Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: Gimblett Gravels & Art Deco Napier

Meet winemakers among the stony soils of Gimblett Gravels, then walk Napier's 1930s Art Deco streets.

A five-hour wine tour of Hawkes Bay departing from Napier, visiting three to four boutique wineries with tastings and a local cheese platter, plus a guided drive through the Art Deco city center. Small groups travel by private minivan with an English-speaking guide. The pace is unhurried, built around meeting winemakers and hearing the stories behind the region's award-winning wines and its 1931 earthquake recovery.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Napier and visit wineries

• Explore Art Deco Napier
• Learn Napier earthquake history
• Discover early viticulture origins
• Visit three to four boutique wineries
• Meet winemakers and taste wines

The experience

The tour opens in Napier itself, where your guide walks you through the Art Deco streets: beautifully preserved 1930s buildings that rose after the 1931 earthquake reshaped the city and the surrounding wine region. You'll hear how French missionaries planted New Zealand's first winery here in the early 1800s, a detail that anchors everything that follows: Hawke's Bay didn't stumble into wine country, it was built there. The drive past these restored facades sets the stage before you reach the vineyards.

The heart of the day unfolds at three to four boutique wineries, each one a stop where there's no rush. You'll taste wines that have earned international recognition, meet the winemakers behind them, and learn what makes the Gimblett Gravels (the stony soils that define this microclimate), so prized. A local cheese platter arrives among the vineyards, grounding the tasting in place. The minivan keeps the group small and the conversation direct, moving at a pace that lets you linger when a wine or a story catches you.

What’s included

• Private minivan transport throughout the day.
• wine tastings at three to four boutique wineries.
• a local cheese platter served among the vineyards.
• a guided tour of Napier's Art Deco architecture and history.
• an English-speaking guide for the full five hours.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by New Zealand en Espanol

Is this one for you?The five-hour duration leaves your morning or evening free, so you can fit this into a day that includes other Napier attractions or a drive to Hawke's Bay's coast. Minimum age is 18, and the small-group format means you're never in a van with strangers. Just the people you came with and a guide who knows the winemakers personally.

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Top questions

How many wineries do we visit on this Hawkes Bay tour?

The tour includes three to four boutique wineries, with the exact stops chosen to match the day and the season. Each one is a chance to taste and meet the winemakers.

What's included in the Hawkes Bay wine tour?

Private minivan transport, wine tastings at each winery, a local cheese platter, and a guide who leads the whole day in English. Gratuities are optional and at your discretion.

Does the tour spend time in Napier itself?

Yes. Before visiting the wineries, the guide takes you through Napier's Art Deco streets, sharing the story of the 1931 earthquake and the city's dramatic rebuild. It sets the context for understanding how the region became a wine capital.

What makes the Gimblett Gravels special for wine?

The Gimblett Gravels are defined by their stony soils, which create a unique microclimate that has made Hawke's Bay wines internationally acclaimed. The tour visits wineries in this region so you can taste the difference the terroir makes.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You travel by minivan and spend time tasting and talking at each winery stop, with no strenuous walking required.