Blossom Valley Festival

From $1,840 per person
Friday 23 – Monday 26 September 2022 (4 Days)
Join us for a breath-taking visual feast when we visit Blossom Valley Festival; a showcase of flora and nature at its best. We honour and celebrate the Asian origins of Cherry Blossom and offer an unforgettable experience with this unique festival of colour, which is the next best thing to visiting Japan during the annual Hanami (flower watching) celebrations.
We travel to charming Martinborough to visit this hidden gem, near the base of the Remutaka Ranges. The 14-acre private garden is filled with hundreds of flowering cherry blossom trees. Each spring, these trees erupt into blossom, filling the valley with a luminous canopy of brilliant pink and white flowers – the picture-perfect background of vibrant colour to welcome Spring again.
This tour truly offers the chance to reconnect with nature, with the final night in Whanganui so we can visit the outstanding and exotic Paloma Gardens.
JOURNEY TO MARTINBOROUGH (D)
Our tour commences today by heading south through the rolling hills of the Waikato and beyond as we make our way to Martinborough, our destination for the duration of our tour. Along the way we enjoy a stop in Taupo for morning tea before travelling down the Desert Road to reach Waiouru for lunch (own cost). Continuing on our journey, we pass through the Manawatu townships of Woodville, Mangatainoka, home of the Tui Brewery, and Eketahuna before arriving in Martinborough, our home for the next two nights. The charming village of Martinborough is famous for its boutique vineyards, most within walking or cycling distance of the village square. The sunny, dry climate and free-draining low-vigour soils of the Wairarapa Valley is ideal for grape-growing and results in intensely flavoured grapes. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel to get to know our fellow travellers.
Accommodation: Parehua Resort, Martinborough – 2 nights
Day 2 Saturday 24 September 2022
BLOSSOM VALLEY FESTIVAL (BLD)
Today we get to experience the highlight of our tour, the Blossom Valley Festival. For just a short amount of time each year at Aston Norwood Gardens in Kaitoke, Upper Hutt, hundreds of cherry trees come alive creating a vibrant canopy of brilliant pink blossom. This annual Spring Blossom Valley Festival is a celebration sure to put the spring in your step as we explore the 14-acres of garden with New Zealand’s highest number and density of mature cherry blossom trees in one place. On arrival at the festival, we will receive a picnic lunch that you can enjoy while taking in the amazing sights of the beautiful cherry blossoms. Departing the garden, we travel to the quaint township of Greytown where we will enjoy free time to explore the beautifully restored Victorian buildings that house stylish and interesting speciality stores, boutiques, art galleries, and cafés. We return to Martinborough in the mid-afternoon for some downtime before our dinner. Tonight, we enjoy a special 3-course set menu dinner at Tirohana Estate, a boutique vineyard. A unique dining experience awaits you in this elegant and evocative restaurant, surrounded by vines in the heart of Martinborough. With antique Mexican doors, original New Zealand artwork, Italian tiled floor, huge open fire, leather chairs and views over the vineyard, Tirohana Estate Restaurant offers clients a memorable experience of award-winning wine, premium cuisine, with excellent service.
Day 3 Sunday 25 September 2022
MARTINBOROUGH – WHANGANUI (BD)
Departing Martinborough today we make our way to Whanganui. There will be time to purchase lunch (own cost) on arrival. This afternoon we travel out of Paloma Gardens for a guided garden tour. Development of the garden commenced in 1990 but it is maturing rapidly due to the mild, almost frost-free climate. The owners have specialised in exotic flora to produce a landscape unlike any other in New Zealand. From the first dramatic view of the amphitheatre with its banks clothed with a huge variety of plants ranging from the familiar to the curious and unusual …prepare to be enthralled. Palms, cycads, bamboos, and trees - from the Pacific, Asia, and Africa, all have their allotted space while an entire hillside is devoted to an assemblage of Aloe, Agave, Yucca, cacti and succulents. After our wonderful garden visit, we make our way to our overnight accommodation. Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Accommodation: Kingsgate Hotel, The Avenues, Whanganui
Day 4 Monday 26 September 2022
JOURNEY FROM WHANGANUI (B)
After breakfast this morning we depart from Whanganui to begin our return journey to Hamilton heading north via the National Park, Taumarunui and King Country.

Parehua Resort
Set amongst Martinborough’s world famous vineyards, with sweeping gardens and panoramic views of the rolling green hills, Parehua is the perfect expression of a charming country estate. Whatever the occasion, we will do everything we can to make you welcome. We pride ourselves on relaxed styling and delightful detail. Beautiful rooms. Meals that make the most of local produce together with your pick of wonderful Martinborough wines.

Kingsgate Hotel The Avenue
With its prime location and luxurious touches, Kingsgate Hotel The Avenue Wanganui is one of the ideal Wanganui hotels for discerning travellers. Just a 10-minute walk from attractions like Sarjeant Gallery and Alexander Heritage Library, it’s the perfect base from which to explore Wanganui. And when you return to the hotel, unwind by the pool or indulge at our award-winning Estrella Restaurant.
Tour Inclusions
- Door-to-door home collection and drop-off service is available from select areas – please refer to the flyer for further information
- 3 nights’ accommodation - twin/double rooms, all with private facilities (single rooms available with surcharge)
- Tour admissions as per itinerary
- Touring in a modern air-conditioned vehicle
- Breakfasts (B), Lunches (L), Dinners (D) where indicated on your daily itinerary
- Roadside Morning Teas – where practicable
- Admission to Blossom Valley Festival
- 3-course dinner at Tirohana Estate
- Guided tour of Paloma Gardens
Tour Payments Per Person ($NZD)
Twin/Double Share | $1,840 |
Single Supplement: | $ 370.00 |
Non-refundable deposit due at time of booking | $ 200.00 |
Full balance of tour payment due by Wednesday 12 August 2022

Early Bird Offer: Book and pay in full by Thursday 26 May 2022 and receive $75.00 discount per person!
Are door to door collections included on this tour? YES
Please refer to our Home Collection flyer for further information about this service.
Is the Guaranteed twin Share Price available on this tour? YES
Please note that the guaranteed twin share pricing is not available to pre & post tour accommodation arrangements.
What fitness level is required for this tour? EASY LEVEL
Level 1 – Easy
- Relaxed paced tour
- Be able to participate in guided or unguided small walking tours at a relaxed pace.
- Walk on mostly level ground
- Tackle an occasional flight of stairs
- Occasionally need to stand for up to 10 minutes
- Able to get on and off transportation unaided
Level 2 – Moderate
- Be able to participate in walking tours with time to rest at least every 10 minutes
- Stand for 15 minutes without needing to sit down
- Tackle a flight of stairs or incline
- Able to get on and off transportation unaided
- Walk confidently on bush tracks
Level 3 – Active
- Participate in walking tours without having to rest for up to 20 minutes
- Walk up an incline equal to a flight of stairs without stopping
- Stand for 30 minutes without needing to sit down
- Walk over uneven ground and walk through soft sand
- Able to get on and off transportation unaided