Waiheke wine tours compared by what they actually include
The five, and what is actually in the price
| Tour | Price | Ferry? | Lunch? | Length | Real all-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wineries’ tour | NZ$185 | Yes, ferry pass | No | 6 hrs, max 10 | NZ$185 |
| Scenic wine journey, 4 vineyards | NZ$190 | Yes | Optional extra on the day | 5 hrs | NZ$190 |
| Taste of Waiheke day tour | NZ$240 | Yes, return | Yes, two courses | 5.5 hrs | NZ$240 |
| Wine tour + beachfront lunch | NZ$290 | No | Yes | 5 hrs | NZ$336.50–352 |
| Gourmet food and wine tour | NZ$315 | No | Yes, family-style | 5 hrs | NZ$361.50–377 |
The pattern in that table took me a while to notice and I have not seen it written anywhere else: the three tours that include lunch are not the three that include the ferry. Only one tour on the island does both, and it is the Taste of Waiheke day at NZ$240. Everything cheaper leaves you buying lunch; everything dearer leaves you buying the crossing.
Where each one starts
Three of the five leave from Auckland with the crossing in the price. The Taste of Waiheke day departs the Auckland ferry terminal, piers 11 and 12. The wineries’ tour picks up at the Waiheke ferry terminal, and the four-vineyards journey meets you at Matiatia at 10:40am — its own booking note tells you to take the 10am walk-up sailing and arrive an hour early, or to book Island Direct instead.
The other two start on the island and say so. The beachfront-lunch tour begins and ends at Matiatia; the gourmet tour starts at Matiatia at 9:45am and its operator tells Auckland-based guests to take the 9am ferry. That sailing is on-peak, so the crossing costs NZ$62 rather than NZ$46.50, and a NZ$315 tour becomes a NZ$377 day. Nothing about that is hidden — it is just never added up for you.
Best value wine dayFerry pass includedFrom Auckland: Waiheke Island Wineries’ Tour
Four vineyardsFerry ticket includedAuckland: Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Journey 4 Vineyards
Food-ledReturn ferry includedFrom Auckland: Taste Of Waiheke Island Day Tour
Beachfront lunchAuckland: Waiheke Wine Tour + Tastings + Beach front Lunch
Top ratedWaiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Lunch
Cheapest with the ferry, best rated without
| Cheapest with the ferry in itFrom Auckland: Waiheke Island Wineries’ Tour | From Auckland: Taste Of Waiheke Island Day Tour | Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Lunch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sticker price | NZ$185 | NZ$240 | NZ$315 |
| Ferry included? | Yes — ferry pass | Yes — return | No |
| Real all-in cost | NZ$185 | NZ$240 | NZ$361.50–377 |
| Lunch | Not included | Two courses, included | Family-style, included |
| How long | 6 hours | 5.5 hours | 5 hours |
| Group size | Maximum 10 | Private bus | Not stated |
| Departs | Waiheke ferry terminal | Auckland, piers 11 and 12 | Matiatia, 9:45am |
| Rating | 4.7 · 1,013 | 4.6 · 209 | 4.9 · 303 |
| Book this → | View → | View → |
Every fare on this page was read on 12 August 2026. Fullers360 revised its fares on 16 February 2026 and they have moved since, so confirm the current price on the operator’s own site before you travel. I update this page when I catch a change, not the moment one happens.
What reviewers actually flag
The ratings on all five sit between 4.6 and 4.9, which tells you almost nothing. The specific complaints are more useful.
On the wineries’ tour, where lunch is not included: “Our only note was that we would have liked something to absorb some of the wine—either bread or crackers” (Kathryn Rose). That is the exclusion showing up in the glass. Another on the same tour is happier: “Great value for the money! Maree was a great tour guide.” (nakiea).
On the Taste of Waiheke day, where lunch is included: “Lunch was a little disappointing - had snapper which was overcooked” (Minette). Including lunch is not the same as lunch being good. On the four-vineyards journey, one reviewer counted what he got — “We had a total of 10 different wine tastings at 3 places and lunch at a separate” (Candy) — and another was doing currency maths in his head: “Excellent, but Yen is weak. So unfortunately, a bit too expensive.” (Minoru). He is the only reviewer on this site who noticed the thing this site is about.
On the two that start at Matiatia: “Lunch was delicious and the wine was perfect.” (Tayler) on the beachfront tour, and on the gourmet day, “the lunch and the wine pairings were superb. the olive oil tasting was informative and delicious.” (kevin) and “Very nice tour with a small group (only 5 in total) and a great and engaged guide Jo.” (Sven). It is the best-rated thing on the site. It is also the dearest, by more than the sticker price suggests.
The question I am not going to answer
People search for the best winery on Waiheke and I understand why. I have lived above Oneroa for eleven years and I still would not put a number on how many vineyards there are, because the sources disagree and the official tourism site does not state a total. A ranking would be taste dressed up as research. What I will say is that the tours differ in ways you can check before you pay: group size, lunch, the crossing, and how long you get at each stop. Pick on those.
If wine is only part of the plan, the full ladder of tickets and tours starts at the ferry itself, and there is a cheaper way to see several vineyards from the outside on the 16-stop bus pass — as long as you remember the tastings are not in that ticket either. Getting between vineyards under your own steam is covered in getting around Waiheke.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a wine tour on Waiheke Island cost?
Between NZ$185 and NZ$315 per person for the five guided days on this site. Two of those five do not include the ferry, so their real cost is NZ$336.50–352 and NZ$361.50–377 once you add the crossing at NZ$46.50 off-peak or NZ$62 on-peak. Prices read 12 August 2026; confirm before you book.
What is the best winery on Waiheke Island?
I am not going to name one. The sources disagree on how many vineyards the island even has, the official tourism site does not publish a total, and any “best” would be my palate presented as a fact. Compare the tours on what you can verify instead: group size, whether lunch and the ferry are included, and how long you get at each stop. Whether the trip is worth making at all is covered in is Waiheke worth it.
Do Waiheke wine tours include lunch?
Three of the five do. The Taste of Waiheke day includes a two-course lunch, the beachfront tour includes lunch with a glass of local wine, and the gourmet tour includes a family-style vineyard lunch. The wineries’ tour has a lunch break of about 90 minutes but does not feed you, and the four-vineyards journey sells lunch as an optional extra on the day.
Are Waiheke winery tours worth it?
If you want to drink without driving and you like being told what you are tasting, yes — five to six hours is most of a day trip and the guide handles the timing. If you would rather pick two places and linger, you are paying NZ$185 or more for a schedule. Either way, work out which sailing you are on first: a one-day Waiheke plan shows how much of the island a single crossing actually buys you.