NEW ZEALAND: GARDENS & LANDSCAPES - £9,780 FROM
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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 New Zealand 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 North Island in Auckland, 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 Wellington, 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 South Island, overlooked by snow-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 Otago Peninsula is home to the impressive Larnach Castle. We end our journey in Queenstown, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, 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
Lunch at the Mudbrick Vineyard by Christine and Tony Peek, began
losing a day.
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
to visit the wonderful garden of Depart by coach (with luggage) and
walk from the heart of the city.
Omaio (by kind arrangement with drive to Rotorua via Hamilton. Visit
Lunch under own arrangements. Ayrlies Garden (by kind arrangement
Mrs Liz Morrow). Perched on a cliff
Depart by coach for sightseeing with Mrs Bev McConnell) widely
overlooking the sea, it has been
tour of Auckland including a visit to acclaimed as the consummate New
created from native bush and lives
the National Museum with a Maori Zealand garden. It covers nearly 11
up to its Maori name meaning ‘place
dancing display. Walk to dinner at the acres with ponds, waterfalls, lawns
of peace, quiet and tranquility’.
Harbourside Bar & Grill restaurant. and mature trees while offering
While preserving the old native trees,
including a 1000-year-old puriri tree, glimpses of the sea beyond. One
1 November Auckland & Waiheke and allowing the regeneration of tree lushly landscaped pond receives a
ferns, ground ferns and nikau palms, tumbling cascade of water beneath
Walk to the ferry terminal and take
Liz Morrow has laid out the garden a graceful Mamaku black ponga, one
the ferry to Waiheke Island. Visit the
beds in flowing shapes that echo the of the many species of tree ferns for
private garden of the Sacred Blessing
coastal setting. which the country is famous. Bev
Sanctuary, located in Enclosure Bay
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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Te Puia Otari-Wilton Native Botanic Garden
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, Drive to visit the exotic (and uniquely
Depart by coach (with luggage). Visit
located on the picturesque shores named) Otari-Wilton’s Bush, which
the gardens of Greenhaugh near
of Lake Rotorua and set in park was established in 1926 and is the
Palmeston North which surround
surroundings, where one night is only public botanic garden in New
a colonial homestead built in 1874.
spent. Walk to dinner at the Terrace Zealand dedicated solely to native
The two-hectare semi-formal gardens
Kitchen. plants. The cultivated area of the
have been developed over the past
forty years, the background of garden is surrounded by a native
4 November Rotorua / New established trees a legacy of previous bush reserve, and the collection
Plymouth occupants. Old roses, perennials, includes an 800-year-old rimu tree, a
self-seeding annuals and bulbs are species of podocarp.
Depart by coach (with luggage) and
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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River Avon Christchurch
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 Arthur’s Pass
1865 by T. H. Potts, New Zealand’s
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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Dunedin Botanical Garden
River
TransAlpine Train to Collon
Arthur’s Cura
Pass 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
17 November Queenstown &
Rolleston Restaurant with views of area in the heart of Dunedin. Dinner
Milford Sound
the snow-capped mountains. at the hotel.
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’
work is the cultivation of rare and 18 November Queenstown /
Lunch under own arrangements.
endangered native plant species. Auckland
Optional guided walk. Dinner at the
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.
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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
YO U R TO U R L E A D E R
A N TO N I A L L OY D O W E N
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.
020 3411 4595 | ENQUIRY@THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK | THEULTIMATETRAVELCOMPANY.CO.UK
25-27 VANSTON PLACE LONDON SW6 1AZ
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