Top North Island Wine Tasting Tours

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

Indulge in the succulent tastes of Waiheke Island on a 5.5-hour food and wine tour. An informative guide picks you up from your island accommodation or the wharf — if you’ve taken the ferry from Auckland — and takes you to boutique wineries. Taste wine accompanied by locally produced specialties such as award-winning olive oil, fresh-shucked oysters and artisan cheese. Then settle in for a platter lunch at a vineyard restaurant. If you like, stay longer and make your own way back to Auckland at your leisure.

Be driven around sunny Hawke’s Bay and get a taste of the region’s well-regarded wines on this small-group tour. There’s no need to choose a sober driver as you'll be chauffeured around a handful of wineries, leaving you free to sample as many wines as you want. Learn how to translate winemaking jargon and enjoy wine-tasting like a professional.

Get a comprehensive introduction to Napier wine by visiting four very different wineries for tastings, from the oldest winery in New Zealand to newer establishments with fresh takes on local flavors. You’ll sample wines at each stop, then see a wine museum that’s built into former wine fermentation tanks, with traces of the wine-making process still evident on the walls. This tour is limited to 11 people for a fun and personal experience, and it includes round-trip transport from hotels in Napier city.

Experience the real Middle-earth™ at the Hobbiton™ Movie Set, where, in the heart of the Waikato region, you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire™, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Fall in love with the Alexander family sheep farm, just as acclaimed director Sir Peter Jackson did, as you journey through the unequivocal beauty of the land with the mighty Kaimai Ranges towering in the distance. Your guide will escort you around the set, showing the intricate detailing, pointing out the most famous locations and explaining how the movie magic was made. You will be fully-guided around the 12-acre set: past the colourful Hobbit Hole™ doors that scatter the hillsides, before arriving at Bagshot Row™ for a glimpse of the interior of a humble Hobbit’s home. Finally, you will arrive at the world-famous Green Dragon™ Inn where you will receive a complimentary, exclusive Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverage to conclude your own Middle-earth™ adventure.

Sail away on a harbor cruise in Auckland and enjoy a 3-course dinner during a memorable tour of Waitemata Harbour highlights, including the Sky Tower and Auckland Harbour Bridge. Set out aboard a sailing yacht from Viaduct Harbour and learn about Auckland and its iconic sights from your captain. As evening falls, dinner is served onboard while you sail.

Visit a pair of New Zealand's must-see attractions with this combo tour from Auckland to the Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Peek into Hobbit Holes, frolic in the Shire, and get a drink at the Green Dragon Inn on a guided tour of Middle-earth, followed by a Kiwi-style lunch. In the afternoon, explore Maori myths and history on a boat ride through mesmerizing caves lit by thousands of glowworms, and finish with a drive through some of the North Island’s most majestic scenery.

Come visit a New Zealand attraction that’s sure to have you ‘glowing’ during this 45-minute small-group guided boat ride through the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Glide by boat through this underground complex, enjoying a light show put on by the millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above. As an added bonus, many of the trip guides are of Maori descent, adding unique historical context to your visit.

While in Rotorua, see a cultural performance and take part in a 3-course seasonal fusion feast at Te Pā Tū, featuring lesser-known delicacies. A local guide escorts you by coach to the “marae” (Māori village) for an immersive evening that begins with a welcome ceremony by New Zealand's Indigenous people. Learn about local customs based on the Māori lunar calendar and watch a powerful display of song and dance.

Explore pretty Waiheke Island's beaches, vineyards, and rolling scenery on a full-day, small-group tour that includes tastings at three boutique vineyards. You'll get an overview and orientation of the island, stopping for great views and sandy beaches, and learn about local wine production as you sip Waiheke vintages. Group size is limited to six people to ensure personal service, with pickup and drop-off at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal or island hotels.

Explore Waiheke Island at your own pace, with all-day tickets for a hop-on, hop-off island explorer bus. Plan the perfect day with help from the onboard host, then see the things that interest you most, choosing from 8 stops near vineyards, galleries, beaches, and trailheads. This full-day Waiheke Island experience offers a personalized combination of nature, culture, and food, and departs from Matiatia every 30 minutes throughout the day.

See the highlights of Rotorua on a full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. You’ll travel to one of New Zealand’s famed regions in the North Island, observing otherworldly landscapes and Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa’s thermal springs. Visit Okere Falls at the Bay of Plenty; receive a traditional welcome at an authentic Maori village where you’ll watch a 'haka' (war dance); and view the Government Gardens, a historic bath house and more in Rotorua.

Discover Auckland’s food and wine on a half-day tour with a local insider who shares the region’s freshest seafood, baked goods and other delectable treats. Enjoy morning tea, a light lunch and wine tasting of superb varietals; visit the Auckland Fish Market and meet the talented artisan producers at a farmers’ market; and travel by minivan to key landmarks including Ponsonby Road, Mt Eden and the Auckland Domain. You’ll discover a wealth of epicurean delights in Auckland on this small-group tour, limited to six people for personalized attention.

Visit the Hobbiton Movie set on a full-day tour from Auckland that explores New Zealand's 'Middle-earth,' where 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' came to life on film. Travel through a landscape of lush farms, then take a guided tour of the 12-acre (4.8-ha) Hobbiton Movie Set, from hobbit holes to gardens and the Green Dragon Inn. With free time to shop and explore, this tour includes transport from selected locations in Auckland, and it's limited to 16 travelers to ensure personalized service.

Black sands, native wildlife, and award-winning wine awaits you on this tour of Auckland’s wild west coast. Following pickup from your central hotel, you’ll travel to Muriwai, a coastal enclave whose windswept beach and waves draw surfers and visitors from miles around. Stroll the beach and visit the cliff-top gannet colony, then continue to a nearby wine estate, where you’ll taste a selection of local varietals and blends.

Discover the flavours of Waiheke Island, a stunning Island of wine, on a vineyard tour with lunch included at an award-winning restaurant directly across from the beach; you don't get to eat right across the beach every day! So Enjoy along the way the stunning views of the island's beaches, villages, and homes while learning about the local culture, people, history, geography, Maori Culture, and Waiheke produce. Try Waiheke wines from Rose, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wine, and Syrah and Bordeaux blends. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at an award-winning restaurant on the white-sand beach in Onetangi, on the north coast of Waiheke Island with incredible views out toward the Hauraki Gulf with a glass of wine to compliment your meal. After lunch, we will continue to Onetangi Valley where we will stop and taste more award-winning wines. These tours are shared with other guests and are a great way to meet new friends from all over the world. See less

Discover the wine scene of Waiheke Island on a wine-tasting tour that introduces you to some of the island's best spots. With a small group and guide, taste world-class boutique wines and meet local producers who provide the chance to get to know the island's culture a little better. Along the way, admire the native bush and vineyard scenery.

Volcanic beaches, native rain forest, and vineyards abound on this full-day tour of West Auckland. Begin with a wine tasting in Henderson Valley, then continue to the Waitakere Ranges, where more than 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) of coastline and forest await you. Get elevated views of the reserve from the Arataki visitor center, explore the black-sand beaches of Piha and Karekare, and get close to the Karekare waterfalls. Then, enjoy an included lunch before finishing your tour with more wine tastings.

Get out of the tour bus and create your own journey on this self-guided scenic bike ride to coastal wineries. Spend some time outdoors on the beautiful coast near Hawke’s Bay, riding beachside roads and a cycle trail to three wineries. The wineries are all located towards the end of the trail, so you won’t have to worry about riding bikes while drinking wine. When your winery visits are over, a shuttle takes you back to Napier. Shuttle pick up time departs Elephant Hill at 4pm and subject to change if there's an additional shuttle.

Take a premium wine tour of Waiheke Island and sip fine wines at this famed North Island destination, just a ferry ride away from Auckland. An informative local guide accompanies you to award-winning boutique vineyards and shares knowledge of the island and its viticulture along the way. Includes wine tasting fees and round-trip island transport from the ferry terminal by luxury minibus.

Take an in-depth tour of the wine-growing region on Waiheke Island with a guide on this full-day excursion. You'll learn about what makes the vineyards so successful and the characteristics of the local wine through guided commentary and visits to three top vineyards. With round-trip transportation provided, you can take full advantage of the tastings without worrying about who will drive.

Visit three wineries and a beloved local ale house on a half-day tour that’s all about Napier wine and beer. Taste wines at each destination, from the country’s oldest winery to a boutique winery, learn about wine-making techniques on a comprehensive tour, then visit a wine museum built into underground wine fermentation tanks. The small-group tour wraps up with three glasses of cider or beer at an ale house in Napier’s historic center, and it includes round-trip transportation from the city center.

Kumeu Wine Country is one of New Zealand’s oldest wine regions and lies just a 30-minute drive from Auckland. On this small-group tour, visit three family-run wineries in the Kumeu region; sample a variety of red, white, or rosé wines during guided wine tastings; and enjoy a delicious lunch of seasonal cuisine and regional wines.