New Zealand School of Food & Wine suggested 7 day itinerary
November - April
Thursday, ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
Christchurch – ‘Garden City of New Zealand’. Historic architecture, art galleries, parks, landscaped gardens and the River Avon meandering through the city centre creates a tranquil and charming atmosphere, reminiscent of the cities English heritage.
Friday, CHRISTCHURCH
 
9.00am Introduction to New Zealand cuisine.
10.30am Introduction to New Zealand wine, including tasting of 6 wines.
12.00noon Lunch at Hay’s Restaurant.
1.00pm – 5.00pm Practical cooking - Greenshell mussels steamed in tomato and saffron broth; seared Pigeon Bay lamb with Windsor Blue, lamb jus, oven baked kumara and seasonal vegetables; pavlova with cream and fresh passionfruit curd.
6.00pm Pre-dinner drinks in the bar at Hay’s.
7.00pm Dinner – menu prepared earlier in the day.
Saturday, CHRISTCHURCH
9.00am Visit Sir Miles Warren’s Garden ‘Ohinetahi’ incorporating formal herbaceous borders and woodland areas.
10.30am Visit the Lyttelton Farmers Market.
12.00noon Lunch.
1.00pm – 5.00pm Practical cooking using product purchased at the Market – for example, fish from Lyttleton Port; organic beef or chicken; Maori potatoes; seasonal vegetables; local honey dessert.
6.00pm Pre-dinner drinks in the bar at Hay’s.
7.00pm Dinner – menu prepared earlier in the day.
Sunday, CHRISTCHURCH TO AKAROA
Birdling’s Flat
9.00am Eel catching with local Maori.
11.00am Lunch at The Duvauchelle Bistro by the sea.
Following lunch, travel to Akaroa.
In 1840, French settlers arrived at Akaroa, which had just been claimed under the Treaty of Waitangi by the English. To this day, Akaroa remains unique as the site of the only attempted settlement by the French in New Zealand. Many streets have French names, and there are descendants of the original French families still living in Akaroa.
1.30pm Enjoy a cruise on the Akaroa Harbour - the highlight of this trip is undoubtedly the sighting of one of the world's smallest and rarest dolphins, the Hector's or New Zealand Dolphin. You may also catch glimpses of the White Flippered Blue Penguin, the smallest penguin in the world. There are many different bird species in the Harbour, including five different cormorant species and the chance of sighting the endangered yellow-eyed penguin. You will also stop at Lucas Bay to look at a salmon farm where thousands of salmon from fingerlings to adult fish are farmed in a series of cages. (Cruise is approximately 2 hours duration).
4.00pm Mussel harvesting at Pigeon Bay.
 
5.00pm – 7.00pm Preparation of evening meal.
Dinner.
Monday AKAROA TO CHRISTCHURCH
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9.00am Laying of Hangi (traditional Maori feast cooked beneath the ground) for lunch – pork; kumara; potatoes; steamed raspberry jam pudding (in a tin).
10.30am Optional walk
1.00pm Eating of Hangi.
3.00pm Return to Christchurch.
This evening is at leisure to enjoy dining at one of the many restaurants in the city.
Tuesday CHRISTCHURCH TO WAIPARA
10.30am Winery tour, tasting and presentation at Daniel Schuster Wines.
12.00noon Lunch, tasting and presentation at Pegasus Bay Winery.
Wednesday WAIPARA TO CHRISTCHURCH
Thursday DEPART CHRISTCHURCH
Minimum 8
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