Join us for a mid-winter escape with a difference in the heart of the Waikato, where the rolling green hills of Middle-earth await! Over 3 days, we’ll enjoy a relaxing and entertaining journey featuring charming stops, hearty meals, and of course, the unforgettable Mid-Winter Feast at Hobbiton. Here’s a wee peak at the itinerary that’ll warm your heart;
Day 1: On our way north, we’ll enjoy morning tea at the unique Lava Glass Café. A scenic drive through the verdant South Waikato will bring us to the O’Sullivan family farm at Karapiro and its famous Red Barn. Here we’ll learn about the farming operation before indulging in a traditional High Tea. Our home for two nights will be the tranquil Hidden Lake Hotel in picturesque Cambridge, with dinner on the first evening at the multi-Award winning Alpino Restaurant.
Day 2: This morning we embark on a unique sensory journey through Zealong Tea Estate. This is bound to get the taste buds humming. After lunch we return to beautiful Cambridge and the hotel for some time at leisure to relax and explore at your own pace. The highlight of the tour awaits in the evening with the magical Hobbiton Mid-Winter Feast. Firstly, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Movie Set, including the new hobbit-hole interiors, before we retire to The Green Dragon Inn for pre-dinner mulled wine and canapes in front of the fire. Then a buffet banquet worthy of a hobbit’s appetite awaits. After dinner we’ll re-join our guide as we wander back through the Hobbiton paths with the village all lit up for the evening, complete with smoke puffing from the hobbit-hole chimneys. It’s like being in a dream!
Day 3: This morning we’ll enjoy a much-needed gentle morning walk and wildlife encounter at Sanctuary Mountain, one of New Zealand’s best-kept conservation secrets. A stop for lunch in Taupō rounds out this wonderful winter getaway.
With great company, all the comforts taken care of, and the warmest of welcomes at every stop, this is a mid-year treat not to be missed.
