Martinborough Winery Private Tour: 3 Tastings over Remutaka Ranges

Taste at three wineries and hear the story of each one from the people who make it

A 5-hour private winery tour departs from your hotel, crosses the Remutaka Ranges and reaches Martinborough, where you visit three cellar doors for tastings led by winemakers and staff. Your driver-guide narrates the journey and shares local knowledge about the region. The tour includes wine tasting, transport and hotel pickup. Time permitting, you may explore Martinborough Town Square before the return drive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided wine tasting tour in Martinborough

• Travel over Remutaka Ranges to Martinborough
• Wine tasting led by winemaker
• Wine tasting led by cellar door staff
• Wine tasting led by cellar door staff
• Optional stop at Martinborough Town Square

The experience

You arrive at your hotel with a free afternoon or a morning to spare, and the Remutaka Ranges stand between you and Martinborough's wine region. A private tour handles the drive itself: your guide narrates the crossing and points out the landscape as you move toward the coast. The route takes five hours total, so the journey is part of the experience, not a hurdle to clear.

At three separate wineries, you step into the cellar door and taste. The first tasting is led by the winemaker in their own space. The next two are led by cellar door staff who know the stock and the story behind each bottle. You're not rushing through a group tasting. You move at the pace of your own group, asking questions and lingering over the wines that catch your attention. The driver-guide stays with you and can answer questions about the region's climate, the varietals and what makes Martinborough distinct in New Zealand's wine landscape.

If time allows after the tastings, the tour stops in Martinborough Town Square, a compact grid of colonial buildings where you can walk into local cafes, a brewery, the Wine Bank or the Martinborough Sweet Shop. This stop is not guaranteed (it depends on how the tastings run), but it gives you a sense of the town itself beyond the wineries. The return journey retraces the Remutaka Ranges and ends at your hotel.

What’s included

• Private tour.
• wine tasting at three cellar doors.
• driver-guide with live commentary.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• GST included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 25 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

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

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and narrates the entire journey, so you follow the commentary about the region and the wines as you travel. The tour suits anyone over 18 who wants to taste without driving, and works for a first visit to Martinborough or a return to specific wineries.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What's the Remutaka Ranges crossing like on the drive to Martinborough?

The Remutaka Ranges form the route between your hotel and the wine region, and your driver-guide narrates the journey, sharing local knowledge about the landscape and the area as you travel. The crossing is part of the five-hour tour, not a separate transfer.

Who leads the wine tastings at each cellar door?

The first tasting is led by the winemaker in their own cellar door. The next two are led by local cellar door staff. Each tasting is a separate stop, so you experience three different perspectives on Martinborough wines.

Is there time to explore Martinborough Town Square?

Martinborough Town Square is included time permitting. It depends on how the cellar door tastings run. If there is time, you can walk the town centre and visit local cafes, hotels, a brewery, the Wine Bank or the Martinborough Sweet Shop.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is optional and available at your choice during the Martinborough Town Square stop, where local cafes and hotels offer food. You can add it when you book if you prefer.