Gary Barlow’s Food & Wine Tour – New Zealand
Gary Barlow’s Food & Wine Tour: New Zealand is a 6-part travel and lifestyle series airing on ITV, produced by Rock Oyster Media in association with Tourism New Zealand and Great Rail Journeys. For this third global food and wine exploration—following previous series in South Africa and Australia—Gary Barlow is joined by comedian, actor, and singer Jason Manford.
Series Overview & Itinerary
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Episode 1: Auckland and Waiheke — Begins with a Māori welcome by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, a food scene tour with chef Ben Bayly at Ahi, olive tasting and ziplining on Waiheke Island, and a visit to Man O War winery before Jason Manford arrives.
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Episode 2: Queenstown — Features a camper van pickup beneath the Remarkables, the Shotover Jet canyon ride, Central Otago Pinot Noir tasting with winemaker Sam Davies at Amisfield Winery, and an extreme cold plunge and sauna on Lake Wakatipu.
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Episode 3: Central Otago — Includes an outdoor Kiwi pie breakfast, trail tramping across rope bridges, tasting L&P soft drink, a driving challenge at Highlands Motorsport Park, and visiting Cloudy Bay winery.
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Episode 4: Blenheim — Features a Coastal Pacific train journey down the east coast, tandem biking through Marlborough vineyards, and visits to Forrest Wines and Framingham.
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Episode 5: Marlborough Sounds — Involves flat whites in Marlborough, a boat tour of Havelock waterways with Greenshell mussel farming, and taking the Interislander Ferry across the Cook Strait.
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Episode 6: Hawke’s Bay — Concludes the trip with an Art Deco classic car tour in Napier, feeding blue penguins (kororā) at the National Aquarium, an autumn equinox gathering at Ātea a Rangi, and final meals and wine at Craggy Range beneath Te Mata Peak.
Gary specifically chose Jason Manford because they spent every waking hour together and shared a great dynamic, despite Manford admitting he knew nothing about wine. Gary also emphasizes that New Zealand is an independent holiday destination rather than just a quick add-on to Australia, praising its distinct landscapes, natural beauty, and the world-class Coastal Pacific train journey.
