CLASSIC
NEW ZEALAND WINE TRAIL
This region spreads
down the east coast and encompasses the lower portion of the
North Island and the top of the South.
New Zealand wines
have come a long way in a short space of time and celebrate
international awards for excellence. New Zealand was
recently voted the best emerging wine region in the world.
The northern area
encompasses the Hawkes Bay wine region where the long sunshine
produces superb chardonnay, cabernet and merlot style wines.
Near Wellington is
the Martinborough wine area, famous for it pinot noir
but also with strong chardonnay and pinot gris styles.
Across Cook Strait
is Marlborough - the largest wine region and known for its
sauvignon blanc styles and to its west, Nelson, more known
for the boutique wineries.
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There are any number
of excellent golf courses in the region with the main resort
style course being Cape Kidnappers. Set high on the
cliffs overlooking the bay, this golf course has to be one
of the most spectacular in the world and one of the more demanding
challenges of golf.
Around Wellington
is the Paraparaumu Beach links, which has been rated consistently
in the top 100 courses of the world. Also in the Wellington
area are two other club courses of note. Royal Wellington
Golf Club, with its championship layout and the Hutt Golf
Club, ExtravagaNZa's home course and rated as the toughest
layout in the district.
In the Hawkes Bay in the heart of
the wine country are the Napier Golf Club and Bridge Pa, both
well maintained and a pleasure to play.
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Link to Centre
Stage Website
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Wellington
is the capital city and the centre for live theatre and the
home to Te Papa, the contemporary National Museum. Crossing
the Cook Strait by ferry or by air takes you through the Marlborough
Sounds and into the Marlbough wine region. A few hours
drive and you are in Nelson and near the coastal Abel Tasman
National Park. Here are preserved coastal forests and
seal colonies for your enjoyment. Sea kayaking here
is often a popular diversion.
You can experience the uniqueness
of this region when you take your ExtravagaNZa golf tour down
the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.
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