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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.

Day 1 Friday 23 September 2022
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

Yes. Leisure Time Tours offers a free home collection and drop off service from selected Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua and most Auckland City areas. Our complimentary collections are based on your individual post code, other home collection locations available at an additional cost. Alternatively you may wish to meet us at our Hamilton depot in which case you can park your car in our secure yard free of charge for the duration of your holiday. For all tours that have a flight component, we can also offer door to door collections from Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin city areas.

Please refer to our Home Collection flyer for further information about this service.

Is the Guaranteed twin Share Price available on this tour? YES

Yes. Our Guaranteed Twin Share price is available for those passengers willing to share with another single traveller of the same gender. If there isn’t another passenger of the same gender to share with we GUARANTEE our twin share price. Leisure Times Tours accepts no responsibility for the compatibility of passengers travelling under this arrangement. If someone is not compatible with the person they have been matched up with, all additional costs incurred to assist with changing their shared room type to two single rooms will be at the expense of both travellers and will be subject to availability. Acceptance of a guaranteed twin share room is subject to the individual’s medical condition being suitable for this type of arrangement.

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

To ensure that you select the right tour for you, we’ve developed a very clear set of fitness recommendations for our tours. These physical ratings clearly explain how much physical exertion is required to participate on each tour.

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

Will there be a daily seat rotation on this tour? YES

Passengers rotate seats in the coach daily so that all passengers have the opportunity to enjoy forward and window seating. All passengers are expected to participate as a booking condition.

Can you assist with pre & post tour accommodation? YES

Yes we can. Should you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer we can book in some pre and post tour accommodation for you. Please ask at the time of booking if you require this.

Is this tour a guaranteed departure? NO

This tour will be guaranteed once there are 10 passengers booked on the tour.

Are roadside morning teas included on our tours? YES

Yes. A point of difference is that wherever possible we offer our passengers roadside refreshments served from the coach. This gives all passengers the chance to mix and mingle over a hot cuppa allowing us to share our experiences as we journey together.

Do I need travel insurance?

Leisure Time Tours strongly advises all passengers to purchase a travel insurance policy. A comprehensive travel insurance policy may prevent you from spending extra money in case of an emergency and will help you feel protected during your holiday. We are agents for Cover More Travel Insurance. Ask us for a no obligation insurance quote today.

How much luggage can I bring?

Luggage is restricted to one suitcase and one small item of hand luggage per person. Baggage handling of one suitcase per person, at each hotel, is included in the trip price. Carry-on/hand luggage handling is the responsibility of each guest and all personal items must be taken off the coach by you each day of the trip.

What clothing should I pack?

When on tour, dress is generally relaxed and casual with an informal dress standard on most occasions. Casual wear is recommended for travelling with something a little more formal for evening dining. If taking part in outdoor activities, make sure you have a waterproof coat, comfortable footwear and dress in layers to help you adjust to any sudden changes in climate. Be prepared for New Zealand’s powerful sun, even on cold windy days, bringing a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.