Taste Of Waiheke Island Day Tour: an honest review

My verdict: the food-led day, and the only tour here that includes the crossing, the transport on the island and a two-course lunch in one price. Five and a half hours, two vineyards, an olive grove and a sit-down meal. It also has the most honest complaints of anything on this site, and both are worth reading before you book: a lunch that arrived overcooked, and a bus somebody found cramped. Neither would stop me booking it. Both are the kind of thing a rating hides.

4.6★★★★★209 reviewsfrom NZ$240

Duration5.5 hours

DepartsAuckland ferry terminal, piers 11 and 12

VineyardsTwo, with tastings

AlsoOlive-oil tasting at an olive grove

LunchTwo courses, included

Ferry includedYes, round trip

What NZ$240 covers

Round-trip ferry from the Auckland terminal at piers 11 and 12, a private bus on the island, tastings at two vineyards, an olive-oil tasting at an olive grove, and a two-course lunch. Count what that removes: no fare to buy, no bus timetable, no lunch decision, no tasting fees at the counter. Against the NZ$185 wineries’ tour, which visits more vineyards but leaves lunch to you, the NZ$55 difference is roughly a two-course meal.

Usually included

Round-trip ferry from the Auckland ferry terminal, piers 11 and 12
A private bus on the island
Tastings at two vineyards
An olive-oil tasting at an olive grove
A two-course lunch

Not included

Extra drinks beyond the tastings
A third vineyard — this one trades breadth for lunch
The off-peak fare saving; the crossing is bundled

The complaints, printed rather than smoothed

4.6 from 209 reviews, with guides Simon, Andrew and Victor recurring. The good version of the day: “The standout on this tour was lunch at Batch Winery and tastings at Mudbrick.” (Victoria). The less good version, from a review that still gave five stars: “Lunch was a little disappointing - had snapper which was overcooked” (Minette). Including lunch in a tour price is not the same as guaranteeing it is good, and on a food-led day that is the risk you are paying to take.

The other one is about the vehicle: “Bus transport was a little cramped” (James). A private bus for a group is not a minivan for ten, and if a tight seat for the transfers would ruin your day, the ten-person wineries’ tour is the smaller vehicle. Neither of these is a scandal. They are the two things 209 people found worth mentioning, which is exactly why I am mentioning them.

What works

Ferry, island transport and a two-course lunch in one price
An olive grove as well as vineyards — the broadest food day here
Departs the Auckland terminal, piers 11 and 12, so nothing to find on the island
Named guides recur across 209 reviews
Nothing to organise once you have paid

Worth knowing

Lunch is included but not guaranteed — one reviewer’s snapper came overcooked
The bus was described as cramped by another
Two vineyards, fewer than the NZ$185 wineries’ tour visits
5.5 hours is most of a day; there is little island time left over
The bundled crossing means no off-peak saving on your fare

Rating4.6 / 5

Reviews209

PriceNZ$240

Duration5.5 hrs

LunchIncluded

FerryIncluded

Insider tip

This is the tour to pick if the day is for somebody who does not want to make decisions — a parent, a group that cannot agree, a visitor with one day and no wish to spend it reading timetables. Everything is already chosen. That is the product.

Who it suits

Food-first travellers, anyone who wants one price covering the whole day, and people who would rather taste olive oil than a fourth pinot. It suits a one-day visit particularly well — see how long you actually need. If you want more vineyards and you are happy buying your own lunch, the wineries’ tour is NZ$55 cheaper and visits four or more. If you want a smaller, higher-end food day and you do not mind paying for the crossing on top, the gourmet tour is the one, at a real cost of NZ$377 from Auckland.

Fares checked 12 August 2026

Ferry fares on this page were read on 12 August 2026: NZ$62 on-peak adult return, NZ$46.50 off-peak. Fullers360 revised its fares on 16 February 2026 and they are still moving, so check the operator’s own site before you count on a number. Tour prices come from the listing itself, read the same day.

Check Taste of Waiheke dates

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

The other guided days

Best value wine dayFerry pass included

Frequently asked questions

Is lunch included on the Taste of Waiheke tour?

Yes, a two-course lunch is in the price, along with the round-trip ferry, a private bus, tastings at two vineyards and an olive-oil tasting. Included is not the same as flawless — one reviewer’s snapper arrived overcooked, and I would rather you knew that.

Where does the Taste of Waiheke tour depart from?

The Auckland ferry terminal, piers 11 and 12. Getting to the terminal itself is covered on the departure page.

Is it better value than the cheaper wine tours?

It depends on lunch. At NZ$240 it includes a two-course meal that the NZ$185 wineries’ tour does not, and both include the crossing, so the NZ$55 gap is roughly the price of the meal. The wineries’ tour visits more vineyards.

How long does it take?

Five and a half hours including the crossings, which is most of a visitor’s day. If you want island time either side of a tour, look at how a full day fits together.