Shared Vineyard Tour With Lunch

A 5-hour shared Waiheke Island wine outing run by Waiheke Wine Tours Ltd, rated 4.8 from 281 reviews.

Overview

This five-hour tour packs three vineyard tastings and a sit-down lunch into one day on Waiheke Island. You meet the guide on the island itself, after the ferry from Downtown Auckland, then travel between stops in the operator's vehicle while the driver fills you in on local history and island life. Several travellers singled out the guides' commentary on the drives as a highlight of the day.

The route runs from a stop at Cable Bay Vineyards to a long lunch at Three Seven Two, followed by tastings at Postage Stamp Wines and Stonyridge Vineyard. Lunch is a set menu with a glass of wine included, and reviewers repeatedly praised the food, with one calling it some of the best steak they had eaten. Tasting fees at Postage Stamp and Stonyridge are covered by the tour; the listing shows the first two stops as.

It suits adults who want a structured introduction to Waiheke wine without organising their own transport between vineyards. The group can be large, up to 35 travellers, and the operator does not recommend it for children. Ferry tickets from Auckland are bought separately, and you need to be on the island by 10:45am, so the morning ferry timing matters.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet on WaihekeTake the ferry from Downtown Auckland and be on Waiheke Island by 10:45am. The operator meets guests near the Matiatia ferry terminal, and the tour ends back at the same point.
2. Cable Bay VineyardsA 45-minute stop with free admission for a tasting at the first vineyard of the day.
3. Lunch at Three Seven TwoOne hour and 30 minutes for a set-menu lunch with one glass of wine included, and reviewers often praise both the food and the beachfront location.
4. Postage Stamp WinesA 45-minute tasting. The admission ticket is included in the tour price.
5. Stonyridge VineyardA final 45-minute tasting with admission ticket included.
6. Return to MatiatiaThe remaining time in the five-hour tour covers travel between vineyards, and the guide drops everyone back at the Matiatia ferry terminal.

What To Expect From The Tour

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

• Ferry timing. Ferry tickets are not included, and you must be on Waiheke by 10:45am. The listing advises allowing extra time for queues and boarding in Auckland. One reviewer reported confusion about the meeting spot, so read the operator's emailed instructions carefully before you travel.
• Pace of the day. Stops are around 45 minutes each, with the drive between vineyards filling the rest of the time. Several reviewers said the day flew by or felt rushed, and a few wished for more time at the vineyards. Plan any afternoon ferry accordingly, since at least one traveller barely made the boat back.
• Lunch and wine. Lunch is a set menu at Three Seven Two with one glass of wine included. Reviewers consistently rate the food highly, with one calling the steak some of the best they had eaten. Tastings at three vineyards are covered by the tour.
• Group feel. This is a shared tour with a maximum of 35 travellers. Reviewers describe the guides as engaging, knowledgeable and personable. One guide made a point of learning where everyone was headed next in New Zealand and offered travel tips.
• Weather and views. Reviewers mention scenic views from all the vineyards, and one noted the tour is especially enjoyable in fine weather. Lunch is served beachfront, and one reviewer highlighted the views from the lunch spot.
• Who it suits. The listing says most travellers can participate but the tour is not recommended for children, and it is not wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. Several reviewers travelled with friends or partners and described it as a fun day out.

Common issues. The honest weak spots are pace and communication. A few reviewers felt rushed and wanted longer at the vineyards, and one said a lunch order was never passed on to the restaurant. One reviewer reported never receiving the operator's meeting instructions by email and struggling to find the start point, so it is worth confirming those details after booking. Another found some cellar-door staff minimally informative and the pre-poured wines served too warm. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, children are not recommended, and ferry tickets and gratuities are excluded.

Before You Book