We have also added to our website the ability for new members to join our travel club and receive this regular newsletter. So let your friends and family know just how easy it is to join. They can either register on our website, email our office at info@marlboroughtravel.co.nz or phone on 03 577 9997.
This trip is a must do for everyone and you will remember it for years to come!
The temperature may be a little cooler. However this is a fantastic time of year to explore Fiordland. At this time of year the weather is very settled and there are no masses of people! The vessel “Affinity” that you will cruise Fiordland in has great central heating to keep you nice and warm.
Firstly depart Blenheim by coach and travel to Timaru where we will overnight. The following day you will travel through Dunedin and across the Southland Plains to the stunning lake side town of Te Anau where we will stay the night.
The following day you will depart for Manapouri by coach. Here you will travel with Real Journeys to cruise across the stunning Lake Manapouri. Upon arrival at West Arm you will then visit the Manapouri Power Station – an amazing engineering feat in this remote location.
Then the coach will travel over the Wilmot Pass into Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound.
Here you will board the vessel “Affinity”. This vessel will be your home for the next 5 nights. Discover Doubtful Sound and then steam to Breaksea Sound & Resolution Island. Retrace Captain Cooks landings and movements in the area.
On the last day of the cruise you will then be helicopted out of Dusky Sound to Manapouri – a fantastic way to view this remote and stunning landscape.
Once you have returned to Manapouri we will overnight at The Haast. The next day we will travel up the West Coast with a night at Punakaiki before returning to Blenheim.
If you are interested please contact us ASAP as there is only 1 cabin available.
Cost: $2689 per person on a twin share basis or $3049 single supplement on Affinity only.
Includes: Cruise, (all meals, fishing while on cruise), transport, continental breakfasts daily, Helicopter flight, accommodation, power station visit.
See the Westcoast and nature at its best.
Firstly we will travel down the West Coast and cross over the main divide and travel up the East Coast.
This includes 3 nights accommodation, entry Coal Town Museum, Monteith’s Brewery, TranzAlpine train, and visit to Jo Seagar’s Café.
Highlights include:
• Overnight at Cape Foulwind at Omau Settlers Lodge with a buffet breakfast
• Coaltown Museum at Westport
• Pancake rocks at Punakaiki
• Stay at Greymouth at Revingtons Hotel with a cooked breakfast
• Greymouth bar – the tiphead entrance to the Port of Greymouth
• Monteith’s Brewery
• Travel on the TranzAlpine train
• Overnight in Christchurch at Garden City Motels with cooked breakfast
• Shopping at The Palms
• Visit Jo Seagar’s Café and Kitchen Store at Oxford (lunch – own cost)
Full Payment of $395.00 per person twin share or double or $595.00 single supplement to be paid on booking.
Includes: Travel, accommodation, breakfasts, entry to Coaltown and Monteiths and travel on TranzAlpine.
“Worlds End”
Now is such a wonderful time of the year to cruise the Sounds, join us in conjunction with the ‘Out & About Club’ for this fantastic day.
Welcome on board our 20 metre catamaran ‘Odyssea’ which features 2 warm lounge areas, and has a full bar and galley facilities.
The extensive back deck is ideal for viewing while cruising the Marlborough Sounds.
Join us on a cruise through one of the Marlborough Sounds best kept secrets and discover for yourself why it is locally known as “Worlds End”.
Hidden in the heart of the Pelorus Sound, Tennyson Inlet is a picture wonderland of tranquil waters framed by lush native bush that extends right down to the tide line.
Enjoy the fantastic “Odyssea” lunch.
Taste fresh mussels cooked to perfection with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
Optional ‘Dillon Bell’ freedom walk to Jacobs Bay.
Depart Marlborough Travel Depot at 9am and return approx 5 pm.
Cost: $125.00 per person includes return transport from Blenheim, lunch, freshly cooked mussels, a glass of Sauvignon and morning and afternoon teas.
Been to Karamea?
I certainly haven’t but always wanted to see ‘what was there’.
So now would be a good time. Karamea is the closest town to the South Western entrance to the Heaphy Track.
Karamea is a secluded haven situated at the end of the road. It is flanked by the bush covered mountains of the Kahurangi National Park and the other side is the Tasman Sea. Karamea has a mild climate and beautiful surroundings and has that ‘off the beaten track’ feel which is not often found nowadays.
Walk part of the Heaphy Track (even 5 minutes), visit the museum for local history, estuaries.
The Last Resort is largely hand built, has a charming atmosphere, is warm and friendly.
Enjoy a relaxing spa at the Last Resort which is situated beside the river.
Visit a natural palm plantation. Bring a picnic lunch for our first day, we will find a nice place on the way.
Cost: $365.00 per person. Includes travel, twin share or double rooms with ensuites, 2 x 3 course dinners, 2 x cooked breakfast, picnic lunch at Karamea.
Optional Extras: massage therapy, spa, sunbed, 5 hour trip to Oparara Valley.
Looking for a great Christmas present?
Buy a Cruise Voucher.
8.30am: Departure from Havelock Marina – Jetty 6
Our d’Urville Island cruises have proven to be very popular, as many of us have never been to the outer Sounds, we will be passing the Greenshell™ mussel and salmon farms which are both included in our lunch menu. On board The MV Odyssea is a fully licensed bar.
d’Urville Island is New Zealand’s 5th largest Island. (Same size as Singapore). We will cruise pass some of the most amazing raw, eroded stark cliff faces to ominous rock formations and farmlands.
A full commentary will be given throughout our cruise. On previous cruises we have been totally captivated with true stores of the people and their lives on d’Urville.
The cruise will go via Maud Island, Duffers Reef, the Chetwode Islands, the Trio and Rangitoto Islands. We will go into Catherine Cove and go ashore at the d’Urville Island Wilderness Resort for a short time. Maybe a quick drink or cappuccino.
Weather permitting we will complete a circumnavigation of d’Urville continuing down the west side of the Island via Port Hardy, to Greville Harbour and through the infamous waters of French Pass. Morning tea will be served on departure from Havelock. The cruise will stop in the stunning Greville Harbour where you will enjoy a sumptuous BBQ lunch on-board, afternoon tea will be served on the journey home.
Return time into Havelock Marina is approximately 6.30 pm. (may vary according to tides weather, etc).
Cost: $195 per person ex Havelock
$210 per person ex Blenheim return
Includes: Cruise, morning and afternoon tea, freshly steamed mussels, sumptuous BBQ lunch.
Minimum numbers apply.
We have had many requests for this tour.
Depart Blenheim and travel through the Awatere Valley with the scenic drive to Molesworth Station, overnight in Hanmer Springs and return to Blenheim via Rainbow Station.
Drive through New Zealand’s largest farm station. This property is right in our backyard. Join us for this tour through a very unique farming property.
Encompassing 180,476 hectares, Molesworth is New Zealand’s largest farm and an integral part of Marlborough’s History. The 1437 metre “Island Saddle” is the highest point on a publicly accessed road in NZ and the diverse terrain is home to almost half of the over 60 endemic plant species found in the South Marlborough.
We will have regular stops along the way including the historic Acheron Accommodation House, we will also stop on both days for morning & afternoon tea and a great picnic lunch. Stay a night in Hanmer Springs then try out the hot pools the following day. There will be time to wander around town or soak in the thermal pools.
We will then head back to Blenheim through the Rainbow Station in the Nelson Lakes National Park. There will be regular stops and photo opportunities including Lake Tennyson.
Lunch will be at Lake Rotoiti then we will meander back to Blenheim.
Cost per person is $295 twin share $310 single occupancy
Includes: coach transport, accommodation, morning / afternoon tea & lunch on both days, continental breakfast.
Dinner in Hanmer with the group is optional and additional to the tour cost.
Minimum numbers apply.
Day Trip
The Nelson Markets are still very good, good atmosphere and great buying plants etc.
Leave Marlborough Travel Depot at 8.30 am and visit the Nelson Markets until 11.30am, then we will take The Upper Moutere Valley highway through some beautiful scenery. We will have a wander through Upper Moutere Village, and stop at a little unknown café - Monterey House Café and Garden for lunch (own cost). Sue and Allan have sampled and it’s fantastic.
Return via Motueka and the Sea route back to Nelson.
We would hope to arrive in Blenheim 5ish.
Cost: $60.00 per person - minimum numbers apply
– Art, Cuisine & Culture TourIncludes Hill Tribes of Sapa & Bac Ha
Fully guided tour with Irene from Active Travel. Irene has travelled world-wide. The tour is limited to 12 people, so it is of course very personalised. Irene will take you to some of Vietnam’s most famous craftspeople. Visit pottery makers, silk weavers and tailors, the home of artists and painters, wood carvers, furniture makers, silk embroiders, and stone cravers.
Culminate your tour with a day at a ‘Hands on cooking school” in Hoi An.
This 14 day tour includes airfares, accommodation and most meals, all excursions, entrance fees and local guides during excursions.
Cost $4500 per person ex Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland.
We now need people interested to contact us.
In 2006 Chris and Sue travelled with friends on a safari to Kenya. They both suggested that this would be a tour our travel club members would really enjoy and remember forever!
This trip will be an adventure through this stunning African country.
You will get up close and personal with wild animals!
You will be in Kenya from the 13th – 25th September.
Highlights include:
Staying at a Wildlife Conservation Park
Out on Safari viewing big game animals in the wild
Camping out amongst the stars in luxury ensuited tent campsites (very safe)
Staying at a luxury beach resort on the shores of the Indian Ocean
This is a once in a lifetime experience!
We can organise your flights for you to and from Nairobi if you wish
(i.e Christchurch – Sydney – Dubai – Nairobi with a stopover in Dubai)
Or you may want to organise your own flights in conjunction with some other holiday either before or after the Kenyan trip.
Registration for this tour is now being taken. This tour will only allow a maximum for 10 people.
Approximate Cost at this stage is $16,000 per person on twin share basis.
Includes a p/c sum for air transfers CHCH – CHCH @ $3,000 per person
Blenheim to Blenheim
Travel from Blenheim to Christchurch and fly on a 45 seater convair aircraft to Chatham Islands and return.
Stay in Hotel Chathams right on the water front in Waitangi, situated in the scenic Petre Bay.
Included is 7 nights twin share or double accommodation, all food – including breakfast, packed lunches, evening 3-course meals specialising in local produce and seafood.
Daily tours throughout Chatham Island with tour guide knowledgeable in local history & Culture, flora & fauna, landforms etc.
Sunday is ½ day fishing day, then to Admiral Farm for farm style bbq lunch.
Learn some local Mori ori.
There are some wonderful walks i.e. Wharekauri, Okawa and Ranga Ika just to mention a few.
Cost: $2995.00 per person share twin or double basis.
Optional extra;
½ fishing trips $100.00 per person available on request.
Full day package tour Pitt Island, departing - Owenga, travel to Flower Pot, ½ day guided land tour and lunch on Pitt Island, then 2 hours fishing. Full circumnavigation of Pitt Island, encompassing views of the other outer islands (Mangere, South East etc), or if you prefer you can fly over $300.00 per person.
Deposit of $500.00 will be required ASAP to secure this trip. First 16 people to pay will go!
This very popular day trip sold out in 2006! This was great! What a day.
We will have time for a coffee stop in Kaikoura, we found last year that this was a popular idea.
Join us for this great day out.
The fete has over 190 stalls of arts, crafts, food and wine.
So much shopping and eating.
Last year was HOT so bring clothing for both climates.
Depart 7 am Marlborough Travel Depot.
Cost: $65.00 per person – includes travel and entry to Garden Fete.
Book now to avoid disappointment.
60 pax attended last year and loved it so be in quick.
OR
2 birds 1 stone option
Best of both: Culverden Christmas Fete, overnight in Hamner Springs and next day travel to Hawarden to Art in a Garden.
Some of New Zealand’s most talented artists and sculptors present art at one of New Zealands top gardens.
On last years trip I had requests for this to be included this year, so lets do it!
Cost: $245.00 per person includes travel, entry to both Culverden Fete & Art in a Garden, overnight accommodation on twin share basis with continental breakfast.
DISCLAIMER:
1. Please note for all tours minimum numbers apply.
2. Costs are variable and may be subject to change
3. The MV Odyssea is fully licensed and has full bar facilities. Please understand that BYO is not permitted on board this vessel.
For more information on all Marlborough Travel Club Trips please contact Fay at Marlborough Travel
Phone 03 577 9997
Email info@marlboroughtravel.co.nz
Please note that your membership of our Marlborough Travel Club is appreciated but should you wish to discontinue this newsletter please click the link below. Alternatively please email info@marlboroughtravel.co.nz and request that the newsletter is discontinued.
Contact Us 
