7 days / 6 nights
The Golden Bay & Marlborough Tour is the best way to experience the top of the South Island.
Enjoy two 2 night stays (in Golden Bay and Blenheim) and leisurely pace to the travel.
The tour includes a full day tour out on Farewell Spit and Cape Farewll, a cruise Tasman Bay, visit the spectacular Omaka Aviation Museum, and enjoy a wine tasting at a Marlborough vineyard.
Tours include home pickup & return with in Christchurch, and return airfare packages including door to door service / home pickup from an incredible range of areas.
AUD $3399
per person, twin share
Solo travellers (same gender) are matched for twin share at no extra cost.
AUD $699 Single Supplement
(to guarantee a single room)
Departure Dates
16 Sep 2024
8 Oct 2024
7 Nov 2024
6 Feb 2025
7 Mar 2025
4 Apr 2025
Door to Door Service & Flight Options (including home/hotel pickup & return)
Gold Club Tours offer door to door service & transfers, as well as return flight packages which include door to door service.
COMPLIMENTARY TRANSFERS (flight packages include additional transfers/door to door service)
Tour Only – Door to Door inclusions
Day 1
1. From your arrival flight (or nominated address) to hotel.
Final Day
1. From your hotel to your departure flight (or nominated address).
Flight Package – Door to Door inclusions
Day 1
1. From your home (or nominated address) to your flight to New Zealand.
2. On arrival in New Zealand, you are met at airport and taken to your hotel.
Final Day:
1. From your hotel to your departing flight.
2. On arrival in Australia, you are met at airport and taken to your home.
Return flight packages, including door to door service (home or hotel pickup & return) are listed below. Many suburbs we pickup from are not listed below. If your area falls in between the below listed and the airport, we almost certainly pickup, call or email to confirm your area is included.
Call or email us to check your preferred tour date – we can confirm availability and pricing.
If your area is not listed, please contact us and we can advise you options and prices for flights and/or door to door service from your preferred location.
Flights packages are based on economy airfares. Should you wish to travel on alternative dates, times or airliers, or wish to upgrade to business or first class, please advise and we can advise options and any pricing change (alternative flight arrangements subject to availability and confirmation – fares and arrangments are not confirmed until funds have been recieved). Typically, guests fly to the airport closest to their home return area, although this may vary in some instances, particularly in smaller and/or more remote areas. Guests who wish to have specific requests catered to, such as direct vs connecting flights, specific flight times or specific airports, alternative locations, alternative dates, etc, may incur additional charges (wherever possible we do not charge additional).
Extra Accommodation (pre and post tour options)
Gold Club Tours offer additional accommodation options for guests travelling on our tours.
We have set pricing for guests to stay pre-tour or post-tour at:
Locations
Pricing
If you wish to arrange accommodation at another location that is not listed here, please contact us.
Tour Itinerary
This morning, you will be picked up from your nominated address, then head off to join the rest of your group for an easy coach journey to Hanmer Springs. Departing Christchurch in the early afternoon, we travel north passed Leithfield and Amberley. Waipara is known for it’s vineyards and olive groves. The highway continues through farm land and gentle hill country, crossing the Hurunui River and passing through Balmoral Forest. The last part of the journey follows the Waiau River, stopping at the Hanmer Springs Bridge for a view of the river with its majestic cliff faces. Arriving in Hanmer Springs, a destination known for relaxation, we check-in and take some time to relax. This evening, enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant with your new companions.
Stay: Hanmer Springs Hotel
Day 2
Today, we enjoy breakfast in the hotel before we set off for our scenic journey to Golden Bay. Our road follows various rivers along the way, including the Maruia River – where we make a stop at the beautiful Maruia Falls. The Lewis Pass takes us through Beech forest, and after Springs Junction, we’ll travel along a beautiful section of road that leads you through the enchanting Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, which has New Zealand’s largest natural population of Kakariki. Heading into the Abel Tasman region, we will turn towards Highway 60. Experiencing the long, slow climb over Takaka Hill (The ‘Marble Mountain’). The fabulous view of Golden Bay will keep you entertained. Arriving at our accommodation for the next 2 nights, we’ll check in and head out to dinner.
Stay: Mohua Motel Golden Bay
Day 3
After breakfast, we head north to the famous Farewell Spit. We move from our tour coach to our special offroad vehicles for a full day exploration of the dunes, the lighthouse and the northernmost point of the South Island, Cape Farewell. Farewell Spit Nature reserve is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance, being more strictly protected than a national park. The Spit is around 35km long, and only the first 4km has public access. Cape Farewell boasts dramatic cliff-top views, and seals and their pups can be seen all year basking on the rocks below. The spectacular coastal cliffs have an unusual geologic formation, with strata-lines of the layers which would normally be horizontal instead vertical. We are guided by a local expert who will enable us access to visit this special place and Cape Farewell. We head to Fossil Point, at the foot of the Spit, a popular hauling out place for fur seals. The area is aptly named as fossilised shells and wormcasts emerge from blocks of mudstone at the base of the cliffs and sea life abounds in rock pools nearby. Further along the ocean beach we stop at the Lighthouse reserve, where we enjoy a 45 minute stop to view the lighthouse and pouwhenua, and discover the connection between the local Iwi and Onetahua (Farewell Spit). At the end of the day, we will return to the hotel to freshen up, before departing for dinner at a restaurant.
Stay: Mohua Motel Golden Bay
Day 4
After breakfast we’ll set off for Te Waikoropupu Springs. A short loop walk goes through the forest to a platform that sits partly over the water of Te Waikoropupū Springs. Discharging 14,000 litres of water per second, the springs are New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs and the largest coldwater springs in the southern hemisphere. They contain some of the clearest water ever measured. Arriving in Kaiteriteri and the Abel Tasman National Park, we depart from picturesque Kaiteriteri Beach on a scenic cruise right into the bays, islands and beaches of the majestic Abel Tasman National Park. You’ll get a chance to see and photograph the world-famous Split Apple Rock from close up, see native Fur Seals (Kekeno) in their natural habitat, marvel at the golden sands and the turquoise waters of the Astrolabe Roadstead, Anchorage, Bark Bay and Medlands beach all before you return to Kaiteriteri. At the conclusion of our cruise, we rejoin our tour coach and make our way to Nelson. We visit a local art gallery before arriving at our hotel, where we check in for the evening.
Stay: Trailways Hotel Nelson
Day 5
After breakfast, we will explore Nelson at leisure for the morning, then head through to the Marlborough region. The drive to Blenheim is both beautiful and interesting, coastal views giving way to lush forests and vineyards. We’ll visit a local winery, and learn how Marlborough became New Zealand’s largest and most famous wine region. We’ll check into our hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner on site.
Stay: Chateau Marlborough Hotel or Scenic Hotel Marlborough (or similar)
Day 6
This morning after breakfast, we’ll head off to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for a guided in-depth tour. Omaka presents two outstanding exhibitions. The original Knights of the Sky exhibition, featuring Sir Peter Jackson’s own collection of WW1 aircraft and artifacts. This story of aviation in the Great War is brought to life in sensational sets created by the internationally acclaimed WingNut Films and Weta Workshop. The second exhibition ‘Dangerous Skies’, featuring stories from World War II, these are tales of daring, valour and tragedy stretching from the British Isles to the forests of Germany, an embattled but courageous Russia and the Pacific Islands.
Stay: Chateau Marlborough Hotel or Scenic Hotel Marlborough (or similar)
Day 7
After breakfast we depart for Christchurch. Travelling along the SH1 Coastal Road which offers panoramic views of the coastline. We make a stop in Kaikōura, famous for the Kaikōura Whale Watch and a popular spot to try locally sourced crayfish. Then departing Kaikoura, we continue on to Christchurch. On arrival in Christchurch you are met and transferred to your home address or homeward flight.
Tour Inclusions
Tour Highlights
Tour Reviews
Our leader Graham was first class, helpful, informative and a lot of fun.
Cynthia Gibson , Kohimarama, Auckland
Accommodation
4.69
13 Reviews
Incredibly comfortable and well appointed.
Lewis & Helen Woodburn, Remuera, Auckland
Breakfasts
4.69
13 Reviews
Cooked breakfasts at every location. Ample food selections available.
Stuart & Deb McKenzie, Tamatea, Napier
Dinners
4.83
12 Reviews
Dinners were exceptional. Especially in Takaka where the chefs interacted with us, explaining the different varieties. Fantastic!
Rebecca Gudmundsen, Ngongotaha, Rotorua
Tour Vehicles
4.62
13 Reviews
The tour coach was superb and our driver John Gould was a true professional. His driving was faultless and he took a real pride in his coach.
Carl Southern , Henderson, Auckland
Included Activities & Admissions
4.75
12 Reviews
Exactly what I had signed up for.
Rebecca Gudmundsen, Ngongotaha, Rotorua
Home Pickup
4.77
13 Reviews
Prompt, courteous, comfortable.
Peter Sledmere, Hataitai, Wellington
Home Dropoff
4.85
13 Reviews
Very professional, and what helpful and kind drivers.
Cynthia Gibson , Kohimarama, Auckland
Value For Money
4.62
13 Reviews
Tour totally exceeded my expectations – definitely value for money.
Allan Sendles, Remuera, Auckland
Travel Insurance
Gold Club Tours always recommend that guests take out travel insurance. This is important whether it is for international or domestic travel. In the event you are unable to travel before or during a tour, cancellation terms apply – take out insurance to protect yourself.
Tour Leader
4.54
13 Reviews