Hawke's Bay Historic Wineries Tour - Featuring NZ oldest Winery

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Step back in time, this tour visits the remarkable Mission Estate New Zealands oldest vineyard & winery, established in 1851 by French missionaries. Learn the rich history and explore the historical buildings gaining insight into the pioneering spirit that helped shape Hawke’s Bay’s winemaking legacy—all while enjoying a tasting of the Estates expertly crafted wines.

   1 h

2. Along the way, your guide will share stories of the land, the people, and the evolution of Hawke’s Bay as a world-class wine destination. As we journey through historic Taradale, you’ll see charming villas and early cottages that once housed vineyard workers who shaped the region’s winemaking story. Hear about the families and events that built Hawke’s Bay into New Zealand’s premier wine region.

   30 min

3. Our next stop is Church Road Winery, established in 1897 by Tom McDonald, a pioneer of fine New Zealand reds. You’ll experience their heritage-listed cellar and taste award-winning wines in a setting steeped in history.

   1 h

4. To finish, we’ll take you up to Bluff Hill Lookout for sweeping views over Napier Port, the Pacific Ocean, and Napier’s Art Deco skyline — a breathtaking vantage point to reflect on the region’s landscape, history, and enduring wine legacy.

   30 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 6 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Napier

• Its from-price is 38% above the median of the 62 experiences we list in Napier.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 39 of 62.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Napier

Napier is an Art Deco seaside city on New Zealand's Hawke's Bay, rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and close to vineyards and a famous gannet colony.

Napier was flattened by an earthquake in 1931, and the town was rebuilt in the styles of the day, giving it a rare concentration of Art Deco and Spanish Mission buildings. Walking tours pass pastel shopfronts with zigzag and sunburst motifs, and every February the city dresses in 1930s clothes for the Art Deco Weekend. Marine Parade runs along the shingle beach, with gardens, an aquarium and a bronze statue of Pania of the Reef.

Top-ranked sights in Napier: Mission Estate Winery, Church Road Winery.

See all 62 experiences in Napier