Wine tasting in New Zealand is like a right of passage! What better place to enjoy wine tasting than on Waiheke, an island off Auckland, New Zealand. Waiheke offers stunning vineyards, olive groves, and beautiful beaches all just a 40-minute ferry ride away. The best part is you only need a day trip to see it all! This Waiheke Wine Tasting Guide will share everything you need to know for a day on Waiheke Island.

We only had two days planned in Auckland and after a bit of research decided we wanted to spend one of the days visiting this beautiful place. It did not disappoint and was my favorite part of visiting Auckland. The island is so picturesque and charming, it feels miles away from the mainland (which is why so many locals have summer homes here!).

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Guide, Tour, or On Your Own?

You don’t need to book a tour to have an amazing day of wine tasting in Waiheke, but it does make it easier to have pre-booked transportation if that’s what you prefer. We first booked a tour through Viator (which I use all the time and love!), but after reading a bunch of reviews decided it made more sense to go on our own. Even though it has 1,000+ 5-star reviews, we wanted to pick where to go and do it on our own schedule.

If you prefer to have worry-free transportation around the island, then this is the Waiheke Wine Tasting tour we selected. It has thousands of really great reviews. Even if you book a tour through Viator, you still need to pay for your own ferry to and from the island. You can book via Fullers.

How to get to Waiheke Island

The easiest way to get to and around Waiheke Island for a day of wine tasting is to use Fullers Hop-on-Hop-Off Explorer Bus. You can pre-book a ticket for $122 NZ which includes a round-trip ferry pass and the ability to get on and off the bus throughout the day. You select the date when you purchase your tickets. The bus stops at many of the wineries, restaurants, shops, beaches, and walks.

If you ONLY pre-purchase a ferry pass from Fuller, all you need to do is show up at piers 13/14 at the Auckland Ferry Terminal 10-15 minutes before your departure time. If you just prebook the date through the Explorer’s Bus + Ferry, it leaves from piers 11 and 12. You don’t really need to pre-book a date and time (Waiheke Reserve – $95) unless it’s a busy summer weekend. It’s more expensive to book a specific date and time versus a ticket that you just show up whenever for (Waiheke walk-up – $55 if you buy online).

How to Get Around the Island

As mentioned, the easiest way to get around the island to all the best places is to use Fullers Hop-on-Hop-Off Explorer Bus. They pick you up right from the Waiheke ferry terminal and stop at 17 different locations along the island. The staff is super friendly and helpful. The bus was mostly on time within 5-10 minutes (they are on island time!).

Their brochure is a great way to see all the stops and plan your day! The bus departs from Matiatia Ferry
Terminal approximately every 30 minutes on weekends and 60 minutes on weekdays. The first bus meets the 9AM sailing from Auckland and it makes 17 stops throughout the island. Note that many wineries don’t open until 11AM, but if you want to grab a bite to eat, shop, or go on a nature walk, you can head there early.

It’s best to have some plan of where you want to go so that you can time the bus and not be waiting forever. Additionally, some of the wineries and restaurants require reservations, especially in the summer when it’s very busy.

Alternatively, you can take taxis around the island. There are some waiting at the main towns and numerous companies you can call to coordinate a pick up wherever you are. It may be more difficult on busy summer days. The other option is to take the public bus, but it doesn’t go to all the more remote wineries. The public bus is super cheap and frequent!

Best Wineries

There are so many incredible wineries to choose from! Our Waiheke Wine Tasting Guide includes these wineries:

• Tantalus Estate: We loved the architecture and design of Tantalus. It was a beautiful winery with incredible food and wine. The servers were so friendly and attentive. Interestingly, they also have Alibi Brewing Co onsite which offers craft beer. You can do tastings of their beer as well.
• Te Motu: Te Motu is a 10 minute walk from Tantalus. Overlooking the Onetangi Valley, this beautiful family run winery has excellent wine and food.
• Mudbrick Vineyard: Mudbrick is known for its incredible views of Church Bay and the Auckland city skyline. It has a restaurant, bar and beautiful terrace where you can lounge on bean bags with a cocktail or wine in hand.
• Man O’ War Vineyards: This beachfront winery is stunning but is on the opposite side of the island and takes an hour on the bus to get to from the ferry terminal. In my opinion it’s worth staying here for all or most of the day if you decide to go. It also offers its own ferry/bus packages that are worth looking versus Fullers.

Best Restaurants

• The Oyster Inn: Make sure you make a reservation and sit on their patio. The view of Oneroa Bay is stunning. The restaurant is so charming and beachy – we loved it! Try the oyster slider and karaage chicken!
• Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant: Mudbrick has a beautiful restaurant that you can reserve a table at next to their cellar. It has sweeping views of the water and Auckland city skyline.
• Tantalus Estate – The Estate Restaurant: Tantalus features vineyard tours and tastings, a brewery, and an upscale restaurant. The food (and wine) here was delicious. We had their homemade Foccacia and caramel roasted nuts with our wine tasting. Make a reservation for lunch at their restaurant.
• Akitō Eatery: Amazing spot for coffee and a pastry. Try the carrot cake! (across from the Oyster Inn)

What Else to do in Waiheke

There is plenty to do on the island besides wine taste!

• Stop by an olive grove for a tasting: Rangihoua Mill is close to Mudbrick and there is a stop there on the way to Mudbrick
• Visit a brewery or distillery: The Heke Kitchen or Waiheke Distilling Co
• Relax on the beach: head to Oneroa or Onetangi Beach for beautiful views
• Shop in the local stores in Oneroa: there are lots of cute home and clothing stores.
• Go on a hike or walk on one of the many paths on the island: check out 10 Best Trails and Hikes on Waiheke Island

What to Wear in Waiheke

It is very warm in the sun but can get windy and chilly in the shade, so bring layers! It’s also cooler in the mornings and evenings so it’s best to have a sweater or jacket.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Waiheke Island is in the warmer, drier summer months (October – April). It gets very busy in the peak summer months, especially in Dec – January, so make sure you make plans early!

One Day Waiheke Itinerary

There are a million different ways you can plan your day on Waiheke. Here is how I recommend optimizing your time on the island:

🚤 9:00am: Ferry to Waiheke Island

🏖️ 10:00am: Relax on Onetangi Beach (none of the vineyards are open yet and this is one of the last stops on Fuller’s Explorer Bus, so work your way backwards from here)

🍷 11:30am: Tantalus Estate Vineyard

🦪 1:00pm: Lunch at Oyster Inn (sit on the patio for the best view of Oneroa Bay)

☕️ 2:15pm: Shop/Coffee & Carrot Cake at Akitō Eatery (directly across from Oyster Inn)

🍷 2:30pm: Mudbrick Vineyard

🏙️ 4:00pm: Ferry back to Auckland

For more information and tips on Auckland visit my post on the best of Auckland in 2 days

Explore New Zealand’s South Island with this itinerary for first-timers.

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