The 11 Wine Country Day Trips in New Zealand That Earn Their Price

1.Beyond the Vines – Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · from $136Our pick

Review of the full-day Marlborough wine tour from Picton or Blenheim, with five wineries, small groups, tastings, lunch, and local guides.

“The tour was phenomenal. Our guide, Gavin, was incredibly knowledgeable about the wine, the wineries, and the region. He made us all feel right at home and helped each of us get more out of the experience with stories about the wineries and the region, and with tips on how to best describe, taste, and enjoy wine. We went to five wineries, each of which was excellent and one of which had an excellent restaurant for lunch. Our tour size was small (four total) and made for a nice, intimate wine tasting experience. I highly recommend this tour, and especially Gavin!”

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2.Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 285 reviews · from $133

Review of Marlborough’s small-group wine tour from Blenheim, with five wineries, tastings, lunch options, guides, transport, and practical booking advice.

“Well curated day (almost 7 hours) with lots of great insights, attractive wines and a host / tour guide who is lovely, entertaining, knowledgeable and makes the day a blast. Can highly recommend!”

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3.Marlborough: Full-Day Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 221 reviews · 1 day · from $41Best value

Cycle Marlborough’s flat wine country at your own pace with bike hire, hotel transfers, a useful wine map, and 12 nearby wineries.

“A lovely day with nice bikes and so well organised. Thank you so much! Jessicka”

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4.Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour (full day) in the Marlborough Region.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 206 reviews · from $43

Cycle Marlborough’s flat vineyard roads, choose your wineries, and enjoy hotel pickup, bike hire, maps, and free wine collection.

“A truly wonderful experience with so many opportunities to taste the vast array of wines available in the region. The electric bikes made getting from cellar door to cellar door a much more pleasant experience!”

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5.Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 159 reviews · 6 hours · from $131

Explore Marlborough’s cellar doors, local wines, vineyard lunch, scenic Wairau Valley views, and optional chocolate tasting on a small-group tour.

“Bruce was so well informed and knowledgeable it made the experience even more memorable. We visit 5 boutique vineyards, 1 which only had Champagne (though they cannot call it that). All amazing and the bank balance saw how much we enjoyed the day. Real shame none will make it home to the UK, though we do know we’re to order from. Met a lovely Japanese family, great discussing different tastes and culture. The last stop was the Makana Boutique chocolate factory, end to a perfect day. Please check it out if you can, melts in your mouth.”

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6.Full-Day Taste the Wines of Marlborough Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 130 reviews · from $136

Review of Marlborough’s small-group wine tour from Blenheim, with five wineries, lunch, chocolate tasting, hotel pickup, and practical booking advice.

“Very nice tour with a lot of great wine and an amazing lunch on own expense! Bruce did a really good job driving us around and telling us some facts. After a while you get definitely tipsy but Bruce got you covered with snacks and water. :)”

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7.Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour from Blenheim

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $183

Taste Marlborough wines, meet winemakers, enjoy a two-course lunch, and ride in comfort on this intimate full-day tour from Blenheim.

“A great sampling of the different wineries in the area. A great introduction to some of the smaller producers that you may not have otherwise known about.”

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8.Marlborough: Full-Day Wine and Seafood Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 57 reviews · 7 hours · from $191

Marlborough wine tastings meet a scenic Queen Charlotte Sound cruise, fresh mussels, salmon, local commentary, and practical travel tips.

“Really enjoyed the day! Well organized, friendly staff and the mussels and salmon cooked on board - spectacular! Highly recommend this activity. (Just make sure to take a jacket - brisk wind)”

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9.Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 37 reviews · 330 - 390 minutes · from $166

Taste four Central Otago vineyards, enjoy a Carrick Winery lunch, and explore wine country from Queenstown in a relaxed small group.

“Craig was a magnificent and informative guide. Beautiful wineries visited. Brilliant being a Kiwi, being a tourist in our own country and thee beauty not driving.”

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10.Full-Day Marlborough Wine Region Bike Hire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $43

Cycle Marlborough’s flat wine trail at your own pace, with bike hire, maps, helmets, cellar doors, lunch stops, and flexible tasting.

“We had such a wonderful day cycling around the beautiful Marlborough wineries. The best way to see this amazing area & sample lots of delicious wines . From pick up to drop off the day was perfect.”

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11.Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $123

Review of Auckland’s 5-hour Kumeu wine tour with four winery tastings, a three-course lunch, drinks, guide, and practical booking tips.

“David was an exceptional tour guide. Could not have asked for a better person. We came from Canada and were only expecting him to talk about wine. We also got an in depth history on Auckland. He went above and beyond. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed!!”

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