CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours
Picton, New Zealand
- 4 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
On your cruise ship stopover in Picton, make sure not to miss any of the top spots in the Marlborough wine region by booking this hop-on hop-off bus tour. Eliminate the hassle of navigating between top attractions around Blenheim, including numerous wineries, beer gardens, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, and more. See what you want and skip the rest, and spend as much time at each location as you’d like.
- Check out breweries, wineries, gift stores, and more local highlights
- No need to stick with a fixed itinerary as you choose your stops
- Make the most of a short time on land with a handy shore excursion
- Sample wine at some of Blenheim's top wineries (own expense)
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Knowlegedeable and expericenced Drivers
- Tastings & Food
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Astrolabe Wines
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
42 Alfred Street
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Seymour Square
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Blue Penguin New Zealand Gifts
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Omaka Classic cars
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
6
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
7
Brayshaw Heritage Park
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Saint Clair Family Estate Vineyard Kitchen
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Hunter's Wines Cellar Door & Wine Shop
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
The Fancy Cow
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
11
Wither Hills Cellar Door
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12
Cloudy Bay
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
13
Cartels beer garden
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
14
Jackson Estate Cellar Door and Winery
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
15
The Runway Cafe
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
16
Spy Valley Wines
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
17
Clos Henri Vineyard
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
18
Allan Scott Family Winemakers
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
19
Cork & Keg - Pub and Motel
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
20
Woodbourne Tavern & Motel
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
21
Nautilus Estate
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
22
Huia Vineyards
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
23
The Vines Village
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
24
Cheese & Cheers NZ
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
25
Makana Confections
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
26
Framingham Wines
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Gail_S
Fabulous day. All staff from check-in arrival to final drop off were very friendly and helpful. Commentry from the drivers between stops was informative and gave a great insight into the area. We picked 4 stops and was easily done to get back to ship on time. Buses ran on time and never full. A fabulous way to enjoy the area.
Reviews
4.0
based on 104 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Julie_C, Mar 2026
Great experience and a good way to visit and support local wineries. Plan your day accordingly to ensure you have plenty of time to visit most of the wineries and breweries along the stop. Also helpful to do some research beforehand, to know which ones suit your interest.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your wonderful review and for choosing our Cruise Ship Day Hop On Hop Off Wine Tour!
We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience exploring and supporting our local wineries. We completely agree that a little planning and research beforehand can help guests make the most of their day and visit the venues that best match their tastes and interests.
Thank you for sharing this helpful advice for future travellers. We appreciate your support and are thrilled that you enjoyed your Marlborough wine adventure with us.
Kind regards,
The Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours Marlborough Team
Colleen_C, Mar 2026
Had a great experience with this company. Buses were regular and drivers very pleasant and eager to help.
Gail_S, Mar 2026
Fabulous day. All staff from check-in arrival to final drop off were very friendly and helpful. Commentry from the drivers between stops was informative and gave a great insight into the area. We picked 4 stops and was easily done to get back to ship on time. Buses ran on time and never full. A fabulous way to enjoy the area.
John_N, Mar 2026
Busses run late so only plan 4 or 5 stops. The Aviation Museum is a must. Best I’ve ever seen. Also stop for the chocolates
Richard_J, Feb 2026
The best organized HOHO we have ever taken and we have done many. Buses were constantly monitored so that no one was waiting for a bus. Extra buses followed scheduled buses to keep people moving and their communications system assisted that movement. Drivers were knowledgeable about each stop and had recommendations if you got off. All in all a very well run operation.
Deborah_L, Feb 2026
This group does the best they can to provide a good tour experience for cruise passengers. The wineries are too far away and there just isn’t enough time. You MUST book reservations at the wineries ahead of time. We did not and could not attend any tastings. If you have a full day here, then you could hit a few of them. But plan on only 2-3 successful stops. The drivers are great and treat you well. It is just a logistical issue. If they had satellite tasting rooms in Picton, this would solve many of the problems.
Ken_B, Feb 2026
A winery tour, but too many non-wine stops.
Our time in port was short, so I had to leave the tour before getting to the wineries I hoped to see.
Iain_F, Feb 2026
The whole experience was inclusive and reliable. Lots of variety of venues to choose from, so mind you don’t run out of time . One thing to watch on the wine tasting was that some of the wineries demanded an appointment, so you could be left disappointed, as we were . However, others were most accommodating, and welcoming.
rochelle_m, Feb 2026
We were very disappointed with the operation of the Hop on Hop off bus tour. We were on the first bus leaving Picton and
got off at the second stop Wine and Food experience, we rushed through it in order to get a bus according to the timetable. The first bus that came by was 15 minutes later than scheduled, it was full and were told to wait for the next one which was also full, after waiting for 45 minutes and having to call the company because it was passed the last scheduled time a bus arrived to take us. This messed up our whole experience and we were only able to get off and one more stop.
I do not recommend this tour, which is a shame because the one winery we went to Allan Scott was very nice but we couldn’t relax because we weren’t sure that we would get back to the ship on time.
Anonymous, Feb 2026
We had a very disappointing experience with the Picton Hop On Hop Off Bus, starting right at the cruise port. The manager, Juliana, seemed completely unprepared to handle the volume of passengers arriving from a cruise ship. The situation was chaotic, and her stressed, disorganized attitude set the tone for the day.
What was advertised as a 55-minute ride to the first winery turned into a trip of over an hour and a half. While some of that delay was due to traffic (which is understandable), much of the time was wasted by the bus stopping at multiple wineries even though the bus was already at full capacity. No one was getting off, and no one could get on, yet the stops were still made. This was highly inefficient and resulted in people being turned away at stops who were hoping to board.
Because the timetable was not maintained, our group was forced to cancel reservations at our second winery — a major disappointment and a loss of money and planning on our part.
To end the day, we were dropped off at a meeting point, told to get off the bus, and then instructed to get back on another bus. This was apparently just to check us off a list to ensure everyone was accounted for, but it felt like an unnecessary and poorly thought-out process that wasted even more time.
Overall, the operation felt disorganized, inefficient, and not equipped to handle cruise ship crowds. I would not recommend this service.
Nicole_H, Jan 2026
Buses came regularly and were easy to spot. We really enjoyed many of the stops, we visited the chocolate factory, 2 wineries and a brewery. I do wish the bus company communicated more clearly in advance that tourists would need to independently book tastings at popular wineries. Luckily I did this a week or 2 prior and had no issues. Pro tip, if you don't have a reservation, the bus drivers tell you that you cannot do a tasting at that winery but Cloud Bay does have an outdoor areas where you can purchase wine by the glass.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour.
During the cruise season, many of the wineries do tend to book out quickly, which is why tastings at certain venues do require independent reservations in advance.
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future.
Leanne_V, Jan 2026
This is a great way to see & experience this stunning part of NZ. Comfortable bus, with great drivers/guides. The buses run every 30 minutes from all locations, so you can spend as little or long in a location as you want too.
Marsha_N, Dec 2025
The buses ran on time and gave you suggestions for stops. We got good history from drivers on the 30 min drive to Beinhelm. At the end they got us a limo van to take us back so we did not have to wait for the bus.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Hi Marsha, thank you for writing us a 5 star review! We are so pleased to hear that you had a great day out with us.
Warm regards,
The HOHO Team
Mandy_M, Dec 2025
We travelled as a group of 10 with teenagers and had a great time. We started with the beautiful wine+food experience for tastings, then onto the classic cars and the aviation centres (absolutely fabulous displays), then the Makana confections factory & finally the Fancy Cow for a seriously delicious lunch, some wine & cute cow feeding for our last stop of the day. None of these venues needed reservations & the kids enjoyed them all. We started at 9.45am and had enough time for each stop and make it back to the ship with an hour to spare. The map they give you is great, listing the times and bus route stops & the bus driver we had at the start was very funny and informative about the area. Recommend reading the confirmation email they send as it tells you about each individual stop in order & which needs bookings. The buses come really regularly and we didn’t have long waits at all, 10 mins at most and there was always another bus right behind if the first was full. Thanks Team, it was a great day!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your fantastic review Mandy!
We are so glad you and your group had a great day with us and enjoyed all the stops—from the tastings to the cars, aviation centre, Makana, and the Fancy Cow. Wonderful to hear the buses, map, and our driver helped make everything easy and fun.
Thanks again from the whole HOHO Team
Katie_G, Nov 2025
Our driver offered great recommendations for venues and shared local knowledge. We were also lucky enough to score the same driver for the entire journey.
Marilyn_C, Nov 2025
The best way for the cruise ship passengers to tour the Marlborough wine country! We visited some excellent wineries.
Louise_G, Mar 2025
When travelling via cruise ship, your time is limited. Although it looks like there are many places to stop, you really can only stop at 3 or 4 locations, you Definitely need reservations for tastings and lunch. The buses were timely and drivers friendly.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
We are so glad you got to experience our lovely Marlborough wine region, and very much appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
All the best from the HoHo team
Alison_Z, Feb 2025
Super efficient way to get around the wineries. Time can creep up on you so suggest planning out if you do not want to miss anything. My longest stop was at spy valley as the place has the most serence atmosphere and keep this place for a nice platter to go with your wine.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Alison,
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're thrilled to hear that you found our service to be a super efficient way to explore the wineries.
Planning ahead is indeed a great tip to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the experiences.
We're glad you enjoyed Spy Valley, and it's fantastic to know you appreciated the serene atmosphere and the nice platter with your wine.
We hope to welcome you back for another memorable visit soon!
Warm Regards
Hop on Hop off Team
Linda_B, Feb 2025
We had a great using the Hop On Hop Of bus, visiting our chosen sites with ease. We chose 4 venues which was omfortably enough. The retuning buses were often full but everyone got home!
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Linda,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience using our Hop On Hop Off bus service and that visiting your chosen sites was easy and enjoyable.
It’s great to know that the four venues you selected were comfortably enough for your day.
We appreciate your understanding regarding the returning buses being full, and we're glad everyone made it home safely.
Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we look forward to serving you again in the future!
Warm Regards
Kaji
Lesley_R, Feb 2025
We had a great experience. The bus drivers were vey informative. The buses were comfortable and generally on time.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hello Lesely,
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience on our wine tour.
It's fantastic that our bus drivers were informative and that you found the buses comfortable and generally on time.
Your feedback is invaluable, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another enjoyable adventure in the future!
Warm Regards
Hop on Hop off Team
Cheri_M, Feb 2025
Great winery locations with frequent opportunities for pick up and drop off. A bit disorganized and much confusion at the registration area. .
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hello Cheri,
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed our winery locations and the frequent pick-up and drop-off opportunities.
Your experience is important to us, and we will work on improving our processes to enhance the overall experience for our guests.
We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back soon!
Warm Regards
Hop on Hop off Team
Barbara_T, Feb 2025
A good way to see the sights of the area. Drivers were all very helpful and friendly.
System worked although not always to timetable but we made it back to.our ship fine.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your review!
We're glad to hear that you enjoyed seeing the sights of the area and found our drivers helpful and friendly.
We appreciate your understanding regarding the timetable and are pleased that you made it back to your ship on time.
Your feedback helps us improve our services, and we hope to welcome you back for another enjoyable wine tour experience in the future!
Warm Regards
Hop on Hop Off Team
Andrea_D, Jan 2025
Even though we had an advance booking made for 11am the bus was filled with passengers for later bookings and we were told to wait and a bus would come soon. After another 15 minutes I went in and asked if the bus would arrive soon only to be spoken at very loudly and abruptly by the owner why didn’t we hop on the previous bus there were 15 free seats (which was not the case). When I tried to explain that we were told there was not and we were told to wait by the employee the owner then went out and was very rude to him.
She then told me I was extremely horrible to her and she would just refund me the money. I pleaded that this had been booked for months and I was just trying to find out what was going on. Another employee took charge and reasoned with the owner, who then ended up getting us a car to catch us up to the first stop. Which is why I have even given one star.
The owner eventually apologized for over reacting and told me that she is sensitive and woke which is very inappropriate to say to someone she doesn’t know.
On top of this the buses were often full at each stop and we only got to 2 different locations.
I would not use this company ever again, it was not a pleasant day.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
My name is Jo (Admin Team) and I am the person who drove you from Picton Hop On Hop Off Office into Makana in our Mercedes 12 seater van. I am really disappointed in your response, and the content of your review.
You arrived at our booking office earlier in the morning asking if you could get on an earlier bus. At the time I asked you to return after 10am and I would ask if you could get you on a bus sooner. However, all the buses were booked up and so you could still get on 11am bus you had booked. Unfortunately one of our ‘new’ staff members rapidly loaded the 11am bus with passengers with some who had later bookings by mistake, not realising you had been waiting a while in the queue.
You were very upset with our Japanese staff member, and sadly your rant and verbal tirade caught the attention of JJ (Office Manager) who did not appreciate your ‘approach’ to that staff member, and spoke strongly to you, then returned to the office, Sensitivity and woke are not words in her vocabulary – definitely not words spoken by JJ.
A few minutes later JJ then offered to you and your family to go in our 12 seater Luxury Mercedes for all 8 of you (2 groups of 4) into Marlborough region catching up well on time with the tour, and continuing from Makana. By stopping at Makana you didn’t lose any time.
We always advise passengers to stay at least an hour at each venue (thus getting the best out of their day). Add in the travelling time between it was great you got to visit 2 locations plus Makana Chocolates, and travel around the beautiful Marlborough Wine region, and so returning to Picton by 4pm to board your Cruise boat that left at 5pm.
Morgan_G, Jan 2025
This was a great value experience. With the convenience of the hop on hop off service we were able to enjoy wine tastings at 3 wineries plus lunch at a fourth location.
We booked in for the 11:30am session (as everything earlier was already booked out) but the staff kindly let us join a bus at 10am and I truly think it made all the difference, allowing us so much extra time to enjoy the day.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Hello Morgan,
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the great value of our wine tour experience.
It's fantastic that our Hop on, Hop off buses allowed you to visit three wineries and savor lunch at a fourth location.
We're also glad our staff could accommodate you early, giving you extra time to enjoy your day.
We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable experience!
Warm Regards
Hop on Hop off Team
Bozidar_M, Dec 2024
Better then expected - great service. We had a group of 10 from cruise and company owner ordered large buss to accommodate all of us. We were able to see what we wanted and test wine in 3 locations. We have enjoyed our tour and it is better organized then specified in some past reviews. You will NOT miss going back to your cruise - relax and enjoy
Natasha_L, Dec 2024
On arrival at the bus we were greeted by a very professional young man who was so helpful and kind, the drivers of the bus were very knowledgeable about the area and were amazing.
The disappointing part of this experience was the way the “boss” treated her staff. I was appalled by the way she spoke to the young man serving us and the way she spoke to our bus driver.
Bully!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hello Natasha, sorry we are abit suprised by your review as the boss was not here on the last cruise ship? Thanks HOHO
Timothy_c, Nov 2024
Great day - visited lots of interesting and varied places - great service, friendly and informative drivers. Slick operation. Thanks
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Hi Timothy, thank you very much for your review, we hope you had an incredible experience with us, and we would love to have your tour with us again.
Warm regards,
HOHO Team
joystr2, Apr 2024
This was an OK excursion but there were a few little kinks. The Buses we consistently late arriving at each winery and many of the wineries had closed the tastings for the day due to too many requests for the tastings. We did manage to get in two and the one at Rimapere was the best. The second, Allan Scott Winery was a unique experience due to their system of running the tastings (wine bottles were behind glass and had little spigots, you put in your wine card and picked how much wine you wanted in each pour) however, the wine was not as good as that at Rimapere. I was not aware that you could pre-book tastings at the various wineries and I think that would have been the thing to do in order to be able to enjoy more tasting.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
We are sorry you didn't enjoy your day out with us. We understand buses arriving late can be annoying, but there are lots of factors out of our control that can delay a bus. For example: Marlborough began construction of a roundabout in the middle of the cruiseship season which cut off a critical part of our run, forcing the buses double back and go around. This doesn't make it impossible to stay on time but any delays got exaggerated unfortunately. We found the majority of people didn't mind if a bus turned up 10 minutes late on a particular run.
With regards, to the pre-bookings we do send out multiple emails suggesting customers to make bookings. Providing contact numbers, emails, and our timetable to make bookings as easy as possible.
Ivan_H, Apr 2024
A great way to visit the various wineries in the Marlborough area. It’s great that you can pick and choose where you want to visit and know that there is another bus within the next 30 minutes. All the drivers were very knowledgeable about the area and they were all very helpful.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Ivan, thank you so much for your review. We are delighted you enjoyed exploring the Marlborough region with us. Hope to see you again next cruise ship season!
Susan_J, Apr 2024
Easy to find in Picton, just where the shuttle buses drop off. We had wine tastings at 2 wineries set and both were good. Excellent lunch at St Claire’s winery.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
HI Susan thank you for much for your review, hope to see you again next year !
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