Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington: Three Cellar Doors

The drive over the Remutaka Ranges is half the reason to go.

A 5.5-hour guided winery tour from Wellington takes you through the Hutt Valley and over the Remutaka Ranges to Martinborough, where you visit three of the region's top wineries for cellar door tastings. The tour includes private transportation, live commentary from your driver guide, and wine samples at each stop; wineries visited are subject to availability. Minimum age is 18 years old.

Step-by-step itinerary

Martinborough winery tour from Wellington

• Depart Wellington in private vehicle
• Travel along Hutt River and Hutt Valley
• Cross Remutaka Ranges with sightseeing stops
• Optional cheese tasting at C’est Cheese deli
• Visit three Martinborough wineries for tastings

The Experience

The route itself is the opening act. You leave Wellington in a private vehicle and follow the Hutt River up the Hutt Valley, climbing toward the Remutaka Ranges. The driver stops at the Stuart Macaskill Lakes and again at Remutaka Summit (555m) so you can step out and see the landscape shift—the ranges separate Wellington from the wine country on the other side. This is not a straight shot to the wineries; the journey is built into the experience, and the commentary from your local driver fills in what you're looking at as you cross it.

Once you drop into the Wairarapa valley, Martinborough appears as a small, focused wine town. You visit three of its wineries, and each stop runs between 15 and 45 minutes. At the cellar door, the staff pour a range of their wines and you taste what appeals to you—no pressure to buy, no script. The wineries change based on availability, so the exact three you visit depends on the day you book. If time allows on the drive, there's an optional stop at C'est Cheese, a local artisan deli where you can taste cheese and grab something for the road; that's on you to pay for.

The whole day is five and a half hours door-to-door, which means you're back in Wellington by early afternoon. Wine tastings are included, but lunch at the vineyard cafes is not—you can order and pay separately if you want to eat. You need to be 18 or older and able to enter and exit the van using steps and grab rails without assistance.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• live commentary from your local driver guide throughout the journey.
• wine tastings at three Martinborough wineries.
• GST.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Zozo Travel - Tours of Wellington. Scenic, Winery, Brewery and Foodie Tours

Is this one for you?At 5.5 hours, the tour fits a half-day slot and gets you back to Wellington by early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day open. If you want a full day in wine country with lunch and more time at each winery, a longer tour would suit you better.

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Top questions

How many wineries do I visit on the Martinborough tour from Wellington?

You visit three of Martinborough's top wineries, each for 15 to 45 minutes of cellar door tasting. The specific wineries change based on availability, so you may not visit the same three on every departure.

What's the drive like from Wellington to Martinborough?

The route follows the Hutt River through the Hutt Valley and crosses the Remutaka Ranges, with stops at the Stuart Macaskill Lakes and Remutaka Summit at 555 metres so you can see the landscape. Your driver provides live commentary throughout, and the journey takes up most of the 5.5-hour tour.

Is lunch included in the Martinborough winery tour?

Lunch is not included, but vineyard cafes are available at each winery where you can order and pay for food at your own expense. The optional cheese tasting at C'est Cheese on the drive is also at your own cost.

What happens at each winery stop?

At each cellar door, the staff introduce a variety of wines for you to sample at your discretion. You taste what interests you; there's no obligation to purchase, and each visit runs between 15 and 45 minutes depending on how long you want to stay.

Do I need to be a wine expert to enjoy this tour?

No. The cellar door staff guide you through the wines at each stop, and your driver provides local knowledge about the region throughout the day. The tasting is self-directed, so you sample what appeals to you.

What's included in the tour price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, wine tastings at three wineries, live commentary from your driver guide, and GST are all included. Lunch, cheese tasting and any wine purchases are separate.