Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour: 3 Boutique Vineyards

Three vineyards, one local guide, zero ferry hassle

You get picked up from your Waiheke accommodation and visit three small vineyards chosen by people who know the island, tasting wines at each stop and taking in views of Auckland and the Gulf. Lunch is on you, and the tour times around the 4pm ferry back to the city, leaving you free to swim or shop at Oneroa if you want to stay longer.

Step-by-step itinerary

Waiheke Island wine tasting tour

• Photo stop at Oneroa Beach
• Visit lookout over Palm Beach
• Taste wines at small boutique winery
• Taste three wines at elevated winery
• Lunch at own cost with views
• Last wine tasting at instagrammed winery
• Option to end tour at Mudbrick winery
• Option to stop at Oneroa for shopping or swim
• Return by 4pm ferry to Auckland City

The experience

Sunlight hits the vines in long stripes, and the Hauraki Gulf spreads out flat and blue behind the tasting room. That's the view waiting at Waiheke Island's most photographed winery, but you don't start there. The tour picks you up from your accommodation on the island and moves through three small vineyards in a rhythm that lets you actually taste what's in the glass instead of rushing through a checklist. The guide has already done the hard work of finding the places worth stopping at, which means you skip the tourist traps and land in rooms where the winemakers know their own vines.

The first stop is a quick look at Oneroa Beach (a photo moment before heading to a lookout over Palm Beach), and then you're at the second winery, elevated enough that you can see across the island while tasting three wines and deciding whether to grab lunch there (at your own cost). The views matter here. They're part of why you came. After that, the third tasting happens at the winery everyone's photographing, the one with Auckland visible on the horizon and the Gulf spreading out behind it. It's the kind of place that makes sense why people post it. The tour wraps around the 4pm ferry back to the city, though you can ask to be dropped at Mudbrick winery instead (a 30-minute walk back to the terminal if you want to linger), or at Oneroa for shopping or a swim before you head to the ferry yourself.

Groups stay small, maximum six people, which means the guide isn't herding a crowd and you're not waiting for someone else's photo. Pickup happens from wherever you're staying on Waiheke, so there's no figuring out how to get to a meeting point. The tastings are the real thing: three wines at each stop, not a pour-and-move situation. Lunch isn't included, which is honest. You pick where you want to eat and what you want to spend, and the elevated winery is a natural place to do it if the views pull you in.

What’s included

• Your day includes pickup from your Waiheke Island accommodation, wine tastings at three boutique vineyards, and a local guide who knows which places are worth the stop.
• You'll see Oneroa Beach, a lookout over Palm Beach, and views of Auckland from the island's most photographed winery.
• Lunch and ferry tickets are separate.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

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 4 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by WaiTiki Tours

Is this one for you?Right for couples or small groups (up to six) who want to taste real Waiheke wines without the tourist circuit, and who don't mind that lunch is on their own dime. The tour is paced around the 4pm ferry, so plan to spend most of your day on the island.

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Top questions

What's included in the Waiheke wine tour?

Hotel pickup from your Waiheke accommodation, tastings at three boutique vineyards, and a local guide. Lunch and ferry tickets are not included.

How many people can go on the tour?

Groups are a maximum of six people per booking.

What time does the tour end?

The tour is timed around the 4pm ferry back to Auckland. You can ask to be dropped at Mudbrick winery or Oneroa Beach instead if you want to stay longer on the island.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own cost, though the second winery stop has views and is a natural place to eat if you choose to.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour?

No. Pickup and drop-off are included from any accommodation on Waiheke Island.

Can children come on the tour?

The minimum age is 18 years. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller if needed.

What if I want to stay longer at one of the wineries?

You can ask the guide to drop you at Mudbrick winery or Oneroa Beach instead of returning to the ferry, and make your own way back to the terminal.