OCTOBER 2020

Friday 30:     (D)

This morning you are picked up from your home address and transferred to join our coach and fellow travellers. Depart Auckland and coach south via the lush farmlands of the Waikato to New Plymouth where we stay for three nights at the Novotel Hotel.  This new  hotel in New Plymouth has a lovely restaurant where we will enjoy dinner tonight with our Tour Manager.

Saturday 31:     (BD)

We join our coach after breakfast and  our day starts with a visit to a secluded woodland garden. Mature trees, shrubs, natives, ferns perennials, flowers, herbs and Veges!! Home to Tui’s and fantails. Garden sculpture, paintings and jewelry all for sale here.   Vintage tools on   display.  Then its off to La Rosaleda, defined by Coleen’s delight in the romantic pastels of the Edwardian era. Over 300 roses have an exuberant froth of under planting in this town garden.  We also visit Hirst Cottage, a popular inner city garden.  Fragrant colour themed white on green with a dash of red!. Courtyards and a Gazebo and new designer garden structures will enthrall.

The last garden of the day is Te Kainga Marire—featured on BBC series Around the World in 80 Gardens. The only private native garden sanctuary in New Zealand to be rated as a Garden of Significance. This native plant   paradise was created in 1972 from Clay wasteland.   We return to our hotel for dinner tonight filled with new ideas for our gardens!

During our stay we’ll visit the new Govett-Brewster Gallery featuring the Len Lye Exhibition.

NOVEMBER

Sunday 01:      (BD)

Our first garden today is Puketarata Garden. It’s a country garden adjacent to the 400 year old Puketarata Pa.  Lots of natives with      herbaceous planting providing flowers, colour and scent.  Then its off to “Mary’s Place. Her town garden is packed with interesting plants and colour. Archways draped with climbing roses and clematis. Clever use of found objects, small water features and container plants will give us   inspiration.  Oakley Garden is just 2km from the coastline so shelter is an  important aspect.  The owner has linked garden rooms with      hedge-lined paths. Cottage style planting and check out the fabulous hanging baskets for which she is renowned.  Time to relax at our last garden with its  spectacular vibrant  colour from Azalias, rhododendrons, irises & perennials. Sweeping lawns with overhanging maples.   Sit back here and take it all in.

Monday 02:   (BD)

We depart our Hotel this morning and make our way to Nigel Ogle’s Tawhiti Museum in Hawera. Widely acclaimed as the best private museum in the country, the museum uses life size exhibits and scale models to present our heritage in a series of super realistic and      engaging displays.

All these displays are designed and built on the premises in the ‘Body Shop’ and accompanying studios. Your visit today includes the Museum and Traders & Whalers & Bush Railway.

‘Traders & Whalers” is NZ’s most innovative historical presentation & this attraction sets out to challenge its guests with a stunningly creative and hauntingly real environment as the basis for a study of the Taranaki coast in the 1820-1840 period. Step back in time and enjoy this amazing creation. We’ll also enjoy the Tawhiti Bush Railway, a dramatic presentation of the logging railways that used to operate in Taranaki.
We then continue on the Forgotten World Highway—a unique drive and example of untamed native bush and stunning natural scenery. We stop to enjoy a light lunch at the Whangamomona Hotel, in the Republic of Whangamomona. Bring your passport and they will stamp it for you!! Then its on to National Park. Arrive at National Park early evening. Overnight at this iconic New Zealand property. We enjoy our farewell dinner here tonight.

Tuesday 03:   (B)
This morning we’ll make our way back to Auckland with a stop in Hamilton and a visit to Hamilton Gardens—Waikato’s most visited attraction with approximately one million visitors each year. Time to enjoy a wander at your own pace before joining our coach for the final leg of our journey back to Auckland where your shuttles are waiting to take you back to your home addresses anyway in the greater Auckland area.

NB: Garden visits subject to change as the 2020 programme is still being finalised.

We reserve the right to alter the itinerary due to any unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to weather and road conditions

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

LOOK WHATS INCLUDED!!!

• Return coach travel Auckland back to Auckland 3 nights accommodation in twin or double rooms at the Novotel New Plymouth & 1 night at The Chateau Tongariro
• Cooked Breakfast daily & Dinner each evening
• Visit to gardens in conjunction with the Taranaki Garden Spectacular
• Visit to Govett-Brewster Gallery featuring the Len Lye Exhibition
• Visit Tawhiti Museum including Traders & Whalers & Bush Railway
• Light lunch at Whangamomona Hotel.
• Visit Hamilton Gardens
• Services of an experienced Tour Manger from Auckland back to Auckland
• FREE home pick up and return in the greater Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch areas

 Single room Supplement:

We have a limited number of single rooms available at a supplement of $499. 

 Travelling Alone:

If you prefer to book on a share twin basis but don’t have a travelling companion we will only charge you the share twin price and if we are  unable to find you a room mate we will provide a single room at no extra cost ! We take no responsibility for the compatibility of  travellers who take this option.

Deposit:

A non refundable deposit of $ 300 per person is payable to hold a seat on the tour with the balance payable 31 August 2020.

Loyalty Discount:

Previous travellers receive a $30 discount off the brochured price. (not combinable with any other offers)

Cancellation Charges:

45—20 days  65% of tour cost

19—00  100% of tour cost.

Insurance:

We strongly recommend that you take out Domestic Cancellation Insurance to cover for cancellation due to illness.  (Cover More now offer a “Cancel for any Reason” Policy which must be purchased when paying your deposit).  Please phone us for further details.