Flavours Tour, Beer And Spirits

A 5.5-hour small-group Waiheke Island wine outing run by Waiheke Island Wine Tours, rated 4.9 from 39 reviews.

Overview

This five and a half hour tour gathers a maximum of 11 travellers at Matiatia Wharf, right where the Auckland ferry arrives on Waiheke Island, and spends the day working through three boutique venues plus lunch. The mix is what sets it apart: gold medal wine tasting at vineyards, an olive oil tasting at Rangihoua Estate, and a beer and spirits stop at The Heke Brewery and Distillery, with a pass-by rather than a full visit there. Lunch is at Casita Miro, an award-winning restaurant on the island, and all transfers between stops happen in an air-conditioned minivan.

The day runs on a fixed rhythm. Pickup is timed for the ferry arrival, the itinerary allots roughly an hour at Casita Miro, an hour at Rangihoua, and an hour and 20 minutes at Batch Winery, before The Heke passes by during a transfer. The tour ends back at Matiatia in time for the ferry back to Auckland, so the logistics are handled end to end once travellers are on the island.

It suits people who want variety rather than a pure wine day, and who are happy on a scheduled group tour with a set route. One reviewer described enjoying the balance of wine, oils, brewery stops and the views. Ferry tickets are not included and must be bought separately, which is the main thing to arrange in advance.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Matiatia WharfLook for the driver holding a black board outside the ferry, or wait at the information booth inside the ferry building. Pickup is set for the ferry arrival.
2. Lunch at Casita MiroOne hour at this award-winning Waiheke restaurant, with the visit included in the tour.
3. Rangihoua Estate olive oilOne hour here, with admission included, covering the olive oil tasting.
4. Batch Winery tastingOne hour and 20 minutes at Batch Winery, with admission and wine tasting included.
5. Pass by The HekeThe Heke Brewery and Distillery is a pass-by on the route, listed at one hour and 10 minutes, not a full stop. Beer and spirits tasting features in the tour's inclusions.
6. Drop off at MatiatiaThe tour returns to the wharf in time for the ferry back to Auckland.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, from the ferry connection to the weather and group setting.

• Book the ferry. Ferry tickets to Waiheke are not included and must be purchased separately. Travellers need to be off the ferry at Matiatia in time for the pickup, which is timed to the arrival.
• Group feel. The tour caps numbers at 11 travellers, so it stays a shared minivan experience rather than a private one. All transfers between stops are included in the vehicle.
• Weather dependency. The listing states the experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.
• Pace and mobility. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, according to the listing. Infant seats are available and service animals are allowed.
• Food and drink. Lunch at an award-winning restaurant is included, along with wine, olive oil, and beer or spirits tastings. The only exclusion the listing names is the ferry fare to the island.

Common issues. The tour runs only if a minimum number of travellers is met; if the minimum is not reached, guests are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Weather can also cancel the day, with the same options offered. It is not wheelchair accessible, and the listing says it is not recommended for pregnant travellers. The ferry fare is a separate purchase, so budget for that on top of the tour price.

Before You Book