Northern South Island – Nature, Art & Wine

New Zealand’s Abel Tasman National Park radiates a magic and offers wildly beautiful nature that captivates the heart, charms the eyes and caresses the soul. Discover lush forests with giant ferns, rare plants and hidden beaches that are no less beautiful than those of the South Seas. In fact, most New Zealand visitor put the Abel Tasman National Park before all other nature reserves. The park was named after the sailor and explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first European to set foot on New Zealand in 1642. Steer a kayak down the quiet waters or explore the pristine nature on long hikes. Those with the spirit, the hiking boots and a pair of strong legs may also explore the Coastal Track on a three to four day hike. Of course, you comfort and wellbeing is being taken care of despite your legs doing the work. An experienced and friendly guide accompanies you and a separate team sets up luxurious tents and has dinner cooking even before you arrive at the campsite. Within the national park, there is no other accommodation. However, the South Island’s north has a lot more to offer: As beautiful as the Tasman National Park but not as remote, the Marlborough Sounds are series of fiord and bays that reach deep into the green hillsides of the hinterland. Incidentally, the most scenic option to cross over from the New Zealand’s North Island to the South Island is taking the ferry to Picton, gateway to the South Island. The ride takes you across the Cook Strait deep into one of the Marlborough Sound’s fiords. Picton is a charming little town that lives from the ferry business and serves as a perfect basis for exploring the Marlborough Sounds. We recommend exploring the breathtakingly beautiful environment on board a traditional schooner. Another nearby attraction is the mussel town Havelock. Apart from cultivating delicious seafood, Havelock is also the departure point for tours to the nature paradise D’Urville Island. It would be a pleasure for us to include sailing cruises and other activities into your itinerary. The Marlborough district is furthermore New Zealand’s principal wine-growing region, which has earned itself quite a reputation for its excellent, strong Chardonnay. Most vineyards welcome you with doors wide open and invite you to sample their fine produce. The reason for the wine’s exceptional quality is the highly beneficial climate with plenty of sunshine. No less than 2000 hours of sunshine per year do not only do the wine good but also your holiday! The next stop in the South Island’s north is the arts and crafts town Nelson. City of Artists, Nelson has mapped out a special Arts & Crafts Trail taking you through the most important workshops and galleries. Roughly another hour along the road lies New Zealand’s Whale Capital Kaikoura on the east coast. Captain Ahab’s legendary enemy, the impressive sperm whale, migrates to the area between October and April. Year round, dolphins can be spotted. No matter where your interests lie… whales, hiking, wine or arts – let us know about your ideas! A great way to explore New Zealand is on a private guided chauffeur tour: Lean back and enjoy the views, sampling wine along the way!

* price per person/week including flight