Rose Garden Tour of New Zealand – Escorted by Michael Marriott & Paul Zimmerman

Arrive in Auckland today and be transferred to your hotel by private car. Enjoy some free time to relax and settle in before a Welcome Dinner this evening. Stay Two Nights: Auckland, Crowne Plaza Hotel or similar (D)

Today visit Nancy Steen Garden. Developed by the New Zealand Heritage Roses group and the Auckland City Council, the garden was created to showcase the unusual roses collected over the course of Nancy Steen's life. In addition to over 200 varieties of roses, the garden is home to a number of shrubs and perennials designed to complement the roses.

Next we continue on to Auckland Botanic Gardens, which is home to more than 10,000 plants from around the world, displayed in 23 different gardens, including a perennial garden, a native plant garden and, of course, the rose garden. The rose garden is chemical free and roses undergo a three-year trial before being planted in the garden. The roses are displayed in a variety of garden designs and include modern and heritage roses, accompanied by flowering perennials and annuals.

Afterwards we will take a sightseeing tour of Auckland to see the highlights of this harbour city.

Tonight, we will enjoy a lecture by a renowned rosarian. (B/D)

Today we depart Auckland for Hamilton. Here we visit the Hamilton Gardens, awarded the ‘International Garden of the Year' in 2014. Go behind the scenes as we explore their various themed gardens.  Roses will again be the star in the Rogers Rose Garden. Themed areas include a Species Rose collection, the Malmaison roses of Empress Josephine, roses of Guillot, the Peace rose and its descendants, as well as past and present winners of the New Zealand Rose of the Year Trials.

This afternoon, visit the private garden of Villa Walton. Many families, over its over 100-year history, have tended to the gardens here, which bloom each season with perennials, bulbs and shrubs. See an example of a Kauri tree, said to be over a hundred year's old, as well as Copper Beech, Rimu, Totara and magnificent magnolia trees, which the native Tui birds love to visit. Stay Two Nights: Hamilton, Novotel Hotel or similar (B/D)

Visit Amore Roses, which grows and sells an exclusive range of international rose breeds. This private business and garden displays its roses in full beds that burst into bloom. See roses from around the world and learn about their history, as well as the people responsible for breeding them. Here we will visit the test gardens and meet the owner.

This afternoon we will visit Te Awamutu Rose Garden, which features over 2500 rose bushes and more than 50 varieties. Beds of roses are planted among green lawns and are great examples of using roses in mass plantings. (B/D)

Depart Hamilton and travel to Rotorua. Visit the Te Puia Thermal area to see the geothermal activity of the area. Marvel at the dramatic geysers, bubbling mud and beautiful native bush.

This afternoon enjoy a fascinating lecture by your hosts Michael and Paul.

Tonight enjoy a traditional Maori hangi dinner. Stay: Rotorua, Sudima Hotel or similar (B/D)

This morning we board the Northern Explorer Train from to Otorohanga to Palmerston North.  Journey through Tongariro National Park, with its three spectacular volcanic mountains – Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu see ancient lava flows and dense beech forests with stunning views of the landscape. Check in to your Palmerston North hotel, our home for the next three nights. Stay Three Nights: Palmerston North, My Millenium Hotel or similar (B/D)

This morning we will visit rose breeder, Ford Roses enjoy a tour and talk by John Ford.  This afternoon we will have the privilege to enjoy the annual rose trials at Dugal MacKenzie Rose Gardens. See the new varieties and meet the breeders at this special event. (B/D)

Travel to Whanganui to visit Matthews Nurseries. A multi generation nursery breeding roses to suit the New Zealand climate.

This afternoon visit Greenhaugh Gardens, a garden of International significance. The two-hectare semi-formal gardens have been developed over the past forty years, the background of established trees a legacy of previous occupants. Old roses, perennials, self-seeding annuals, and bulbs are restrained by box hedging in this pretty garden. (B/L/D)

This morning we will fly back to Auckland where our tour ends upon arrival at the airport. (B)