Picton Shore Excursion: Marlborough Wine Tour
Tour timing matches ship arrival and departure for seamless wine stops and return.
A guided wine tasting tour in Marlborough's cellar doors, departing from Picton's cruise terminal and timed around your ship's schedule. You visit between 3 and 5 boutique wineries over 4 to 6 hours, tasting the region's world-famous wines with a local guide who knows the stories behind them. Transport, cellar door fees and return to the ship are included. Lunch at a vineyard restaurant is at your own cost.
Step-by-step itinerary
Marlborough wine tasting shore excursion
- Meet at Picton i-SITE Yellow Flag
- Introduction to Marlborough wine region
- Visit 3 to 5 selected cellar doors
- Enjoy wine tastings at each stop
- Lunch at vineyard restaurant (optional)
- Return to ship on time
What’s included
- All cellar door tasting fees at the wineries you visit.
- air-conditioned transport between stops and return to Picton i-SITE.
- a local Tour Host with knowledge of Marlborough wine and regional history.
- complimentary shuttle from the cruise terminal to the meeting point.
Times
- Monday 10:00
- Tuesday 10:30
- Saturday 09:30
Before you book
Operated by Discovery Wine Tours - Marlborough, Blenheim, Havelock, Picton, Renwick
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
You arrive at Picton after your ship docks, and a complimentary shuttle takes you from the cruise terminal to the Picton i-SITE meeting point, where your Tour Host waits beside the Yellow Flag. This is a small-group tour built around cruise schedules: the operator checks Port Marlborough shipping updates every day and adjusts the itinerary so you have time to taste without rushing back to the gangway. That flexibility is what makes a full Marlborough experience possible inside a port call.
The tour visits between 3 and 5 cellar doors across the Marlborough District, each one a boutique winery where you taste premium wines and meet the people behind them. One stop includes a vineyard restaurant where you can order lunch at your own cost while sitting in the vineyard. The guide drives an air-conditioned vehicle and knows the region's wine history and local stories. This is not a coach full of strangers, but a relaxed group small enough that the guide can talk to you about what you are tasting.
All cellar door tasting fees are included, and transport from the meeting point and back to Picton i-SITE is arranged. You do not need to navigate between wineries or worry about timing. The guide handles the route and makes sure you are back at the ship with time to spare. The tour runs 4 to 6 hours depending on your ship's schedule, and the operator confirms the exact timing with you before the day begins.
Is this one for you?This is a shared small-group tour with a fixed schedule timed to your ship's departure, which suits cruise guests who want to taste Marlborough wines without arranging transport or worrying about missing the ship. If you prefer a private group or want to customize the stops, the operator offers Premium Private Tours on request.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How does the tour time work if my ship arrives late or leaves early?
Discovery Wine Tours checks Port Marlborough shipping updates each day and adjusts the itinerary to fit your ship's actual arrival and departure times, so the tour length and the number of stops change to keep you on schedule for your return.
What happens at each cellar door stop?
You taste premium Marlborough wines at boutique wineries and iconic Cellar Doors, meet the local hosts who run them, and learn the stories behind the region's world-famous wines. The tastings are included in the tour price.
Is lunch included in the tour?
Lunch is not included. One stop is a vineyard restaurant where you can order and pay for food yourself while enjoying the vineyard surroundings.
How do I get from the cruise ship to the tour meeting point?
A complimentary shuttle bus operates between the cruise terminal and the Picton i-SITE meeting point, where your guide will welcome you beside the Yellow Flag.
What is the minimum age for this tour?
The minimum age is 18 years old. However, children are welcome on private group tours, and the operator can cater for specific requirements if you contact them directly.
How many people are usually on the tour?
This is a small-group shore excursion designed to focus on quality over quantity, unlike large coach tours: the exact group size varies, but the operator specializes in personalised experiences for cruise guests.
Picton Shore Excursion: Marlborough Wine Tour
4h–5h · EN
from NZ$ 285 per person
≈ US$ 164 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.