Entertainment & Culture 

Perhaps one of South Australia’s best kept secrets is the picturesque McLaren Vale where vineyards, almond orchards and olive groves all grow within sight of the sea. The region is known for its wonderful Shiraz and Grenache which are grown in many family owned boutique wineries. On this tour you will have the chance to taste wines and produce at exceptional estates; Parri Estate - a family wine company producing wines that are a unique reflection of the region in which they are grown. Leconfield McLaren Vale – the Cellar Door is also company headquarters, and the home of Richard Hamilton Wines, the building is nestled amongst the vineyards with magnificent views to the Willunga escarpment. McLaren Vale Olive Grove – to sample Olive Oil products including oil, fruit, pastes, and wine beauty products and fine local almonds at the Almond Train A tasting and lunch will be hosted amongst beautiful scenery at a local winery, the perfect way to encapsulate your day in McLaren Vale.

This is your chance to visit two distinctive gardens of New Zealand. Travel by coach to the far side of Akaroa harbour and to the French Farm garden of Nancy Tichborne, a famous watercolour artist. Take a guided visit of the gardens featuring over 100 different native plants on the 11 acre property including many splendid native trees and a wealth of wildlife. Return to Akaroa to “The Happiest Garden on Earth,” the Giants House. Meet Josie, the artist behind this mosaic garden and have a look around this incredible property. Surprises are everywhere in this glorious garden- mosaic walls and steps, welded steel sculptures, and other creations. Colourful gardens of roses, vegetables, citrus and flowers tumble from the terraces of this beautiful place.

Depart Akaroa for a 90 minute coach ride to the International Antarctic Centre. The International Antarctic Centre is located in a unique working Antarctic campus, home to the New Zealand, United States and Italian Antarctic programmes. It offers a fun, exciting and interactive experience of Antarctica. Visitors can have fun in real snow & ice, get ‘exchillarted’ in the Antarctic Storm, explore the Antarctic gallery, see Little Blue penguins, take a cruise down to Antarctica in the new 4D EXTREME Theatre, experience riding in a genuine Antarctic vehicle – the Hagglund. This is one Antarctic adventure not to be missed. Enjoy lunch at the Antarctic Centre, at your own cost, before departing for the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Here, view beautiful flowers and stunning plants before returning to Akaroa.

Join Ant and Lou Bentley from the well renowned Akaroa Cooking School for a morning of cooking demonstrations, wine, tastings and learning about all of the wonderful produce available from around the stunning Banks Peninsula. The cooking school is located at the end of the main wharf with fabulous views of the harbour and surrounding hills. The day will begin with tea / coffee and freshly baked pastries. Then it is time to get comfortable and learn about the abundant local produce, whilst Lou cooks up four tasty dishes that might include: Hot Smoked Akaroa Salmon on Pickled Cucumber Salad with Microgreens and Lemon and Mandarin Oil, Rare fillet of Grain Finished Beef with Horseradish Pannacotta and Parmesan Crisp with Balsamic Glaze, Grilled Gurnard Fillets on Lemon and Green Pea Risotto or Pan Seared Lamb Rump with Chorizo, Fresh Tomato and Basil Sauce. Then its time to taste the results washed down with a glass of local award winning wine. Come and see for yourself why Lonely Planet have named The Akaroa Cooking School No. 4 in its top 10 places to learn to cook local cuisine in the world.’

Take in the city sights to explore the Maori and Polynesian culture at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Travel through Parnell Village, over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and to one of the city’s vantage points for a photo stop before going to the museum. This imposing neo-classical museum is located in the Auckland Domain, an area of scenic parklands boasting manicured lawns, lush gardens, ponds, and trees. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Maori and Polynesian artefacts, including a huge 82 foot Maori canoe from the trunk of the mighty totara tree. You will have time to view the excellent displays, exhibits, and memorabilia from New Zealand’s participation in the two World Wars. Highlights of this era include an extremely rare and authentic Japanese Zero and a British Spitfire plane. Please contact P&O Cruise to book this Access Vehicle tour.

Experience the Auckland War Memorial Museum through the eyes of the Maori people with a Maori Performance and Gallery Tour. Before arriving at your museum destination, see the chic boutiques and galleries of Parnell Village, the Auckland Harbour Bridge and to one of the city’s vantage points for a photo stop. The Maori cultural performance is recognized as being one of the leading Maori cultural experiences in New Zealand. The performers are the face of Ngati Whatua o Orekei, the home tribe of Auckland. See the largest and most valuable collection of Maori Taonga (treasurers) in the world at Auckland Museum. Enjoy a warm, vibrant, and entertaining glimpse of Maori culture, culminating in a high energy spine tingling version of our most celebrated dance, the Haka. The Maori Cultural experience includes the opportunity to meet, talk, and take photos with the very friendly performers.

During this call, learn about the fascinating culture of Lombok, starting with a visit to Nusa Tenggara Barat Province museum, here you can see the hand woven cloth collections, the intricately detailed Kris knives, and a small Dongson drum among other displays and showcases. Next you will visit the Narmada Water Palace, with its central artificial lake that resembles the shape of Segara Anak, the caldera of the Rinjani volcano and Lingsar, a large temple complex. Here you will learn the history of the Water Palace and the Temple Complex. Following this visit you will continue north towards Senggigi, into the hills that offer the best views of the sea dotted with colourful ‘prahu’ (local fishing catamarans) returning home from their overnight fishing trips. Senggigi, the busiest tourist area of the island, is where you will enjoy a sumptuous Indonesian buffet lunch. On the return journey to port, stop in at Banyu Mulek, a village famous for stunning handmade pottery. Climb aboard a Cidomo (traditional horse cart) for a tour around the village, where guests can witness skilled craftsmen processing clay into beautiful export quality pottery. A visit to a large pottery gallery is included, where guests can purchase finished products.

Passing through local villages, rice fields and breathtaking scenery, you will make your way to Sade, Central Lombok, en route your first stop will be in Banyu Mulek, famous for handmade potteries. Tour the local village on a ‘Cidomo’, which is a traditional horse cart that the locals still use as transport, and witness the skilled villagers process clay into beautiful export quality pottery. A visit to a large pottery gallery is included, where guests can purchase finished products. From here you'll make your way to Sukarara, a village known for its stunning Ikat and hand woven fabrics, before visiting Sade a traditional Sasak village on the south of Lombok. Here you will have the opportunity to visit traditional Sasak houses, and also see the Lumbungs - traditional bonnet-shaped rice barns. Departing Sade you will head for Kuta Beach, which probably offers the best seascape in all of Lombok, here you will visit the Novotel hotel and enjoy and Indonesian Buffet lunch, free time is also available at the resort where guests can relax by the pool or enjoy the Crystal blue water at the beach.

Delicious local cuisine is one of the many reasons people visit Lombok. The island is well known for its delicious tofu, water spinach, buffalo crackers and shrimp paste, among many other things. Todays cooking tour begins with visiting a local market, where you and your guide will purchase the product for the class. Head back to school and enjoy coffee, tea and traditional snacks before starting on todays culinary journey which will have you grinding, blending and frying up a storm. At the end of the class you can sample your own freshly cooked meal in your tropical surroundings.

This half day tour designed for those who wish to spend few hours exploring local culture of south Lombok. After departing Lembar Harbour, visit Teluk Waru, a village that is renowned for their unique thatched roofing. This ancient process has been preserved by the villagers, and is still used in many structures today. You will have passed many hills on the way here which are rich in gold ore, so here you will visit a local house to watch the traditional gold mining process - this is some of the richest gold ore in the world and is helping improve the lives of the local villagers. Next stop will be made at a traditional clay brick factory at Kebon Talo, where guests can see the painstaking process of making a seemingly simple object. Surely, everyone will have a new appreciation for the simple house brick after seeing this process! Finally to Sekotong Beach, where long white sandy beaches meet protected bays with crystal clear blue waters. A stop is made at Cocotinos resort where you will enjoy the beach and island views while refreshments are served and traditional South Lombok cultural performance is provided for your appreciation.