The Boutique Experience Cellar Tour

A 5-hour small-group Waiheke Island wine outing run by The Wine Tasting Company Limited, rated 4.9 from 115 reviews.

Overview

Ten to fifteen wines, three boutique vineyards and a long lunch break, all packed into a five hour loop around Waiheke. The Wine Tasting Company runs this tour with pickup from Matiatia Wharf or island accommodation, so the logistics of getting between cellar doors are handled for you. Tasting fees at all three vineyards are covered in the tour price.

The day follows a steady rhythm. A scenic drive out to the first vineyard, a tasting session of roughly 45 minutes, a short hop to the second cellar door, then a leisurely lunch stop of about an hour and a half at a vineyard or beachside restaurant. Lunch itself is paid separately. One more tasting follows before the van returns you to Matiatia or your accommodation, timed around the afternoon ferries. Guides give live commentary on the island, its soil and climate, sharing quirky tales and scenic spots along the way.

It suits adults who want structure without rush, and reviewers repeatedly praise the small group feel and the guides' local knowledge. It does not suit children, since the minimum age is 18, and photo ID is required. Anyone celebrating something special, or just unwinding with friends, is the target crowd here.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at MatiatiaThe tour starts at the Fullers360 Matiatia ticket office, 1 Ocean View Road, Oneroa, or pickup from island accommodation if arranged.
2. Scenic drive to vineyardA 20 minute van ride through the island to the first stop.
3. First wine tastingA 45 minute tasting session at the first boutique vineyard.
4. Transfer and second tastingA 15 minute drive, then another 45 minute tasting at the second vineyard.
5. Lunch stopLunch is an extra fee and not included in the tour price.
6. Third tasting and returnA 15 minute drive to the final vineyard for a 45 minute tasting, then a 10 minute ride back to Matiatia.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help the day run smoothly, from ferry timing to what you can bring in the van.

• Sort the ferry. Ferry tickets are not included but the operator says they can be arranged if you get in touch. The sample itinerary has the tour built around the 10am ferry from Auckland, arriving at Waiheke before the tour departs, though the operator can also collect passengers from the 9am sailing if contacted in advance.
• Bring ID. You must be 18 or older and carry photo identification such as a passport or ID card. The listing names ID as the one thing to bring.
• Budget for lunch. Lunch is a proper stop of about an hour and a half, but the cost is on you. One reviewer described a delicious restaurant lunch as part of a fantastic day, so it is worth planning for rather than skipping.
• Small group pace. Reviewers often mention the small group making the day personal and easy, and one said it was the best of several similar tours they had taken on Waiheke. The pace is relaxed, with tastings of about 45 minutes at each vineyard and no queuing, since the operator pre-books every stop.
• Van rules. No pets, oversize luggage, smoking, food or outside alcohol in the vehicle. Pack light so your bag fits the van.
• Tell them your diet. Dietary requirements should be noted on the booking at the time you reserve, since lunch is eaten out during the day. The itinerary can also shift with seasonal vineyard availability, so treat the schedule as a sample.

Common issues. The tour needs at least 2 participants to run; if that minimum is not met, the operator contacts you with a full refund or an alternative date, so last minute changes are possible. Lunch and ferry tickets are extra costs on top of the tour price. Children under 18 cannot join. One reviewer felt the start was a little early and would have preferred a later departure, and the exact vineyards visited can change with the seasons, so specific cellar doors are not guaranteed.

Before You Book