Christchurch Wine Trail Tour: Small Group Boutique Wineries

Taste North Canterbury wines and see Christchurch rebuilt

A small-group tour of Christchurch and North Canterbury wine country with a live English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and visits to two or three boutique wineries. Taste aromatic whites and Pinot Noirs at each stop, enjoy a gourmet lunch with wine pairings at a winery, and explore the city's rebuilt centre and Port Hills views before finishing at a chocolaterie café.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Christchurch and wine country

• Pickup from hotel in Christchurch
• Visit Christchurch city centre
• Discuss earthquake impact and rebuild
• Drive to Port Hills viewpoint
• Visit boutique wineries for tastings
• Enjoy gourmet lunch at winery
• Visit She Chocolate chocolatier cafe
• Return to accommodation

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Christchurch hotel and heads first to North Canterbury's wine region, where boutique vineyards produce the aromatic whites and Pinot Noirs the area is known for. You'll visit two or three wineries, tasting at each one and meeting the winemakers behind them. Lunch happens at a winery bistro with seasonal cuisine paired to the wines you've been tasting. That's included, along with afternoon tea and bottled water throughout the day.

After the wine country, you drive back toward Christchurch and into the city centre itself. Your guide walks you through the rebuild following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, explaining what happened, how it shaped the city, and what's being planned next. The route then climbs to the Port Hills, which overlook Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour, and the distant Southern Alps. Before returning to your hotel, you stop at She Chocolate, a chocolaterie café where you can pick up something to take with you. The order of stops shifts depending on your pickup and drop-off points and the weather on the day.

The guide is there throughout. Someone with real knowledge of Christchurch's history and the winemaking heritage of the region. The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats a maximum of eight, so the group stays small enough that you're not just one of a crowd.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• live guide commentary in English.
• visits to two or three boutique wineries.
• wine tastings at each winery.
• gourmet lunch at a winery with wine pairings.
• afternoon tea.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 09:31

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Canterbury Trails

Is this one for you?The group stays under eight people with a single guide, so you get real conversation and personalized attention rather than being herded through a standard itinerary. Choose this if you want to taste wines from people who make them and have time to ask questions, not just tick boxes at a crowded tasting room.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What kind of wines will I taste at the North Canterbury wineries?

North Canterbury is known for aromatic whites and elegant Pinot Noirs. The wineries you visit are boutique producers, and you'll taste a selection that shows why New Zealand's wines are regarded highly around the world.

Is lunch included, and does it come with wine?

Yes. Lunch is a gourmet meal at a winery bistro featuring fresh, seasonal local produce, and it comes with wine pairings matched to what you've tasted that morning.

What happens in Christchurch itself on this tour?

You explore the city centre and see the rebuild after the 2011 earthquakes, then drive up to the Port Hills for views across Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour, and the Southern Alps. The tour finishes at She Chocolate, a chocolaterie café in the city.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs between five and seven hours, depending on your pickup and drop-off points and the weather.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Christchurch are included, along with transport in an air-conditioned minivan throughout the day.