Discover the joys of rural life in the gorgeous countryside on the outskirts of Auckland and on idyllic Waiheke Island by visiting a vineyard and meeting with artisans who find the setting inspirational.
Note: Due to varying terrain, this program is not suited for guests with walking difficulties or those who rely on use of a wheelchair or scooter.
DAY 1
On arrival in Auckland, you will be met and transferred your hotel where you will spend the next three evenings. Check in is 3:00pm. Although the hotel will do everything possible to have your room ready prior to that time, it cannot be guaranteed.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, although cocktails will be served at 5pm. It will be an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow travelers in a casual setting.
Dinner will be on your own this evening.
DAY 2
Following breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and transfer to the ferry terminal where you will take the ferry to Waiheke Island. Along the way, the guide will provide an orientation of Hauraki Gulf, which includes such scenic highlights as Devonport, Rangitoto Island, Browns Island and the Auckland skyline.
Upon arriving at Waiheke Island, you will be greeted by a local guide and commence on a private tour of Waiheke Island. On the way you’ll see stunning scenery around every corner, and you’ll be entertained by your guides commentary on the history, geography, culture, people and produce of Waiheke. Visit the spectacular Church Bay Studio of Gabriella Lewenz, who works in vivid abstract oils, followed by a visit at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery which displays works by local and national artists, bringing the best of New Zealand art to the island and offering the best of Waiheke art to the world.
Drive along the scenic northern route, taking in spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf and beyond to the Coromandel Peninsula to your lunch and wine tasting at Stonyridge Vineyard (or similar). This is a relaxing location, nestled amongst the shimmering valley of olive trees, colourful vines, and aromas of the South of France. Their menu has been created with an emphasis on fresh produce, offering a range of seasonal dishes from platters to a la carte dining.
Then onto another local vineyard for wine tasting and Oysters, learn about how the local Te Matuku Bay Oysters are uniquely farmed in a marine reserve down the remote Eastern End of Waiheke Island before heading back to the wharf for the return ferry back to Auckland.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure, allowing you time to further relax and do whatever you please.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for a brief sightseeing tour of the city which will include a drive along the waterfront. A stop will be made at Bastion Point for views over the harbor before continuing through the eastern residential suburbs. Also see the Auckland Domain, the Auckland Museum (no visit), and Parnell Village. Then head to the countryside on the outskirts of Auckland. The land here is some of the country’s most fertile, making it ideal for growing fruits and vegetables and raising stock.
As you travel from place to place, visiting a farm and stopping for a cheese tasting, your guide will pick up ingredients for your lunch at Vineyard Cottages.
Once you arrive at the venue, owner Elle Armon-Jones will lead you on a tour of the vineyard and vegetable garden. Afterwards, you will be free to relax on the verandah as lunch is prepared or you might join in the preparation.
As lunch is cooking, Elle will present a tasting of olive oil and stone-oven baked breads. The experience will add yet another dimension to your grasp of the nuances of the cuisine. A selection of local beers and wines will be thoughtfully paired with the two courses to enhance the experience.
Back in Auckland, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
Day 4
Following breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will begin a scenic driving tour of Auckland’s waterfront, with a stop for photos of the harbor from Bastion Point. You will also drive through residential neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city and through Parnell Village before arriving at the pier to embark the cruise ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive in Auckland and transfer to the hotel
3:00pm Check in at the hotel
5:00pm Cocktails with your fellow travelers
Overnight at the Grand by Sky or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
7:00am-8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
8:00am Meet your guide at the hotel
8:15am Transfer to the ferry terminal
9:00am Ferry to Waiheke
9:50am Arrive at Waiheke
10:15am Artisan studio tour
11:45am Lunch and wine tasting at Stoneyridge Winery or similar venue
2:00pm Visit another vineyard for wine and Oyster tasting
3.30pm Ferry back to Auckland
4:15pm Arrive in the city
4:20pm Transfer to the hotel
The remainder of the day at leisure, dinner on own
Overnight at the Grand by Sky or similar hotel
DAY 3
7.00am-10:30am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Depart for the country
11:00am Cheese tasting at shop
12:00pm Vineyard Cottages:
Garden tour, olive oil tasting and cooking class
Two-course lunch paired with wine or beer
2:30pm Return to Auckland
3:15pm Arrive at the hotel
The remainder of the day at leisure, dinner on own
Overnight at the Grand by Sky or similar hotel
Day 4
From 6:30am Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
11:00am Check out - please remember to settle your personal incidental account with the hotel prior to leaving
12:30pm Transfer to the ship for embarkation
Expected Weather
New Zealand's seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the warmest months are December, January and February, while the coldest are June, July and August. The average March high temperatures are in the high 60s F (around 19-21° C) – this is the first month of autumn in New Zealand.
What to Bring
As it will be summer light clothing is suggested. However, as the weather can be changeable is recommended that a rain proof jacket be carried. Sunscreen is considered essential.
Dress is informal and relaxed on this program. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants and night spots. Men are generally not expected to wear suits and ties, except in a few of the top formal bars and restaurants in major cities.
Currency
U.S. dollars are generally accepted only in establishments such as souvenir stores; however, credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz. Most hotels provide 110-volt ac sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only. Power outlets only accept angled two- or three-pin Type I plugs (as used in Australia) depending on whether an earth connection is fitted. Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
US (and most nationalities) will require either a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) or visa. The NZeTA needs to be secured in advance.
Please refer to your local New Zealand embassy for details and requirements for your nationality.
Hotel address
Grand by Sky
Level 3/90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 363 6000
Program Includes for guests
•3 nights at the Grand By Sky or similar including breakfast – Grand Harborview Room
•Lunch on Days 2 and 3 with 1 beer or a glass of wine
•Tours and entrances per the itinerary
•Cocktail on day 1 – includes beer, wine or juice and a shared cheese board
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Personal expenses and hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
•Any meals or beverages not listed above
•Additional sightseeing and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
•Gratuities to drivers and tour guides
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Price: $1,999 per guest based on double occupancy.
Hotel and Land Program pricing is not combinable with FREE 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Package. If applicable, please contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises or your travel agent for multi-night pre-cruise hotel pricing information. Land program promotions are subject to terms.
