the warmer Marlborough region, Pinot Noir is grown most predominantly After breakfast we travel by coach to charming Oamaru, a gorgeous harbour town located here in an area of diverse soil types and micro-climates. In fact, this in the Waitaki District of the South Island. We have time to go down to the station to see region’s Pinot Noir wines are renowned as some of the world’s finest. off steam train Ab608 on its southward journey, then it’s lunch at leisure before we take We will return to Queenstown via the historic gold mining village of an afternoon guided tour of the old town centre, famous for some of New Zealand’s best Arrowtown. Initially established in 1861 as a settlement when gold was 19th century architecture and for its majestic limestone buildings. discovered, since that time, despite fires and population decline, this Next we head to Dunedin where we will experience a special dinner to introduce the wines charming little village has retained around 70 buildings, monuments of the Central Otago region. The Central Otago wine region is the world’s southern-most and features from the gold rush era. Enjoy a wander along tree-lined commercial wine growing region and is best known for its Pinot Noir varieties, however, avenues, or, if time permits, check out the many shops, galleries and other white wines are also popular. cafés. Tonight your evening is at leisure. Overnight: Park Regis Hotel, Dunedin (B, D) Overnight: Millennium Hotel, Queenstown (B, L) MARLBOROUGH SOUND Day 11 • Sunday 25 October: QUEENSTOWN—MOUNT COOK Day 15 • Thursday 29 October: HANMER SRINGS—CHRISTCHURCH Following breakfast our coach takes the Midland Highway for the 260-kilometre journey to the base of Mount Cook, the “cloud piercer”, located in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Mount Cook After a wonderful buffet breakfast we board our coach is one of 19 peaks in the park standing at more than 3,000 metres and, at 3,724 metres above sea for the journey back toward Christchurch visiting New level, it is the highest peak in Australasia, dwarfing Mount Kosciuszko by 1,500 metres. Zealand’s fastest growing wine region, the Waipara Valley on We will arrive in time to explore the locality including taking the opportunity to try some easily graded the way. With a slightly warmer climate than the rest of the walks. This evening we enjoy a lavish buffet dinner at the Hermitage. Canterbury region, Waipara produces impressive Rieslings Overnight: The Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook (B, D) but also notable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. On our way through Waipara we will enjoy a special final Day 12 • Monday 26 October: MOUNT COOK—CHRISTCHURCH run on the rails with a private charter on the historic Weka Pass Railway, a 12.8-kilometre scenic line through stunning Today we head back to Christchurch, stopping at the Plains Vintage Railway and Historical limestone formations. Built in the 1880s, the railway uses Museum, a recreated village at Tinwald near Ashburton. The museum is home to a wide range of both vintage steam and diesel-electric locomotives, exhibits spanning the history of central Canterbury since the time of European colonisation. The climbing grades as steep as 1:50 (2%) as it winds through railway operation utilises preserved and restored locomotives and rolling stock once used on New the cuttings in the Pass. Tonight we enjoy a celebratory Zealand’s national railway network. It incorporates as the Plains Vintage Railway a three-kilometre farewell with Chris and your fellow travellers. stretch of the restored Mount Somers Branch, sometimes known as the Springburn Branch, built Overnight: Chateau on the Park, Christchurch (B, D) in stages from 1878 and reaching Mount Somers in 1885. In the afternoon, we check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you wish. As today is New Zealand’s Labour Day Day 16 • Friday 30 October: DEPARTURES and a public holiday, there are lots of activities on offer in and around town. Overnight: Chateau on the Park, Christchurch (B) After breakfast at the hotel we say goodbye to New Zealand’s South Island and our friends. Transfers to the airport are Day 13 • Tuesday 27 October: CHRISTCHURCH—PUNAKAIKI provided for onward connections to Australia or beyond. (B) Check out is early today in order to catch the 8.15 am departure of the smart new TranzAlpine train to Greymouth on the west coast. This is one of the great railway journeys of the world taking in TOUR PRICE the Staircase Gorge, Waimakariri River, Arthur’s Pass and the depths of the Otira Tunnel. The Otira Tunnel runs under the Southern Alps from Arthur’s Pass to Otira at a length of over 8.5 kilometres, Per Person Twin Share...... $8,950 making it New Zealand’s longest tunnel. At Greymouth our coach will be waiting to take us along Single supplement...... $1590 the scenic west coast to the quiet town of Westport which was once one of the greatest coal ports in the world. We stop to visit the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes on the way, taking INCLUSIONS the 20-minute loop walk from the carpark to view the spectacular limestone formations. Dinner this evening will be at Jacob’s Grill Restaurant located in our hotel. The Punakaiki Resort is situated in • 15 nights’ accommodation in centrally located 3-4 star the Paparoa National Park just south of Punakaiki and is only a stone’s throw from the beach. hotels with daily breakfast Overnight: Punakaiki Resort, Punakaiki (B, D) • Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • Comprehensive sightseeing with expert local guides Day 14 • Wednesday 28 October: PUNAKAIKI—HANMER SPRINGS • Excursions/entrances fees except those listed in the itinerary as optional This morning we travel north and then west up the escarpment to visit the infamous Denniston Incline. • Tips and gratuities It was the rail system used from October 1879 to August 1967 to transport coal from the Denniston EXCLUSIONS Plateau to the Conns Creek railhead below, an incline falling 510 metres over 1.7 kilometres in two TRANZ-ALPINE sections and incorporating dramatically steep gradients. Today the Denniston Experience is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets. It includes a fully guided tour into an 1880s mine, complete • International flights with a narrow gauge train ride, views over the Waimangaroa Gorge and the opportunity to try out a • Airport transfers on arrival mining job. Our coach then continues to Hanmer Springs via Reefton. Reefton was named for the • Excursions/entrances listed as optional in the itinerary gold-seamed quartz reefs in the area, was the first town to have the public supply of electricity, and • Drinks with meals is famous for being the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to switch on an electric street lighting (except for welcome and farewell dinners) system, in 1888. On arrival in Hanmer Springs, check into our hotel and relax in the hot springs after • Items of a personal nature e.g. telephone, a long day and enjodinner in the hotel. laundry, minibar Overnight: Heritage Hotel, Hanmer Springs (B, D) • Travel Insurance DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE We endeavour to have all the details of our tours correct at the time of printing however sometimes factors beyond our control such as movements in foreign exchange rates, the availability of requested hotels, the operation of trains and other services may change and affect the final inclusions and price. Therefore items mentioned in the brochure such as quoted prices, hotels and inclusions are subject to change. Please check with us at the time of booking.

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS We can assist you with your international flights, pre- and post-travel including extended stays in Europe, visas and travel insurance. Call our office on 1300 733 323 if you would like to discuss options.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS For more information on factors that may affect your ability to participate in the tour such as fitness levels, fees and charges, payment schedules, passport validity and liabilities please refer to the Terms and Conditions that accompany the booking form. Terms and Conditions can also be requested at any time.

Dunedin Railway Station

TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY

This tour is operated by Guidepost Tours, a division of SCT Travel Group in conjunction with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures T/A Lic. No. 2TA5895

HIGHFIELD ESTATE WINERY​