Waiheke Island Wine Tour: Three Wineries with Premium Tastings

Taste rare, limited-production wines poured by sommeliers who know them by name.

A sommelier-led wine tour on Waiheke Island visits three distinguished vineyards for premium tastings of boutique wines, includes a two-course lunch with wine pairing at an iconic venue, and covers ferry tickets from Auckland. A local guide shares the island's history and culture throughout the day. The experience runs around five hours and suits wine enthusiasts who want expert commentary on wines rarely found elsewhere.

Step-by-step itinerary

Waiheke Island wine tour and lunch

• Start at Matiatia ferry terminal or accommodation
• Visit three top Waiheke vineyards
• Enjoy premium wine tastings with sommelier
• Option to substitute one tasting with beer, gin, whisky, or olive oil
• Have two-course lunch with wine at iconic vineyard
• Learn about Waiheke history from local guide

The experience

The day starts at Matiatia ferry terminal or your Waiheke accommodation, then moves through three of the island's top wine producers. A senior sommelier leads the tastings, walking you through rare, limited-quantity wines that don't appear in shops anywhere else. The guide is not just pouring. They're explaining what makes each wine distinct and why these vineyards matter to Waiheke's reputation. Between tastings, a local guide fills in the island's history and the stories behind the vineyards themselves.

Lunch arrives as a two-course meal at one of the island's iconic venues, paired with a glass of wine and views that frame every bite. The sommelier experience means the pairing is deliberate, not an afterthought. If wine isn't your only interest, you can swap one vineyard visit for tastings of beer, gin, whisky, or olive oil instead: the structure stays the same, just the bottles change.

Ferry tickets are included, so the journey from Auckland is already sorted. The whole experience runs about five hours, which means you're tasting without rushing and eating without watching the clock.

What’s included

• Wine tastings at three distinguished vineyards.
• a two-course lunch with wine pairing at an iconic venue.
• ferry tickets from Auckland.
• local guide commentary on Waiheke's history and culture.
• the option to substitute one vineyard visit with beer, gin, whisky, or olive oil tastings.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:40

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Waiheke Wine Tours Ltd

Is this one for you?Small groups work best here since the sommelier commentary is detailed and personal. If you're traveling with others who share an interest in wine or want to learn what makes boutique producers different, the expert-led format makes the difference. You're not just tasting, you're understanding why these wines matter.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I choose something other than wine at one of the three stops?

Yes. You can substitute one vineyard visit with a tasting of beer, gin, whisky, or olive oil while keeping the other two as wine tastings.

Does the tour include the ferry ride from Auckland?

Ferry tickets are included in the price. You'll either start at Matiatia ferry terminal or at your Waiheke accommodation if you're already staying on the island.

What's included in the lunch?

A two-course meal at an iconic Waiheke venue with a glass of wine paired to the food and panoramic views.

Who leads the wine tastings?

A senior sommelier hosts the tastings at the three vineyards, explaining the wines and their origins. A local guide also accompanies the group to share Waiheke's history and culture.

How long does the whole tour take?

The experience runs around five hours from start to finish.