Waiheke Island wine tasting tour: 3 vineyards & lunch

Taste Waiheke’s finest wines paired with local bites while cruising vineyard views

A wine tasting tour on Waiheke Island that visits three vineyards with food pairings, includes lunch with a glass of wine, and runs about 5.5 hours with a maximum of 11 guests. A local guide picks you up from your accommodation or the ferry terminal and drives you across the island, sharing stories about Waiheke's wine discovery, olive groves, and the migratory godwits that stop here. You choose between a shared platter lunch or a main course at one of the tour's favorite venues.

The Experience

The tour starts at the wharf or your accommodation on Waiheke Island, where your local guide meets you with a sign from The Wine Tasting Company. A scenic drive across the island opens the day—you'll pass galleries, shops, restaurants, vineyards and golden sand beaches while the guide talks about Waiheke's wine heritage, its celebrity residents, and the godwits that migrate through each year. The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds a small group, so the pace stays relaxed and the commentary stays personal.

You'll taste wine at three vineyards, and some tastings come paired with food to complement the wines. The guide chooses the venues, so you're not navigating between stops or deciding which winery to visit—that's already arranged. Lunch is either a shared platter style meal or a main course, both with a glass of wine included, at one of the tour's established spots on the island.

Waiheke sits 45 minutes by ferry from Auckland, which makes this a workable day trip from the city. If you're staying on the island, the tour includes pickup from your accommodation; if you're coming by ferry, the guide meets you at the terminal. Ferry tickets to Waiheke can be purchased separately at the Fullers terminal on Quay Street in Auckland.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• local guide in English or Spanish.
• wine tastings at three vineyards with some food pairings.
• lunch (either a shared platter or a main course) with a glass of wine.
• pickup from your Waiheke accommodation or the ferry terminal.
• GST.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by The Wine Tasting Company

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the commentary and the vineyard stories in whichever language works for you. Groups stay under 12, which means the pace doesn't rush and the guide can answer questions as they come up.

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Top questions

How many vineyards do you visit on the Waiheke Island wine tour?

The tour includes tastings at three vineyards across Waiheke Island, with some tastings paired with food to complement the wines you're sampling.

What's included in the lunch on this Waiheke wine tour?

Lunch is either a shared platter style meal or a main course, and both options come with a glass of wine included at one of the tour's favorite venues on the island.

How long does the Waiheke Island wine tasting tour take?

The tour runs approximately 5.5 hours from the time your guide meets you at the wharf or your accommodation until you return.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel or the ferry terminal?

Yes, pickup is included from your accommodation if you're staying on Waiheke Island, or from the ferry terminal if you're arriving by boat from Auckland.

What will the guide talk about during the drive between vineyards?

Your local guide shares quirky stories about Waiheke's wine and olive discovery, the island's celebrity residents, and the migratory godwits that stop here as part of their international journey, all while you drive past galleries, beaches and vineyards.

What's the maximum group size on this tour?

The tour is limited to 11 guests maximum, keeping the group small and the experience personal.