Waiheke Wine Tours - Taking a Group Wine Tour With Your Family
For many people, the most fun part of a trip to Waiheke Island is the wine. Whether you're visiting with friends or family, you can enjoy a tour of the island's vineyards, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. During the tour, you can take in the cultural and historical information of the area and enjoy the beautiful island views. To learn more, check out our guide's reviews.
The most popular wineries on the island are located on the eastern side of the island. Many of these are within walking distance, while others are far enough apart that you'll need a bus to get from one to the other. The only winery on the very tip of the island is Man o'War, which you can reach via floatplane or car. On the map below, yellow wineries represent the ones you've been to, while turquoise ones have yet to be visited.
Most Waiheke wine tours include a roundtrip ferry ride, as well as transportation on the island. Some include an all-day bus pass, allowing you to explore the island more independently. Depending on which tour you take, you can choose to stay for a few days and sample several different wines, or to take a longer, more leisurely stroll around the island. Tourism Waiheke offers walking routes to fit your needs.
There are two ferry services to Waiheke Island. Fullers 360 provides the most frequent service, with a boat leaving every 30 minutes during busy periods. For those who plan to stay only a few days, a car ferry is the only way to travel to Waiheke. A more exclusive option is a plane. You can even rent a plane to get to the wineries. Either way, you'll have a great time exploring the island.
Many of the wineries are open all day, but there are plenty of hours when you can visit them. Whether you plan on spending the whole day tasting wine or taking a longer one, the East island is a great option. It's easy to get to Waiheke from Auckland by ferry. However, there are also other ways to reach the island. The most convenient way is by taking the ferry. A private car rental is also an option.
The Waiheke wine tours usually includes tasting at three different vineyards, followed by a platter-style lunch. The first stop is Stonyridge Vineyard, where you can sample a Bordeaux-style wine. After lunch, you'll continue your tour at the highest vineyard on Waiheke, the Batch Winery. Mudbrick Vineyard is the final stop, which has gorgeous gardens and views of Rangitoto Auckland.
A private Waiheke wine tours can include as many as five different cellar doors. The tour prices range from NZD 10 to NZD 20, and each tasting is about three to five different wines. The tasting size is usually a full glass of wine. Some of the wineries may charge you for tasting, but this depends on the number of people in your group. It's also possible to arrange a team-building tour if you're visiting with a corporate group.
The most popular winery on Waiheke is the Tantalus Estate. Located in the Onetangi Valley, this vineyard produces a wide range of wine, from Pinot Noir to Pinot Gris. Tantalus also has an underground lounge and restaurant. For those who don't want to take the ferry to Tantalus, you can visit their vineyards by foot. The winery also features a restaurant with red and white checkered tablecloths.
The Waiheke wine tours is also worth a visit. You can taste different varietals and enjoy a canape lunch, while also learning about the vineyards' winemaking process. You can also eat at the vineyard's restaurant, which is open daily from Thursday to Sunday for lunch. Steak tartare is the most popular lunch item here, so you might want to try that as well. The restaurant is open for lunch every day, and the wine tastings at Peacock Sky include food pairings.
A full-day wine tour includes visits to three to four wineries, as well as a tasting of all the wines at the island's best restaurants. The Waiheke wine tours also feature cultural and historical information, and offer beautiful views of the island. And, don't worry about getting sick - the Government announced changes to Covid levels on 17th November, so wine tours should resume after the 29th. And don't forget to keep your alcohol level under control. Check out Waiheke Wine Tours!