Molesworth Station & Beyond
March 2019
5 days - 4 nights
Price TBC | Single Supplement TBCHighlights
Molesworth Station & Awatere Valley
St Arnaud & Nelson Lakes
Blenheim
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Brancott Estate Wine Tasting
Makana Chocolate Factory
Hanmer Springs
Christchurch & The Red Bus Tour
Next tour will be in March 2019. Please check again for updates.
The highlight of this tour is our visit to a New Zealand icon, Molesworth Station.
Molesworth Station is the largest working station in New Zealand. It is a reserve and working cattle station combining farming, conservation and recreation over one vast area. It has outstanding natural features, a rich history and a stunning and dramatic landscape. We also visit and stay in Blenheim and Christchurch with plenty of time to enjoy both locations.
Itinerary
Day 1
Breakfast, DinnerThis morning, we fly into Nelson and on leaving the airport, we drive to St Arnaud where we have lunch. The town was originally called Rotoiti until 1921 and mostly caters for tramping and skiing tourists. After lunch, we visit Lake Rotoiti, one of the beautiful Nelson Lakes, before ending our day in Blenheim. This city is situated in the heart of wine-growing Marlborough and is one of the sunniest spots in New Zealand with an approximate 2,438 hours of sunshine a year. It's no wonder they have many award-winning vineyards situated here. We stay in Blenheim for the next two nights.
Day 2
Breakfast, DinnerA day enjoying the local sights around Blenheim including the fascinating, educational and inspiring museum at the Omaka Heritage Centre. We see the wonderful Sir Peter Jackson 'Knights of the Sky' Exhibition with rare memorabilia on show then we move on to the new display, the 'Dangerous Skies Exhibition' with larger than life exhibits capturing specific moments of history. After lunch, we visit Brancott Estate Wines for some wine tasting before finishing off the day with a trip to the Makana Chocolate Factory.
Day 3
Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerToday, we go to Molesworth Station and go on a fantastic 4WD guided tour through New Zealand’s largest working farm and home to the country’s biggest cattle herd (up to 10,000). This tour seems to be on everyone’s ‘to do’ list and is a wonderful full day out. The first 100km through the grandeur of the Awatere Valley is well worth the trip. We finish our day in Hanmer Springs, the main thermal resort in the South Island where bathing in the hot pools is a must. We stay in Hanmer Springs overnight.
Day 4
Breakfast, DinnerBack on the road this morning, we drive through the rolling Canterbury countryside with views of the ocean, mountains and wide open spans of pastureland. We arrive in the garden city of Christchurch in time for our Red Bus tour. The city has bounced back after the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 with innovative new attractions as well as some old favouritesand we see it all on this tour. Afterwards, we go to our hotel in Christchurch for an overnight stay.
Day 5
BreakfastAs we make our way to Christchurch Airport, we can reflect on our wonderful journey around Marlborough and the most spectacular landscape of the Awatere Valley.