Top North Island Food & Drink

Discover the wines and scenery of Waiheke Island on a half-day wine tour from Auckland. Hop the morning ferry to Matiatia to join your guide and hear insightful commentary as you travel to different wineries for tastings. You have the option to purchase lunch at one of the stops, and you can either remain on the island at the end of the tour or return to Auckland by ferry.

Enjoy visiting sunny Hawke’s Bay’s wineries without the risk of self-driving on a half-day small-group tour with door-to-door hotel pickup. Visit up to four internationally recognised wineries with all tastings and a cheeseboard included. Enjoy plain-English wine explanations and sample the region’s well-regarded wines while enjoying views of the beautiful countryside. The small group size means you get plenty of attention, can ask questions, and stay comfortable in the vehicle.

Sail away on a harbor cruise in Auckland and enjoy a 3-course dinner as you sail past Waitemata Harbour highlights, including the Sky Tower and Auckland Harbour Bridge. Board your yacht at the Viaduct Harbour and enjoy a welcome drink. Learn about Auckland and its scenic sights from your captain. As evening falls, dinner is served onboard while you sail.

Sample several of Waiheke Island’s award-winning wines at vineyards across the island before stopping for a gourmet meal at a beachfront restaurant on this half-day tour of the island. Gaze out over the Hauraki Gulf while you dine and then continue your tour, setting off to taste yet more wine.

Take a premium wine tour of Waiheke Island and sip fine wines at this famed North Island destination, just a ferry ride away from Auckland. An informative local guide accompanies you to award-winning boutique vineyards and shares knowledge of the island and its viticulture along the way. Includes wine tasting fees and round-trip island transport from the ferry terminal by minibus.

Combine Napier’s Art Deco architecture with Hawkes Bay wine on a half-day, small-group shore excursion that includes tastings at two wineries. Start by exploring Napier and an attractive Art Deco suburb, then visit two wine estates for tastings with stops at Bluff Hill and Napier Reef Garden in between. This is a great way to explore the area without the struggle of navigating the area on your own.

Discover the wines of Waiheke on a day trip from Auckland with a small-group tour that visits boutique vineyards. It’s easy to hop a morning ferry and cross the Hauraki Gulf for the short ride to the island. Your guide meets you upon arrival and shares lively commentary as you head to local vineyards for tastings. Afterward, choose to have lunch in Oneroa with a transfer to the ferry, or stay longer and make your own way back to the ferry. Ferry tickets are excluded.

Step into an elevated Waiheke Island experience designed for those who appreciate fine wine, exceptional food, and effortless luxury. This premium afternoon escape takes you to a curated selection of the island’s most celebrated vineyards, where you’ll enjoy refined wine tastings in stunning settings. Each stop has been carefully chosen to showcase the very best of Waiheke’s world-class wine and scenery. Hosted by an experienced local guide, the journey flows seamlessly as you take in sweeping vineyard landscapes, coastal vistas, and hidden pockets of the island known only to locals. The highlight of your experience is a luxury dining experience at one of Waiheke’s premier restaurants. Settle in for a beautifully crafted meal paired with a glass of wine, all while overlooking the beach — an unforgettable setting that defines the island’s relaxed sophistication. Perfect for those seeking a more refined way to experience Waiheke, this is indulgence without compromise.

Eat your way through Auckland on a half-day tour with a local insider who shares the region’s freshest seafood, baked goods, and other tasty treats. Enjoy morning tea, a light lunch, and wine tasting; visit the Auckland Fish Market and meet talented artisan producers at a farmers’ market; travel by minivan to key landmarks including Ponsonby Road, Mt. Eden, and the Auckland Domain, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

New Zealand makes iconic wines that are famous around the world, and Waiheke Island is home to some of the region’s most popular wineries. Visit three of the top vineyards on the island and sample up to 12 different vintages while also learning about the island’s history and discovering some local hidden gems.

Spend an afternoon on a food and walking tour of Auckland, discovering parts of the city that most first-time visitors miss out on. Stroll past city architecture while nibbling on sweet and savory treats along the way with a guide who takes care of navigating. Visit local producers of artisan wine, beer, ice cream, and other world-class offerings from Auckland's finest food purveyors and learn more about Auckland’s culinary culture as you go.

Enjoy one of New Zealand’s original tourist attractions: a tour of the magnificent Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Your guide—who may be descended from the Māori chief who first discovered the caves—leads you underground and tells you about the cultural significance of this site. Hop into a boat and glide on an underground river, enjoying the light show put on by millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above.

Taste local wines at several Napier-area wineries and enjoy a gourmet chef’s platter for lunch with a glass of wine on this small-group day tour. Learn about a range of varietals, produced in the North Island’s premier wine-making region, and enjoy several tastings without having to worry about driving. A souvenir wine glass and round-trip hotel transfers are also included.

Take an in-depth tour of the wine-growing region on Waiheke Island with a guide on this excursion. You'll learn about what makes the vineyards so successful and the characteristics of the local wine through guided commentary and visits to three top vineyards. With round-trip transportation from Waiheke’s ferry terminal provided, you can take full advantage of the tastings without worrying about who will drive.

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

Take a break from Auckland's busy streets on this small-group tour to Waiheke Island. Arrive via boat from downtown Auckland for an action-packed itinerary among the island’s many vineyards and olive groves. Join your guide for a thrilling zipline experience, forest walk, and wine tasting, and recharge with a 2-course lunch.

The Hawke's Bay wine region produces some of New Zealand’s most renowned wines, and is also beloved for its beers and ciders. This afternoon small-group tour lets you sample all three plus enjoy lunch during visits to some of New Zealand’s best tasting spots. Enjoy it all in a group of no more than 15 people, ensuring you get your fair share of your guide’s attention. Hotel and port pickup within Napier is included for added convenience.

Cruise the scenic bays of Lake Taupō to the Māori Rock Carvings during this boat tour. Listen to informative commentary about the ecology, volcanology, and cultural history of the area. Admire the impressive views of the snowy volcanoes of UNESCO World Heritage–listed Tongariro National Park. See the Māori Rock Carvings depicting the legends of the local Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe. Choose from morning or afternoon departures to suit your schedule.

Enjoy an afternoon wine tour through some of Hawkes Bay's vineyards, including New Zealand's oldest winery, Mission Estate. Visit four top wineries for tastings paired with complimentary wine, cheese, and biscuits, and stop at a local chocolatier. Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off included for a relaxed experience. The small-group size of the tour means you get personalized attention and the chance to ask questions.

Cover more ground without the hassle of navigating unfamiliar roads on your own and visit four Napier wineries on this half-day Hawke’s Bay tour. Explore New Zealand food and wine, enjoying tastings at each destination, as you visit the largest wine-producing region in the North Island. Tour with a small group for more personal service and learn about the local wine history and production from your guide.

Enjoy a magical 6-6.5 hour tour to the Hobbiton Movie set, used for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film series, which has made NZ famous. Leaving the port, we first travel past the stunning beaches of Mount Maunganui, a top NZ holiday destination, across the harbor bridge and into the country, over the Kaimai mountain ranges, into the lush farming district of the Waikato, the location of Hobbiton. At Hobbiton you can visit the Shires Rest Cafe, browse the souvenir shop or just take in the stunning views before joining the 2.5 hour guided tour, explore inside a Hobbit home and finish at The Green Dragon Pub with a complimentary Ale. As Cruise ship arrival times varies so much, we adjust the start time to suit, which we confirm to you when your booking is accepted, always having you back at the ship in good time for its departure. Please see the Additional Info section for details of our cancellation policy should the ship cancel its port of call within 24 hours of arrival.

Indulge in the succulent tastes of Waiheke Island on a 5.5-hour food and wine tour. An informative guide picks you up from the wharf and takes you to boutique wineries. Taste wine accompanied by locally produced specialties such as olive oil, oysters, and artisan cheese. Then settle in for a platter lunch at a vineyard restaurant. Linger on Waiheke and take the ferry back to Auckland whenever you like.

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are among the most visited attractions of New Zealand’s North Island and Ruakuri Cave is the longest of the underground caves. Explore the magnificent cave on this 75-minute guided walking tour and marvel at the unique rock formations, subterranean rivers, and thousands of glittering glowworms.