Private Customizable Wineries Tour

A 5.5-hour private Waiheke Island wine outing run by Ananda Tours Limited, rated 5 from 19 reviews.

Overview

This private half-day wine tour, run by Ananda Tours, spends five hours and 30 minutes on Waiheke Island with a local guide and a vehicle reserved for your group alone. The standard shape of the day is simple: a pickup or a wharf meeting at Matiatia, a drive with live commentary on board, premium tastings at up to three vineyards, and a two-course vineyard lunch with a glass of wine included. Because it is private, the pacing bends around your group rather than a fixed schedule shared with strangers.

The meeting arrangement is specific. The guide meets the 10am ferry from Auckland at Matiatia Wharf on Ocean View Road, holding a signboard, with a 10:40 start time. Travellers staying on the island can also be picked up and dropped off at their Waiheke accommodation, since transport by private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off is part of the package. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

The tour is private, so only your group participates. Reviews repeatedly mention guides who were knowledgeable and personable, and one traveller noted the wineries visited felt unlike anything back home. A minimum of two people per booking applies, and wine tasting and lunch wine are limited to those 18 and over. Ferry fares are not included; one reviewer admitted buying tickets unnecessarily, so factor that in when budgeting the day.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Matiatia WharfThe guide meets the 10am ferry from Auckland at Matiatia Wharf, Ocean View Road, Oneroa, with a signboard. Start time is 10:40. Island accommodation pickup and drop-off is included as an alternative.
2. Waiheke Island driveA first stop on Waiheke Island lasting 45 minutes, as the tour gets underway by private vehicle.
3. Waiheke Island visitA second 45-minute stop on Waiheke Island, again.
4. Waiheke Island, extended stopA longer stop of 1 hour and 30 minutes on Waiheke Island. This sits alongside premium tastings at up to three vineyards and a two-course vineyard lunch with a glass of wine.
5. Return to MatiatiaThe activity ends back at the original meeting point, or with drop-off at your Waiheke accommodation.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, from ferry fares to the private format.

• Getting there. Ferry ticket fares are not included in the tour price. One reviewer forgot this and bought tickets they did not need, so check what your booking covers before travel. Tickets can be purchased at the Fullers Ferry Terminal at 99 Quay St in Auckland.
• Group feel. This is a private tour, so only your group participates. Reviewers describe a relaxed, personal atmosphere and mention guides by name as a highlight. A minimum of two people per booking is required.
• Food and drink. Lunch is included: a two-course vineyard lunch with a glass of wine. Premium tastings at up to three vineyards are also covered. The minimum age for wine tasting and lunch wine is 18 years.
• Dietary needs. The listing asks that any specific dietary requirements be advised at the time of booking. Mentioning them when you book is the way the operator requests it be done.
• Weather and timing. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled due to poor conditions, a different date or a full refund is offered, so keep some flexibility in your plans for the day.
• Accessibility. The tour is not wheelchair accessible but is pushchair accessible. Service animals are allowed, and the listing states most travellers can participate.

Common issues. The main practical limits come straight from the listing. Ferry fares are excluded and are your own arrangement. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine. Wine tasting and wine at lunch are restricted to those 18 and over, a child rate applies only when sharing with two paying adults, and at least two people are needed per booking. Cancellations inside 24 hours of the start time get no refund, and poor weather can force a reschedule or refund rather than the day you planned.

Before You Book