NOVEMBER 2020

Day 1:            Auckland/Blenheim (D)

Wednesday 04: 

We are picked up from our home anywhere in the greater Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga or Christchurch areas and taken to the airport to join our short flight to Blenheim.  On arrival we meet our coach and visit Garden Marlborough HQ. Here in the themed registration area we will collect our keepsake Garden Marlborough bag and  goodies inside it. Time to enjoy some lunch before rejoining our coach and travelling along Spring Creek. Carrying some of the world’s purest water as it makes its way through many gardens on this tour.  We visit Westgrove. Formerly part of Pat and her late husband Peter’s mixed cropping farm, these days this garden is surrounded by vineyards. With its formal courtyard, several water features and stunning views in all direction is the perfect garden to start our tour.

Our next stop is Figtree Gardens: On entering the    driveway you will notice a spring-fed creek, beyond it the entrance to a hornbeam-hedged garden that features roses and flowering plants for year round color framed by Walnut and Hazelnut Trees.  Elsewhere you will find citrus trees , berry and vege patches.  At the rear of the property there is a large and productive fig orchard.  We head back to Blenheim to check in and enjoy dinner at our Hotel. (Chateau Marlborough) .

Day 2: Gardens Galore (B- MT-L-AT-D)

Thursday 05:

After breakfast this morning  we wend our way across the plains of Marlborough, showcasing diverse garden themes in beautifully manicured and well-tended      gardens, many of them bordered by vineyards producing well-know Marlborough wines.  Morning and afternoon teas are provided by the garden owners. Lunch is a    gourmet picnic in a splendid garden setting! Gardens visited today    include:

Hortensia house: Hortensia is the French name for hydrangea and the garden features approx. 150 varieties. A beautiful romantic flower garden with masses of          colour-coordinated flowers match the trim of this  Victorian style house. A bridge inspired by Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny adds to the  European  flavour.

Bhudevi is a vast property with an organic Sauvignon blanc vineyard and 1.5 hectares of formal and native gardens along a wide spring-fed creek. There is an outdoor  Sculpture garden, a secluded rock and fern garden and an elevated garden. The native garden has many sheltered and open seating areas for enjoying the birdsong or you might prefer to sit in the pavilion enclosed in Wisteria.

Filoli, a beautiful extensive rambling garden full of old fashioned favourites and treasures not often seen.

Welton House dates back to the late 1800’s and has a framework of mature exotic and native trees.

With the clean lines of modern hard landscaping embellished with whimsical pieces of Garden art, this garden is a must for plant aficionados. Our last garden of the day is Woodend Gardens which were developed from bare paddocks.  The gardens feature a number of different areas with unique elements  including the        wedding avenue. Forty metre high gum trees planted a century ago stand proud in one corner of the  property. Truly a beautiful sight to see.  We join our Escort for dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: Gardens & Views (B-MT-L-AT-D)

Friday 06: 

Today our garden visits feature a selection of large gardens, diverse in climate and scattered amidst the background of spectacular scenery, from the rolling Pacific to the rugged Kaikoura Ranges. We enjoy a gorgeous lunch at the Store at Kekerengu.  Our first garden of the day is  Barewood recognized as “Garden of National             Significance” A classic Potager with brick paths framed by box and lavender dividing beds of fruit, vegetables and  flowers. The garden was planted to complement the   century-old homestead with rambling roses encircling the verandah.

Then we head to Winterhome, another Garden of National Significance. Featuring mass plantings, an Avocado Grove and sensational Pacific Ocean Views.

Paripuma is 5 hectares of an increasingly diverse range of plants and a vista across Cloudy Bay to Port Underwood. Several thousand ngaios create shelter for more   interesting native species.

Our final garden of the day is Ha He Naca nestled amongst the grapes of the Awatere Valley. This is a traditional garden filled with iceberg roses, hydrangeas, peonies, French Lavender and camellias. A spectacular weeping elm provides the backdrop to this tranquil garden. A lovely way to finish the day.

Day 4: Urban Garden/Garden Fete (BD) 

Saturday 07:                                           

This morning we enjoy 4 town gardens brimming with a profusion of luscious foliage and a   myriad of spring flowers.

We will enjoy morning tea at one of the gardens.  We finish back at the Square at lunch time.  Time to enjoy lunch (own  expense) before  enjoying the Stihl Shop Garden Fete.  Each year the Garden  Marlborough Fete offers a wonderful display of local and national plantspeople, craftspeople, artists and garden products.  Time for a glass of Pimm’s perhaps and enjoy some of the live entertainers.  We return to our hotel late afternoon. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

 

Day 5: Wither Hills/Homeward bound (BL)

Sunday 08: 

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on our last morning on tour in this delightful area of the world.  We have some time to enjoy our local area and perhaps enjoy the shops .

Then its off to one of our  renowned wineries—Wither Hills, where we enjoy a farewell lunch along with a glass of their famous Sauvignon blanc. What a perfect way to finish the tour. Cheers!!!  Our coach then takes us to the airport where we join our flight home again.

 

LOOK WHATS INCLUDED!!!

• Return airfares from Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington or Christchurch.
• 4 nights quality hotel accommodation.
• Cooked Breakfasts daily
• Dinner each evening
• Garden Visits including Morning and afternoon teas and gourmet lunches on Day 2 & 3.
• Visit to the Stihl Shop Garden Fete
• Lunch & a glass of Sauvignon Blanc at Wither Hills Winery
• Services of a Tour Manager Auckland back to Auckland
• FREE home pick up and return in the greater Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington or Christchurch areas (25k radius from airport)

 

Meals noted:

B =   Cooked Breakfast

MT =   Morning Tea

L=   Lunch

AT=   Afternoon tea

D=   Dinner

 

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:

We have a limited number of single rooms available at a supplement of $340.00

Travelling alone?  If you book on a twin share basis and we are unable to match you with another person of the same gender WE will pay the single supplement.

 

DEPOSIT:

A deposit of $500 per  person is payable to hold a seat on the tour with the balance payable no later than 30 September 2020.

LOYALTY DISCOUNT:

Previous travellers receive a $50 discount off the brochure price (not combinable with any other offers)

 

CANCELLATION CHARGES:

Deposit: Fully refundable up to 29 September 2020

30 Sept—05 October 2020: 70% of tour cost

06 Oct—04 Nov 2020: 100% of tour cost.

 

INSURANCE:

We strongly suggest you take out domestic cancellation insurance to cover for cancellation due to illness etc.    Please phone us for further details.

 

HEALTH:

This tour requires a moderate level of fitness. You need to be able to walk around gardens unaided.  Some areas can be uneven and we suggest    comfortable walking shoes.

 

Please be advised that the gardens mentioned on the itinerary are subject to change as 2020 gardens have not been finalised.   

We may also change the order of the garden visits dependent on timings and weather conditions.

 

Please note that if the tour is cancelled due to any Government regulation

we will refund all monies received back from our suppliers so you can book with confidence.

 

Tour is subject to normal booking conditions of Supreme Tours & Travel Ltd