11 minute read
December 2020
Raglan Cruise
Thursday 3rd December
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See some lovely countryside today as we travel over to Raglan, we stop along the way for morning tea, then board the Wahine Moe luxury houseboat, it’s a spectacular venue for our special group today it will offer amazing views and fascinating geology to discover whilst cruising Raglans Whaingaroa Harbour. With over 122 kms of coastline the Raglan harbour has many stunning features, views, stories and activities to enjoy. Relax as we sail past the ancient limestone rock formations while the captain and crew share tales of the area's history. Witness the bird and marine life in their habitat and enjoy the action of water sports along the way. We will be enjoying Fish and Chips on board for our lunch today, it may not bet Friday, but we could call Fry Day instead!
Christmas Lunch Waihi Water Lily Gardens
Thursday 10th December
It's the most wonderful time of the year and what better way to enjoy this time having an end of year Christmas celebration!! Join us today at the Waihi Water Lily Gardens. A magical wonderland, stunning grounds, lush native forest. The Waterlily Gardens have been captivating garden enthusiasts for nearly 70 years, first opened in 1951 the gardens have grown and evolved to become the stunning paradise they are today. An iconic part of Waihi, the gardens host an abundance of hardy water lilies in the lake and ponds, lush trees, native forest walks, waterfalls and formal lawns. For you to enjoy. A glass of bubbles or sparkling wine on arrival will set the scene then enjoy a delicious Christmas lunch. We will make a presentation covering some of the highlights from our tours throughout the year and of course No.8s journey through the Covid crisis. We will cover some exciting new initiatives for the club members. Also run through some of the up and coming tours. This should make for a fun and enjoyable day out together, a great opportunity to meet all of the team from No.8 Tours we look forward to seeing you there.
VIP MEMBER PRICE: $120. Non Member Price: $171 Includes: Transport, Lunch, glass of Champagne.
Gisborne Christmas Tour
Departure Tuesday 22nd December
DAY ONE
It’s an early start as we head east today for our first day of fun activities. At the short stop for morning tea on the outskirts of Whakatane you might select something from their famous freshy baked menu to fortify you for the journey onwards. At Matawai we then join the famous Motu Road trail - the first linking Gisborne with the Eastern Bay of Plenty – taking in 60kms flanked by remote bush country historic farmland and panoramic views before disembarking at Toatoa for lunch and a talk. There will be opportunities at Motu and Toatoa for comfort stops. Toatoa Farm is an operational back country farm with a rich colonial history so a leg stretch and a bite to eat in this tranquil and remote spot will be a lovely memory. From here we’ll be winding our way through to finish up in the later afternoon at our accommodation at Emerald Hotel.
DAY TWO
After breakfast we will be heading to the studio and gallery of one of New Zealand’s leading screen printers – Tony Ogle. Tony’s dynamic graphic work depicting the quintessential Kiwi landscape and the people who play in it is portrayed in clear, crisp colours. Why not give in to temptation and buy one of Tony’s works as an early Christmas present to yourself? From here we will sustain today’s creative theme with a visit to the Tairawhiti Museum & Art Gallery. Refresh and revive at the very popular Exhibit café for morning tea before exploring the exhibitions in the gallery, gardens and heritage collections housed in the museum. For lovers of Murray Ball’s Footrot Flats cartoons we’ll stop to admire Weta Workshop’s tribute to Wal and Dog – a bronze cast sculpture outside the library before taking a stroll through Gisborne’s beautiful rose gardens. Home to a large bird aviary the gardens also host an impressive array of mature trees and some sister city collections depicting American, Australian and Japanese gardens. From here we will be meeting our guide to be escorted on a historic home & buildings tour and a sit-down lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is free time to explore where you wish.
DAY THREE
Good walking shoes will be a prerequisite for today’s round of events. The Rere Rockslide - a giant 60-metre long natural rock-slide north-
west of the city attracts hundreds each day in the warmer months to careen down Mother Nature’s theme park ride on a bodyboard or inner tube. We won’t be “riding the slide” here but we will instead head to the very beautiful Rere Falls to have a refreshing picnic morning tea. Lunch today will be at Eastwoodhill – New Zealand’s National Arboretum and in 2004 adjudged a Garden of National Significance. Founded in 1910 by Douglas Cook, the 135 hectares of exotic and native trees, shrubs and climber plantings is one of the region’s most visited tourist attractions. We will be touring the gardens in a 12-seater jeep with a gourmet boxed lunch to ensure we spend as much time absorbing the astonishing beauty of our glorious surroundings. A return to town and a chance to relax and wander the shops or for those with energy still to burn, the paved, 1km Riverside Trail Walk awaits. We’ll reconvene at the hotel late afternoon to put our feet up for a bit before Christmas Eve dinner at the hotel tonight.
DAY FOUR
Happy Christmas! A good way to kick off this special day will be our very pleasant meander through Gisborne’s Botanical Gardens followed up with a walk on Wainui Beach to inhale the sea air and admire the ocean views. Christmas lunch will be a sumptuous feast put on by Emerald Hotel’s Nick’s Bar & Restaurant where there will be ample opportunity to eat ourselves to a standstill. Gray’s Bush Scenic Reserve 10km from the city centre is semi-coastal and home to a small but significant remnant of the tall kahikatea (podocarp) forest. This will be an excellent place to walk off the excesses of our lunch but if this is too strenuous, the beach waits for a late afternoon stroll as the day draws to a close. Our evening meal will be an appropriately light supper before we turn in after our day of revelry.
DAY FIVE
Today’s blend of discoveries historical, environmental and viticultural begins with a trip up Wheatstone Road to get a bird’s eye view of Gisborne before assembling mid-morning at Dive Tatapouri. In addition to morning tea here, we’ll be hearing from their guides about the incredible work taking place at this unique marine attraction working with a range of stingray species and other sea life. From here we’ll be gathering for lunch, wine-tasting and a talk and tour at Matawhero Wines. Current owners Richard and Kirsten Searle continue a grape-growing legacy started in the 1960s which today sees them producing 8 varietals from 45 vintages and garnering a slew of awards. Afterwards we take in the historically important Titirangi Domain on Kaiti Hill. Formerly an ancient Maori settlement, there are several lookouts to admire the extensive vistas over Poverty Bay, the harbour and city. A World War II gun emplacement reminds of Gisborne’s strategic wartime location and at the summit, Cooks Plaza is a space to reflect on our colonial past. The October 1769 landing of the first Europeans - Captain Cook and his crew - is marked by an obelisk erected in 1906 near the foreshore. Following our time here we’ll be heading back to our hotel and dinner at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant – so named after Young Nick – Captain Cook’s cabin boy, who legend has it, first spotted the white cliffs of Poverty Bay.
DAY SIX
Time to head for home after breakfast via Opotiki and the history lessons continue as we pass by a number of historically significant sites through the Waioeka Gorge. We’ll have a comfort stop and morning tea at the Manganuku camp site. Midday sees us spending our last hours together exploring the Opotiki Museum housing a splendid collection of implements, vehicles, early pioneer photographs and exhibits focussing on Opotiki’s once thriving shipping industry. After lunch at the Opotiki Bakery Café we’ll be heading back to Tauranga arriving late afternoon.
TAURANGA VIP MEMBER Price: $2450 Non Member Price: $3500 AUCKLAND VIP MEMBER Price: $2650 $368 Deposit required on booking. Balance by 7th November 2020 Single Supplement $450. Includes: Door to Door pickups, Transport, Accommodation All entries and Meals as listed (Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Christmas Lunch, Dinner)
A Christmas In Sunny Hawkes Bay
Departure Tuesday 22nd December
DAY ONE
It’s a bright and early start for the journey south to Taupo township where we’ll stop for morning tea and a wander. From there, we head out of Taupo to arrive at the authentic back country property of world-class Poronui Station for a fabulous lunch. We’ll be treated to stunning natural scenery at this luxury fly-fishing retreat before we travel to our next destination. Have your cameras at the ready for Waipunga Falls Scenic Lookout on the Napier-Taupo Road and prepare to capture memories of the majestic falls. Our first day draws to a close at the Scenic Te Pania Hotel on the waterfront in Marine Parade close to Napier’s famous Art-Deco-style main street. Dinner will be at the hotel’s Exchange Brasserie and Bar with a menu featuring local seasonal produce and the region’s famous wines.
DAY TWO
After breakfast, we are on for an expedition out to the South East region of "The Bay". Stopping in at the interesting country town Waipawa for morning tea. We will pick up our picnic lunch as we're heading to the farm to visit exotic and feral sheep collector Brian Hales in Wimbledon. A fifth-generation sheep and beef farmer, his interest in exotic sheep, was sparked when his brother, Nigel, was running a wool scouring plant in Kazakhstan. That was the beginning, and over the years he has since acquired other varieties and successfully bred some of the rarest sheep in the world. Today, he has about 200 exotic sheep, as well as some feral varieties he wants to see kept alive. We will spend a couple of hours here then travel to
Norsewood for a look in the shops and gallery. After returning to our hotel we will enjoy dinner in elegant surroundings at the Art Decoinspired Emporium Eatery.
DAY THREE
Today we set off for historic Duart House which was built in 1882 and is set in 3 acres of gardens surrounding the heritage house. We’re going to stop next at the picturesque Birdwood Gardens, café, gallery and sweet shop for morning tea. We’ll then call at Mission Estate - New Zealand’s oldest winery, where you can sample and purchase bottles of their award-winning wines. We’re back in Napier early afternoon for you to make your own plans for lunch and a stroll around Napier. Tonight’s Christmas Eve dinner will be at the Valley d’ Vine Restaurant. Overlooking stunning surroundings and views of their vineyards providing the perfect setting for your dining experience. Overnight at the Scenic Te Pania again - don’t forget to hang up your stocking for Santa!
DAY FOUR
Merry Christmas! After a sleep-in we’re taking a trip up Te Mata Peak for panoramic views over Hawkes Bay. Once we’re back down from the dizzy heights, we’ll be gathering at the Scenic Te Pania Hotel for a pre-lunch drink of celebratory Christmas bubbles! Scenic Te Pania Hotel are putting on a Christmas lunch to remember with all the trimmings which could result in the need for an afternoon fortywinks. So just relax until supper time which is going to be necessarily light.
DAY FIVE
Our Boxing Day recovery starts with a scenic drive and bush visit. A’Deanes Bush is a beautiful native forest and features an ancient Totara tree. Next stop is 150 year-old Oruawharo Homestead & Gardens. Our hosts Peter and Dianne will welcome us for lunch and then we’ll view their superb country gardens and historic home. The 19 year project to transform the property is a story of love and dedication with the homestead boasting a vast range of antiques
and artworks. Mid-afternoon board the bus and if time available travel to Hastings Frimley Park a well-known rose garden in Hastings. Containing over 5500 roses which are surrounded by mature trees and new pavilion a recent addition to the gardens
DAY SIX
A final breakfast at the Scenic Te Pania and our last glimpse of the water views before departing the appealing Art Deco city of Napier and we hit the road for home. Our last morning tea will be en route from Napier to Taupo beside the river at Tarawera before a casual lunch stop in Taupo. Then it’s home to Tauranga arriving for a mid to late afternoon delivery to your door.
TAURANGA VIP MEMBER Price: $2650 Non Member Price: $3786 AUCKLAND VIP MEMBER Price: $2850 CHRISTCHURCH VIP MEMBER Price: $3000 $398 Deposit required on booking. Balance of by 7th of November 2020 Single Supplement $550. Includes: Door to Door pickups, Transport, Accommodation All entries and Meals as listed (Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch, Christmas Lunch, Dinner)
