
Trip Highlights
In the unlikely event a tour from “downunder” has ever done Ireland (1000 & 2000 Guineas and stud visits), the Epsom Oaks & Derby, a tour of England and a week in Windsor going to Royal Ascot for their spectacular June meeting, one thing can be guaranteed – it’ll never have been led by personalities of the ilk of George and Maryanne Simon and John and Linda Wheeler.
Together on their recent epic journey to the Preakness, Belmont and Cuba, the four of them (along with a host of others) blazed a path across the USA and the Caribbean. This epic journey will ensure the legend grows even further as we access race meetings and experiences many can just dream about.
It’s important to know that from Sunday 6 June at 9am until Monday 14 June at 5pm there will be options available outside our tour of England and these will include Cruises out of Barcelona and Venice and possibly a Danube river cruise (or you can make other arrangements for that 8 night break).
- Destination: Ireland and the UK
- Duration: 28 days / 27 nights
- Commence: 27/05/2021
- Ends: 23 June 2021
- Price: NZD $16,899
Details:
Inclusions
- Escorted by celebrity tour hosts George & Maryanne
Simon and John & Linda Wheeler - Services of an Epic Journeys tour guide throughout
- All flights as detailed
- Luxury Coach with WiFi
- 24 nights in 4 star Hotels with full breakfast daily
- All transfers and day tours as detailed in the itinerary
- All flight taxes, accommodation taxes and service fees
throughout the tour - Racecourse admission and hospitality packages as
detailed in the itinerary - Lunches and Dinners as detailed in the itinerary
- All entrance fees throughout the tour (during day tours)
Deposits/Payments
- A deposit of NZ$2,500 (fully refundable until 26 May 2020)
is required to confirm your place on the tour. - A 2nd instalment of NZ$5,000 is required by 27 May 2020.
- A 3rd instalment of $4,000 by 30 November 2020 and the balance
is due on or before 28 February 2021.
Add-ons
Add-ons are available to the tour (before or after).
**The quoted tour prices are based on Currency Exchange rates as of 31 August 2019 and are subject to alteration (up or down) in the event of marked currency fluctuations.

Tour Itinerary
Thursday 27 May
NZ & Australia to Dublin, Ireland Emirates
Flights example:
Depart Auckland 9.15pm and arrive 1.20pm the next day in Dublin.
On arrival at Dublin Airport on Friday 28 May the group will be met and transferred to our local Hotel for the next 4 nights. We’ll be able to check-in on arrival and the afternoon and evening are free to explore Dublin.
Friday 28 May – Tuesday 1 June
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Hotel
In Friday 28 May Out Tuesday 1 June 4 nights in Dublin. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included daily.
Saturday 29 May
Day trip to The Curragh
This weekend is the start of the Classics in Ireland with the 2,000 Guineas on the Saturday and the 1,000 Guineas and Tattersall Gold Cup on the Sunday.
We’ll have the morning free to explore Dublin but will have a transfer to The Curragh at 11.30am for 2,000 Guineas day. We’ll have General Admission tickets (there is only 1 enclosure) with a racecard included but the day is our own to explore the course at our leisure and “sort” our own food and beverage. The coach will take us back to Dublin 20 minutes after the last race.
The Curragh is the main racecourse serving Dublin and Ireland and is on the outskirts of the town of Kildare in County Kildare and just 45 minutes west of Dublin. Home to nearly every major flat race in Ireland the winners of some of these major races over the last 50 years provides a list that is nothing short of mind-boggling. Nijinsky, The Minstrel, Storm Bird, Shergar, Sadlers Wells, Rodrigo de Triano, Vintage Crop, Montjeu, Galileo, High Chapparal, Rock of Gibraltar, Dylan Thomas, El Gran Senor, Camelot, Dubawi, New Approach, Yeats, Teofilo, Hurrican Run, Salssabil, Ouija Board and Enable are some of the champions of the turf who have all won at this magnificent venue.
Sunday 30 May
2nd day of The Curragh’s classic meeting
We’re going to replicate Saturday exactly with an 11.30am departure to The Curragh, return transfers and General Admission with racecard. Sunday is 1,000 Guineas day with the Tattersalls Gold Cup the other Group 1 race on the programme. For those who aren’t overly fussed about consecutive days at The Curragh there is plenty of opportunity to view myriad attractions such as the Guinness Brewery, the Jameson Distillery, Trinity College, the Old Irish Parliament, Dublin Castle, City Hall and Temple Bar and its live music. In effect we do have Friday afternoon and evening, Saturday and Sunday mornings and evenings to work through our own “must see” list of Dublin.
Monday 31 May
Day tour to Cashel and Coolmore Stud
A relatively early start as we’re departing our hotel at 8.30am for a full day tour which includes a magnificent included lunch in Cashel and a visit to the stunning Coolmore Stud. Coolmore Stud in Ireland is home to an astonishing 28 stallions including Galileo, Fastnet Rock, Caravaggio, Camelot, Holy Roman Emperor, Mastercraftsman, Pride of Dubai, Rock of Gibraltar and Zoffany. Back to the Hotel around 6pm.
Tuesday 1 June
Dublin to London
We have a 9am transfer to Dublin Airport for our midday flight to London. Departs Dublin: 11.55am Arrives London: 1.30pm On arrival into London’s Heathrow Airport the group are met and transferred straight to our inner-city London Hotel located right in the middle of the West End where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Tuesday 1 June – Sunday 6 June
London
London Hotel In Tuesday 1 June OUT Sunday 6 June 5 nights London. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.
Wednesday 2 June
London
There is no group tour of London as it’s too cumbersome moving the group around. The day is free to explore and with our Hotel smack bang in the middle of the West End it’s incredibly easy to tick off your own “bucket list” of London. Whether you’re into art (National Gallery, the Tate, the Tate Modern), the theatre (25 theatres within 2 km), Chinatown (800m), the London Eye (across the Thames), the Tower and Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey…they’re all within walking distance. And if you’re into shopping Regent St and Oxford St are also walkable or an easy taxi ride away.
Thursday 3 June
London
Another free day to explore London and the surrounds although this evening we have a trip to the theatre with a choice of 2 fabulous London musicals included in the tour.
Friday 4 June
Epsom Oaks Day
We depart late morning for Epsom Downs and a visit to one of the most famous racecourses in the world where we have a hospitality package included. Although not the oldest racecourse (Chester in 1539 holds that title) it’s been the home of the Oaks and Derby for over 240 years. We’ll head back to our hotel 20 minutes after the last race and the evening is free to make merry in London town.
Saturday 5 June
Epsom Derby Day
Another late morning departure for Epsom where we have return transfers and general admission with racecard for the Derby. Won by some of the greatest champions of the turf through the years Lester Piggott with 9 wins is the jockey who has won the most Derbies at Epsom.
Sunday 6 June
London to Oxford
A leisurely start to the day but we’re in the coach at 9.30am and heading to the stunning Blenheim Palace for an escorted tour and included lunch before heading into Oxford and our stunning hotel (the Macdonald Randolph from “Inspector Morse” and “Lewis” fame) where we should arrive around 3pm after a brief orientation tour of Oxford and the surrounds.
Sunday 6 June – Wednesday 9 June
Oxford
Oxford Hotel In Sunday 6 June Out Wednesday 9 June 3 nights in Oxford. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, Full breakfast included. Monday 7 June – Oxford We have a guided walking tour starting from the Hotel at 9.30am and taking in the more famous sites of this historic University city. We’ll be finished by lunchtime and the rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure.
Tuesday 8 June
Oxford
A completely free day to continue your exploration of this stunning city.
Wednesday 9 June
Oxford – York
We’re off early at 8.30am and head cross-country and north to York but first we have an included lunch and a wander around the spectacular seaside town of Scarborough. We’re back into York and our inner-city hotel by late afternoon where the evening is free.
Wednesday 9 June – Saturday 12 June
York
York Hotel In Wednesday 9 June Out Saturday 12 June 3 nights in York. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.
Thursday 10 June
York
The day is free to explore this historic and beautiful walled city. Maps and suggestions will be provided to assist in your adventures.
Friday 11 June
York
We have a cracking day trip around the Yorkshire Dales and Ridings with an included lunch in the historic spa town of Harrogate before getting back into York by 5pm.
Saturday 12 June
York – Cambridge
We depart York at 9am and head straight to the UK’s other stunning University city in Cambridge where we’ll be at our inner-city Cambridge Hotel by 12 noon and if we can’t check in we’ll certainly be able to leave our bags at reception. Our choices involve having a wander around or heading out to the races at Newmarket where there is a full afternoon of high-quality horseracing……and Epic Journeys will certainly be available to coordinate transport and tickets.
Saturday 12 June
Cambridge
Cambridge Hotel
In Saturday 12 June Out Monday 14 June 2 nights in Cambridge. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.
Saturday 13 June
Newmarket day
Up early for Breakfast because we’re picked up at 8am sharp in the Hotel foyer for a cracking visit to the home of the thoroughbred – Newmarket. Newmarket is generally considered the birthplace and global centre of thoroughbred racing. It is also the largest racehorse training centre in the UK and the largest racehorse breeding centre in the country. Our day includes watching horses work on Warren Hill, a visit to a local stable, lunch at a local hostelry and a visit to the National Stud.
Monday 14 June
Cambridge to Windsor
We have a mid-morning departure and we’ll have a “tiki tour” around the Buckinghamshire area with an included lunch at a local pub before arriving mid-afternoon at our Windsor hotel. Plenty of time to check in and get ready for a 5.30pm boat trip up the Thames for a twilight meeting at the Windsor races – a spectacular way to start Royal Ascot week.
Monday 14 June – Monday 21 June
Windsor Windsor Hotel
In Monday 14 June Out Monday 21 June 7 nights Windsor. Non-smoking room includes free Wi-Fi, full breakfast included.
Tuesday 15 June
Royal Ascot
A wonderful opening to Royal Ascot week with the feature race being the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile and we have return transfers, admission and a hospitality package.
Wednesday 16 June
Windsor
It’s Day 2 of Royal Ascot and for those who wish to go we’ll certainly assist in arranging transport and tickets should you wish to go but it’s a long week and we’re only including 3 days of this wonderful event in the tour itself. We’ve had a busy time of it over the last few days so the day is yours to explore and with Windsor Castle across the road – what better way to start the day!!
Thursday 17 June
Royal Ascot
We’re back at Royal Ascot today for Ladies Day, with the highlight being the Group 1 Gold Cup. Our group has general Queen Anne Enclosure tickets giving us the freedom to explore the track, check out the mounting yard, visit the gift shop and perhaps see the Queen up close.
Friday 18 June
Day trip to Bath
It is of course Day 4 of this wonderful Royal Ascot carnival but the group are departing at 9am sharp for a journey down the M4 to Bradford-on-Avon and Bath. It’ll be a full day tour which won’t get back into Windsor until 6pm but an opportunity to have a great view of the “west country” as well as wandering around the beautiful city of Bath. Tickets to the Roman Baths will be included along with maps of the city showing all the major attractions. As per Wednesday, for those who still wish to go to Royal Ascot we’ll assist in arranging transportation and tickets.
Saturday 19 June
Final day of Royal Ascot
It’s the final day of the carnival, highlighted by the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Sprint and we again have return transfers, admission and a magnificent hospitality package.
Sunday 20 June
Windsor
Our epic journey is nearly over and after the excesses of the last 24 days we have a day to take stock, or head into London, or down to Brighton, or ……… or…This evening though we have our Gala Farewell dinner at a local Windsor restaurant which will include our Awards night.
Monday 21 June
London – NZ & Australia
Another completely free day and we’ll need to check out of the tour hotel by 11am although luggage can certainly be left at reception as we have one last day to head back into London or wander around Windsor and Eton. Our coach will depart the Hotel at 6.30pm for Heathrow for our late evening flight home. Emirates Airlines flights example Departs London: 10.15pm Arrives Auckland: 9.50am (Wednesday 23 June)

Your Guide for this Tour
Hosted by George & Maryanne Simon and John & Linda Wheeler
George Simon is arguably New Zealand’s preeminent Race Caller and Trackside presenter. Along with wife Maryanne they are founders and principals of Cambridge breeding establishment Mana Park, renowned for having bred (among many winners) 3 time Group One winning Turn Me Loose, who now stands at Stud here in New Zealand.
A most convivial couple (George is also a wonderful singer and guitarist) they are excited about taking this epic journey to three of the world’s most iconic race meetings in The Curragh (1,00 and 2,000 Guineas), Epsom (Oaks and Derby) and Royal Ascot.
This is the 4th Epic Journey John and Linda Wheeler are co-hosting and almost certainly will be the most exciting. John is a “Hall of Fame” trainer and wife Linda a champion amateur jockey but that’s only part of the story. Raconteur, entertainer, golfer and just someone who loves life – John Wheeler is pure entertainment while wife Linda lends a touch of glamour and sanity to proceedings.
PRICE: $16,899 NZD
per person
Single Room supplement is NZD$5,560
All enquiries contact info@epicjourneys.co.nz or Phone: 0800 031 539.
Book itNot Travelling from Australia/ New Zealand?
Tour Cost
US$10,940 per person Share Twin US$3,420 Single Supplement
A deposit of US$4,000 required to confirm your place on the tour. A 2nd instalment of US$3,000 is required by 28 February 2019 and the balance is due on or before 31 July, 2019.
Costs do not include flights to/from USA
Please get in touch if you would like us to organise flights for you.