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New Zealand produces some of the world’s most exciting wines, and we’re all starting to notice. Now imagine sipping these bold wines as you gaze at New Zealand’s deep green hills and stunning coastal scenery. Wines from New Zealand go wonderfully with the best foods. Why not make these musings a reality with a New Zealand wine country tour?

But before you pack your bags, there are a few things to consider.

Due to the country’s size it’s impossible to visit all the great wineries in a day or two. Wineries stretch from the north to the south, covering a distance of around 1,000 miles. New Zealand’s size means it’s important to decide where you’d like to visit before setting off. You should allow two to three weeks to explore each island, and at least a month to cover the entire country.

Travel agents, specialist wine guides, and tourism websites may help you select your destinations. Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay are the most popular New Zealand wine routes, but you can avoid the crowds by visiting Nelson, Waikato, or the Bay of Plenty.

Your preferred wines may also help guide your winery tour abroad planning. New Zealand’s sauvignon blancs have earned worldwide acclaim, and you’ll find the best of these in Marlborough. But if you’d rather drink red, the pinot noirs of Central Otago may pique your interest. The Bay of Plenty winemakers are chardonnay specialists, while Auckland is famous for its cabernet sauvignon.

The amount of time available for your trip may also help you decide where to travel. If your time is limited, you’ll want to explore areas with a large concentration of wineries. The wine regions of Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, and Marlborough are easily accessible via the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. These regions are also large, so there’s plenty to see over a relatively small area.

In contrast, regions like Canterbury and Otago are more remote. This deters some tourists, while others prefer to simply stay in these isolated locations without traveling around the country.

Look up information about your targeted wineries before heading out. As a rule, you should aim to see no more than five or six wineries on any given day. New Zealand’s largest wine regions are home to more than 100 vineyards, so it’s easy to spend at least a week exploring these areas. Knowing which wineries interest you will help you plan how long you should stay in these destinations.

Timing is important. Many boutique wineries and vineyards in isolated areas only open their cellar doors on weekends. Others close theirs completely during the winter months and only receive visitors when it’s warm. Some vineyards require a prior appointment before visiting. Visit the websites of your targeted wineries for winery information.

Based on your vacation time you may want to travel during any number of the regional events. These fun celebrations showcase each destination’s local wines and fresh produce against a backdrop of music and family entertainment. These fairs are typically held in summer and spring in New Zealand wine regions around the country. In fact, some of the largest wine regions hold several of these events each year.

Once you know when and where to go you’ll need to decide how to get there. New Zealand’s national airline, Air New Zealand, regularly flies from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Australia, and the South Pacific. Other global carriers also regularly fly to New Zealand. International flights are available to the major cities of Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. Connecting domestic flights to airports near the major wine regions can also be arranged.

Transportation around New Zealand is not hard to find. If you’d prefer to drive yourself that’s easily arranged too with hire car providers located in all major airports.

Organizing your accommodations prior to leaving for New Zealand is important. Country houses and luxury resorts in the heart of wine country offer peaceful accommodation in rural surrounds. This is ideal if you’re looking for relaxation, but some travelers prefer a little more excitement. If that describes you, you might like to stay in one of the major cities bordering the wine regions. Consider Christchurch near Canterbury or Wellington near Wairarapa for restaurants, nightlife, and tourist attractions.

Wine tours have made it easy to get around. Even if you’ve hired a car you may want to consider utilizing these coach services to visit the wineries. There is quite a bit of information to get you to where you want to be in planning your vacation. There’s no need to stress about getting lost or drinking too much, so you can just focus on having fun.

And that’s really what a vacation to New Zealand wine country is all about. So pack your bags and prepare for the trip of a lifetime.