Tauranga Shore Excursion: Brewery, Wine & Harbour Cocktail

Three tastings across six hours: brewery, winery, and a harbour-view cocktail

This 6-hour small group shore excursion from Tauranga visits a craft brewery, a winery in Rotorua with views from the Skyline gondola, and finishes with cocktails and dessert at a harborside restaurant. Your accredited driver-guide meets you at the port gate, handles all transport, and explains the beer-making process, New Zealand wine styles, and, time permitting, the kiwifruit industry on the return route. Minimum age is 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Local tasting tour and scenic travel

• Meet driver/guide at port gate
• Visit boutique craft brewery and sample beer
• Travel south to Rotorua via scenic route
• Visit Volcanic Hills Winery for wine tasting and platters
• Return to Mount Maunganui via scenic route
• Stop at kiwifruit orchard if time permits
• Dessert and cocktail or coffee at Salinity Restaurant
• Return to ship-side via beach

The experience

Your guide meets you at the port gate with your name on a placard and drives you to a boutique craft brewery where you'll learn how natural beer is made without preservatives or additives, then taste a range of their brews. From there the route heads south through countryside on State Highway 1, the same path that was originally a walking track for Māori between Tauranga and Rotorua.

In Rotorua you arrive at Volcanic Hills Winery, perched at the top of the Skyline gondola. The tasting room overlooks the town and lake, and you'll have wine and a sumptuous antipasto platter while the guide walks you through New Zealand wine styles and terroir. This is the longest stop of the day, built in time to sit with the views and ask questions about what you're tasting.

The return to Mount Maunganui takes a different route so you see more of the landscape, and if time allows, you'll stop briefly at a kiwifruit orchard to see how the fruit moves from planting to export. The tour ends at Salinity Restaurant & Bar overlooking the harbour and marina, where you choose between a cocktail or coffee paired with dessert. On the final leg back to the ship, the route passes what the operator calls the best beach in the Southern Hemisphere.

What’s included

• Craft beer tasting at a boutique brewery.
• wine and antipasto platter at Volcanic Hills Winery in Rotorua.
• cocktail or coffee with dessert at Salinity Restaurant & Bar.
• accredited driver-guide for the full 6 hours.
• all transport between venues.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Tauranga Tasting Tours &Charters

Is this one for you?The 6-hour timeframe fits a ship port call without eating into the rest of your day ashore. You're back at the port with time to spare before departure. If you want to explore Tauranga or Mount Maunganui on your own afterward, this tour leaves room for that.

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Top questions

What kind of beer and wine will I be tasting on this tour?

The brewery visit includes a range of craft beers made without preservatives or additives, and the winery tasting at Volcanic Hills features New Zealand wines selected to show different regional styles and terroir. The guide explains the winemaking process and answers questions about each wine you sample.

How much time do I spend at each venue?

The brewery is the first stop after leaving the port, the winery in Rotorua is the longest stop where you have time to relax with your platter and views, and the final stop at Salinity is dedicated to your cocktail or coffee and dessert. The drive between Tauranga and Rotorua takes up the middle portion of the 6-hour tour.

Will I have time to get back to the ship if it leaves at a certain time?

The tour starting time can be adjusted to match your ship's arrival, and the return is timed to get you back to the port. Confirm your ship's departure time when you book so the guide can plan the day around it.

What is Okere Falls and do I visit it?

Okere Falls is a scenic spot on the route between Tauranga and Rotorua. Time permitting, you'll make a short walk there to see the falls as part of the drive south.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Let the operator know about any mobility needs when you book so they can confirm which venues work best for your visit.

What's included in the price, and what should I budget for separately?

The tour includes all tastings (beer, wine, and your choice of cocktail or coffee), the antipasto platter, dessert, and your driver-guide. Any additional food or drinks beyond what's listed are at your own cost.