Ananda Food And Wine Half-Day

A 5.5-hour small-group Waiheke Island wine outing run by Ananda Tours Limited, rated 4.9 from 349 reviews.

Overview

This Ananda Tours half-day puts food and wine at the centre of a loop around Waiheke Island, running five and a half hours from Matiatia Wharf with a local guide and a small coach carrying up to 15 guests. The first stop is Kennedy Point Vineyard for a hosted wine tasting, served with two Te Matuku Bay oysters per person and local Waiheke honey. From there the group moves to Allpress Estate for an extra virgin olive oil tasting, then on to Casita Miro for a wine tasting with food pairings and a family-style Mediterranean tapas lunch with a glass of wine.

The afternoon finishes at The Heke in Oneroa, where the tasting covers local beer, gin, whisky and a liqueur, with a whisky and spirit tasting or a glass of wine included. Admission and tastings at every venue are covered by the tour price. Ferry tickets from Auckland, extra drinks at lunch and gratuities are not.

It suits adults 18 and over who want a structured, well-fed introduction to the island's wineries without organising anything themselves. Vegans and severe nut allergies cannot be catered for, and the coach is not wheelchair accessible. Reviewers frequently praise the guides' local knowledge and say the small group size made the day easy and social.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Matiatia WharfMeet the guide at Matiatia Wharf on Waiheke Island at 9.50am. Travellers coming from Auckland should catch the 9am Fullers ferry or the 9.15am Island Direct ferry from 99 Quay St; ferry tickets are not included.
2. Kennedy Point VineyardOne hour at the vineyard for a hosted wine tasting, with two Te Matuku Bay oysters per person and local Waiheke honey. Admission is included.
3. Allpress Olive GrovesOne hour for an extra virgin olive oil tasting at Allpress Estate. Admission is included.
4. Casita MiroOne hour covering wine tasting with wine and food pairing, plus a family-style Mediterranean tapas lunch with a glass of wine. Admission is included.
5. The Heke Brewery and DistilleryForty minutes in Oneroa, passed by on the coach route, with a tasting of local beer, gin, whisky and a liqueur, plus a whisky and spirit tasting or a glass of wine.
6. Drop-offThe tour ends with drop-off at Matiatia Wharf or Oneroa Village.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from the ferry connection to the pace between stops.

• Getting there. The tour starts on Waiheke Island, not in Auckland. Allow extra time at the ferry terminal, especially at weekends and in peak season, and buy ferry tickets before travelling. If the ferry is missed, call Ananda Tours straight away and a team member will meet you and bring you to the tour.
• Plenty to eat. The tasting stops stack up across the day, from oysters and honey at Kennedy Point through to the spirits at The Heke. The tapas lunch at Casita Miro comes with a glass of wine, and additional drinks at lunch are at your own cost.
• Small group feel. Groups are capped at 15 guests, and several travellers said the small group size was a real plus. One reviewer described a relaxed, laidback guiding style that made the day easy going.
• Guides and commentary. A local guide provides commentary around the island throughout the day. Reviewers often praise the guides' local knowledge, and several said the stories and information shared between stops made the drives enjoyable.
• Weather and season. The tour runs in the rain and the vehicles carry umbrellas. Te Matuku Bay oysters are seasonal, and if unavailable they are replaced with another gourmet treat. Venues may also change with availability, with substitutes of equal quality.
• Dietary limits. The tour is not suitable for vegans or severe nut allergies, and strict kosher diets cannot be catered for. Other dietary requirements and allergies can be accommodated if you tell the operator before you travel.

Common issues. The tour is adults only, 18 and over, and is not wheelchair accessible. Pregnant travellers are not recommended to join. One reviewer noted that oysters were not provided on their day, which the listing confirms is a seasonal possibility. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Booking for a group of 8 or more adults can instead be arranged as a private group at the same price per person.

Before You Book