Wine Tour, Beachfront Lunch

A 5-hour small-group Waiheke Island wine outing run by Waiheke Wine Tours Limited, rated 4.8 from 612 reviews.

Overview

This is a five-hour guided day on Waiheke Island built around three vineyard tastings and a one-hour beachfront lunch at Restaurant 372 in Onetangi.

The running order follows a steady rhythm. First up is Cable Bay Vineyards for tastings with views over the Gulf, then lunch on the beach with a glass of local wine included, followed by boutique tastings at Postage Stamp Wines and a final stop at Stonyridge Vineyard before the tour wraps up mid-afternoon. A sommelier leads the tastings and talks through how the island's microclimate shapes the wines. If a venue is unavailable on the day, the operator substitutes another of a similar standard.

It suits travellers who want a structured introduction to Waiheke wine country without hiring a car or planning the day themselves. The tour is shared, and reviewers often mention getting to know the rest of the group over lunch and tastings. It runs rain or shine. At the end there is a choice: head back for the ferry to Auckland or be dropped at Oneroa Village to keep exploring, with ferries running into the evening.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Matiatia WharfMeet the guide at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal taxi and SPSV stand by 10:50 AM for an 11:00 AM start. The ferry from Auckland is not included in the tour price.
2. Van transferRoughly 20 minutes of driving to the first winery in the Onetangi Valley area.
3. First winery tastingOne hour of guided tastings, listed in the full itinerary as Cable Bay Vineyards.
4. Beachfront lunchOne hour for lunch at Restaurant 372 on Onetangi Beach, with a glass of local wine included.
5. Second winery tastingOne hour of boutique tastings, listed in the full itinerary as Postage Stamp Wines.
6. Third winery tastingOne hour of tastings, listed in the full itinerary as Stonyridge Vineyard.
7. Return or OneroaThe tour concludes around 4:00 PM back at Matiatia. Travellers can catch the ferry to Auckland or ask to be dropped at Oneroa Village to stay longer.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this tour.

• Getting there. The ferry to Waiheke is not included, so travellers book it separately and need to arrive at Matiatia by 10:50 AM. The meeting point is the taxi and SPSV stand at the Matiatia Ferry Terminal on Ocean View Road.
• Pace of the day. The schedule is tight, with an hour at each winery and an hour for lunch. Several reviewers said the day felt rushed and wished for more time at each stop, so anyone wanting a slower pace might prefer a hop-on hop-off option, as one reviewer suggested.
• Transport. Travel between stops is by vehicle. One reviewer expected a smaller van based on the tour photos and instead rode on a bus.
• Lunch and wine. Lunch at Restaurant 372 comes with one glass of local wine included. Reviewers praised the mussels, steak and oysters, though one found the fish dish average and wished it came with a vegetable.
• Weather. The tour runs rain or shine. One group toured through heavy rain and still rated the day highly, so bring a layer or rain jacket depending on the forecast.
• Group feel. This is a shared tour, and multiple reviewers mentioned meeting and enjoying the day with the other guests. Across recent reviews, the guides are repeatedly praised for their knowledge of the island and their humour.

Common issues. One reviewer expected a smaller van based on the tour images and instead rode on a bus. The ferry to and from the island is not included and must be booked separately, and the tour runs rain or shine with no weather cancellation. Venues can change if a listed winery is unavailable on the day, though the operator says replacements are of a similar standard.

Before You Book