A Perfect Winery Tour of Australia & New Zealand

Vineyard view, a private farm in one of New Zealand's wine regions

What to expect on this itinerary

Elevate the senses and indulge the palate with this charming winery tour of Australia and New Zealand. Five famous wine regions are visited, each unveiling their unique specialty with elegance and panache. The famous destinations are covered, like the Hunter and Barossa Valleys or Marlborough's Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. You’re also immersed in the best boutique vineyards of a continent. Accompanying the tasting is fabulous food, spellbinding panoramas, and luxurious country retreats.

Countries Visited

Australia, New Zealand

Places Visited

Sydney, Hunter Valley, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Queenstown, Central Otago, Marlborough, Blenheim

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Lavish Relaxation in Hunter Valley, Australia

Land in Sydney and your personal chauffeur is waiting in arrivals, ready to whisk you into the mountains of the Hunter Valley. It's just a two-hour drive from Sydney, and while you may be tired from the flight, the first views of the luxuriantly green valley are sure to revitalize you. Soothing any travel aches is a deluxe spa suite at your luxury accommodation, your private balcony affording dazzling views over the vineyards. Just like the region's renowned whites, your luxury accommodation is subtle, elegant, and easy on the senses. Relaxation is central to the agenda today, and your expert wine guide will offer a couple of options. Either a short tour of the finest nearby vineyards or a private tasting session at the retreat's gorgeous verandah, the guide brings a collection of local favorites.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Exploring Australia's Oldest Wine Region

Day 3

A Tale of Two Cities – Sydney and Melbourne

Day 4

The Lavish Chardonnays of the Yarra Valley

Day 5

The Elegant Vineyards of the Yarra Valley

Day 6

The World Famous Vineyards of the Barossa Valley

Day 7

Renowned Shiraz in the Barossa Valley

Day 8

The Pinot Noirs of Central Otago, New Zealand

Day 9

Exploring the World's Southernmost Wine Region

Day 10

The Enchanting Wineries of Marlborough

Day 11

In Search of the World's Finest Sauvignon Blanc

Day 12

Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Explore five world famous wine regions in depth; the Hunter, Yarra, and Barossa Valleys of Australia; and then Marlborough and Central Otago in New Zealand
  • Discover the finest vineyards with the help of expert local guides, each destination combining the renowned wineries with small boutique growers, specially reserved for connoisseurs
  • Some outstanding individual highlights are the Chardonnays of the Yarra Valley, the full-bodied shiraz of the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley's sémillons, the characterful Pinot Noir of Central Otago, and the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc region: Marlborough
  • Enjoy lavish accommodation throughout with country estates, spa retreats, private cottages, and even overnight stops in the vineyards themselves
  • Lose yourself in spellbinding landscapes and soothe the excited senses with dazzling natural panoramas
  • Complement the wine with some of the continent's finest food, Australia and New Zealand both exuding a commitment to organic produce and bold flavors
  • A personal chauffeur is always doing the driving, so there's no need to worry about missing out or limiting the tasting; this vacation is all about indulging in the finest a continent can offer

Detailed Description

For the wine connoisseur, Australia and New Zealand have it all. Warm and cool climates, unique geography, 200 years of cultivating grapes, world class vineyards famed for their exports, and boutique wineries tailored to the discerning local palate. While each region has its own specialty, these spectacular countries offer a stunning variety that always elevates the senses. With this handcrafted winery tour of Australia and New Zealand, you'll visit five renowned wine regions. Spend two days in each, usually one day exploring their world famous specialty, and another discovering the boutique brilliance that lies off the tourist trail. Expert guides unveil the local favorites and a private chauffeur ensures there's no need to worry about the driving.

Every day combines a rich diversity of choice; charming local farms with 150 years of history, innovative modern wineries full of characterful creations, family owned cellars, and sumptuous tasting menus at exclusive vineyards. And while the wine provides the indelible focus, you're always exploring some of the planet's most spectacular rural scenery. Complementing the natural immersion is a fabulous collection of accommodation, including private cottages, vineyard spa retreats, and renowned five-star resorts.

Fly to Sydney and begin the wine discovery in famous Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine region providing a delicate start with its citrus-flavored whites. Pair the elegant flavors with local crab and prawns and don't forget the outstanding Shiraz produced in this warm climate. Explore two famous cities, a local guide showing you the iconic sights of both Sydney and Melbourne. Then you head into the Yarra Valley, the cooler climate bringing a different collection of treats. Local Chardonnay is particularly famous, but these vineyards also revel in rare delights like elegant Marsanne and Gewurztraminer. After a day of tasting, soak up the tranquility of the Balgownie Estate Vineyard and Spa, an example of the sumptuous accommodation to expect on this luxury vacation. Some of the world's oldest Shiraz vineyards can be found in the Barossa Valley, and this final Australian stop epitomizes the harmonious blend of radiant nature, boutique accommodation, and long days sampling the region's finest grapes.

Fly over to New Zealand and Queenstown, losing yourself in the rugged fjords and mountains that surround the town. Expect pinot noirs bursting with character, and dramatic scenery unrivaled anywhere on the planet. Most wine critics argue that Marlborough is home to the world's finest Sauvignon Blanc, and you'll spend a day searching out the most vibrant bottle. New Zealand's wine experimentation takes its lead from Marlborough, and your guide will also reveal vineyards that embody the distinct full-flavored style of the region. While the wineries guide the journey, expect to indulge in serene destinations that exude elegance and charm. And don't worry about having to decide which bottles to take back home. The expert guides will assist in getting everything shipped back to your own private cellar.

Starting Price

$4,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 2571 reviews

Lee A.
Australia Tour Review: Sydney, Ayers Rock, Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda Village, Blue Mountains, Uluru, Port Douglas, Historic Rocks Tour, Boat Cruise, Opera House, Camelback Ride, Snorkeling, Private Tour, 10-Day Trip

Our trip to Australia was incredible! Zicasso's tour operator put together a very thoughtful, well-paced itinerary. Our transportation always met us on time and with a good attitude. We enjoyed the diversity of experiences curated for our stay.

They took our bucket-list items and created an itinerary that allowed us to see almost every one! We were grateful to have a tour of the Historic Rocks in Sydney, a boat cruise harbor tour, watch "Carmen" at the Sydney Opera House, take a sunset camelback ride in the desert to see Ayers Rock, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and get a private tour of a wildlife habitat (this was so special because we got to interact with some of the animals and learn from their keepers directly).

The only occasion on which I wish we'd had more time to spend was at Kuranda Village! There was so much to do and see, but we had an Army Duck tour and Aboriginal experience booked, which I really enjoyed because we got to ride through the jungle and enjoy performances from the Pamagirri community. Taking the Skyrail up and the train down was also a sight to see.

We enjoyed the intimate nature of tours, allowing us to ask questions about history, architecture, and daily life, and engage with our tour guides in a meaningful way. Highly prefer this style of private/small tours to the bigger bus tours. Our accommodations were impressive--from the luxurious hotel on George Street in Sydney to the desert resort in Uluru to the lodge on Captain Cook Highway in Port Douglas! We got to experience a range of climates. There was never a dull moment.

Even though the itinerary seemed jam-packed, we had just the right amount of time to rest and reset between activities and travel. Having such a detailed and professionally done itinerary gave us real peace of mind. The coordination of hospitality was also impeccable. Our hotels always communicated seamlessly with our pre-arranged transportation and tours. The trip was fun and totally stress-free! We were constantly delighted and charmed by this country and its people.

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Lorri D.
Australia, New Zealand Tour Review: 1 Month

This was a trip of a lifetime! We had wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand for 40-plus years and this trip did not disappoint.

Zicasso's trip expert was fantastic. When first beginning to plan the trip, he spoke to us by phone and email numerous times to get to know us and find out what we liked, wanted, and were physically able and not able to do. He really listened and planned our trip accordingly.

While we were traveling, he was always instantly available for anything we needed or any questions we had.

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Jen F.
Australia Travel Review: Sydney, Port Douglas, Melbourne, Diving, Safari, Food Tour, 14 Nights

From day one, I knew this was the company for me. Zicasso's travel expert was fantastic at communicating with me and making sure I stayed in my budget while getting the perfect vacation. Every detail was planned beautifully, so I felt like I was on a first-rate vacation. He provided very detailed instructions for transportation, hotels, food, and tours. I cannot rave enough about each of the tour providers he connected us with because each was outstanding.

Our main purpose for traveling was to dive in the reef and this experience exceeded our expectations because the tour was so organized. We also did an Australian safari, which was really off the beaten track and gave us a unique look at the biodiversity in the area that we could not have had with any other tour.

This company set us up for a perfect trip and one thing that was very evident was that our travel expert and staff do their homework! They know the companies they set you up with for tours and they know them because they have experienced them firsthand. I am so glad I picked the travel company for this trip and I can't wait to use them again!

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Katy P.
Australia Trip Review: Helicopter Ride, Snorkeling, 8 Days

First of all, I want to thank the travel company and Zicasso for an amazing experience in Australia. The trip was phenomenal, and all the travel arrangements were seamlessly planned. Our travel agent was stellar and responsive.

This trip had to be planned quickly and had a short turnaround time. He made everything happen for us. I had certain travel conditions that centered around a professional meeting and he made it work perfectly. Honestly, I wish that I could use the travel company for all of my future travel. Any chance you do travel plans for Europe?

Most importantly, our travel agent made very specific recommendations about experiences, such as the helicopter ride and the choice of hotel. He highly encouraged these two things. I was a bit dubious, particularly of the helicopter ride, but it was amazing, truly amazing. I am so appreciative of the travel company and our travel agent for being so thoughtful, so responsive, and so confident in their planning and recommendations. Thank you again.

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John T.
Fiji, Australia Vacation Review: Kangaroo Island, 20 Nights

Zicasso's travel professional was very attentive in listening to what was important to us and planned a trip that exceeded our expectations. All the details of our trip were provided well ahead of time and then a couple of weeks prior to our trip, he set up a video call to review the entire itinerary in detail to make sure we knew everything we needed to. I highly recommend the travel company and would definitely use them again if planning a trip to this region.

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Igor K.
New Zealand Vacation Review: Scenery 1-Week Trip

It was a fantastic trip. Zicasso's travel planner nailed all of my interests and left with me an unforgettable experience. She was also accommodating and quick to act with any changes to my travel plans. Even with poor cell service and communication systems down on the app, she was able to communicate updates to my itinerary in a timely and effective manner. Thank you for the unforgettable memories I have as a result of your excellent planning.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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