TOUR SUMMARY:
Enjoy a 4–5-hour fun-filled tour with Your Local Chauffeur departing from the Port of Picton on a short scenic journey of 25minutes to the Marlborough Wine region.
Taste award winning local wines, delicious local treats and view stunning landscapes as you travel through the vineyards, the farmlands, see the horticulture and the local community at work.
Each cellar door offers unique styles and of course some famous Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Marlborough wine is so popular, and we will visit 3 wineries and stop for a light lunch (your cost) and wine tasting or a glass of wine included.
The special delicacies known to Marlborough are of course the Green-lip mussels and the Aoraki Salmon. Hopefully you will want to savour some of these local treats.
Cheese platters while you are tasting your wine are also superb to find a new taste match.
Returning to Picton in plenty of time for your ships scheduled departure you might like to include a short return drive to see spectacular high vantage point view over the Wairau and Cloudy Bay Beach on the shore of our Pacific Ocean and showcase of Wither Hills expansive seaside vineyard or from a great cultural look-out of your ship and the sparkling Queen Charlotte Sound.
TOUR DETAILS:
The Port of Picton in the Queen Charlotte Sound welcomes cruise ships throughout the season and it is a lovely region to explore.
Just 25 minutes south of Picton, your tour takes you on a scenic journey to enjoy the famous Marlborough wine region.
The most popular highlights of the day are wine and the spectacular scenic routes of the Wairau Plains while travelling to and from the selected spots of the day.
- Experience your first wine tasting of the day to start your journey of finding your favourites. Cellar doors arrange a relaxing 45 minutes at each wine tasting stop.
- Although your cruise ship caters well for you, a light tapas or cheese/meat platter with matching wines is a great way to experience the local cuisine. The landscape setting of the second winery is an excellent place for this.
- With another wine tasting stop where each one is so unique to the other and the wine makers secrets showcase the varietals in many ways. Not just Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, there are some tasty surprises in store for you of many other varietals.
- Lunch is booked with you in mind, for local fare and timing for your cruise schedule, where you can have as little or as much as you enjoy. A great time to offer wine tasting at your table or a glass of wine with your food match.
- Seasonal produce can be available at roadside stalls from December through to February. You can take these aboard but must eat them before you disembark. Juicy strawberries, cherries, apricots, and nectarines. A box of local cherries or strawberries has been known to appear among you to taste while on your way.
- Most everyone loves chocolate and Makana Boutique Confections offers generous tastings and will fetch samples of other choices for you to try before you buy. 10-15minutes is generally the length of this visit. Your tour treat includes a share box of the most popular Macadamia Toffee Butter Crunch.
- Generally, tours are from 4-5 hours, but we keep flexibility in schedules for each ship and cater for passengers’ comfort and timetable.
- You travel in a comfortable new model vehicle with up to 6 seats.
- You will return at least 1 hour prior to your ship's scheduled departure. Your cruise shuttles will carry you back from the bus stop to your ship.
For a highlight to end a wonderful day when we arrive back in Picton, why not take advantage of a short 15-minute return drive from the township to the Victoria Domain for high vantage views of Picton Port, Queen Charlotte Sound and your ship or a stop on the way to another high top spot of Cloudy Bay Beach on the Pacific Ocean, the Wairau landscapes and the expanse of the Wither Hills vineyards on the edge of this famous Bay.
Your Local Chauffeur is a local owner who has great passion for the Marlborough region and looks forward to sharing it all with you.
INCLUSIONS:
Wine Tasting
Bottled Water
Box of cherries or strawberries to share (seasonal)
Complimentary Chocolate Tasting
A Shared box of the most popular Chocolate of the Region
EXCLUSIONS:
Lunch
Additional snacks and drinks
Event Fees not included and not highlighted in this itinerary
Please make note:
Meeting up details should be written on your Tour Voucher. Shuttles from the ship will bring you to the Picton Information Centre Bus stop where you will meet your guide on their veranda near a yellow ‘TOURS HERE’ flag. Look out for the lead travellers name on the Guides signboard. Your drop off will be to the same Bus stop where the shuttles will be waiting for you.
10:00am is the advertised start time for your tour, depending on your Cruise ship Schedule this could be earlier or later. Please refer to the agents tour details that explain if the change doesn’t suit you 30 minutes prior or after the 10:00am designated time you can request a refund. Any change to the start time - you will receive an SMS or an email a few days before advising the new start time.
It is preferred that you have a mobile number for contact on the day.