Hawkes Bay Wine Tour: Explore NZ's Great Wine Capital
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This isn’t just another wine tour — it’s a journey into the heart of New Zealand’s Great Wine Capital. With small groups and a personal touch, you’ll explore Hawke’s Bay’s boutique wineries at a relaxed pace, learning the stories that shaped this region into the gateway of New Zealand’s wine industry. From the elegant Art Deco streets of Napier to the world-famous Gimblett Gravels, every stop reveals a new layer of history, flavor, and craftsmanship. You’ll connect directly with passionate winemakers, enjoy intimate tastings, and savor a local cheese platter among the vineyards. Led by friendly, knowledgeable guides who love what they do, this experience combines culture, architecture, and award-winning wines in one unforgettable day. It’s authentic, immersive, and full of heart — exactly what a Great Wine Capital deserves.
Inclusions
What's included
- Private transportation
- Wine tasting and platter
- Minivan
What's not
- Additional food or beverages not specified in the tour
- Gratuities (optional and at guest discretion)
Itinerary
Before visiting the wineries, we’ll set the stage by taking you back in time to explore the heart of Napier, celebrated as the Art Deco Capital of the World. As we drive past beautifully preserved 1930s buildings, your guide will share captivating stories about the city’s dramatic rebirth after the 1931 earthquake, an event that reshaped not only the city but also the landscape of Hawke’s Bay’s wine-growing region. You’ll also learn how French missionaries first brought viticulture to the area in the early 1800s, establishing New Zealand’s very first winery right here in Hawkes Bay. Their pioneering efforts laid the foundation for what would become one of the country’s most renowned wine regions, now proudly recognized as a Great Wine Capital of the World.
We’ll visit three to four boutique wineries, each with its own unique story and character. There’s no rush — we take our time at every stop, giving you the chance to meet passionate winemakers, hear the stories behind their vineyards, and taste the wines that have earned Hawkes Bay international acclaim. This region isn’t just home to award-winning vintages — it’s the gateway of New Zealand’s wine industry, where tradition and innovation blend beautifully among the sun-soaked vineyards and stony soils of the Gimblett Gravels.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 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
- Meeting point
- 100 Marine Parade, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand The information center office "i-site" Please be here 10 min before the start of your tour.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 11 travellers
- Operated by
- New Zealand en Espanol
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Napier
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 62 experiences we list in Napier.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 47 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.
Special offers in Napier
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
