The tours all sound alike online. The real differences are four: how long, what you eat, how many people share the van, and whether the ferry is in the ticket.
The short answer
Take the Essence tour for a complete first wine day with lunch, the half-day tour if you want the morning free, the premium tour for a small group of at most 11 guests, and the scenic four-vineyard tour to see four wineries and choose your own lunch. All guided tours are for ages 18 and up, and each lists the ferry ticket as not included; the ferry + Explorer bus combo is the option with the crossing in the ticket.
Pick a day, or the first and last day you are in Auckland. We check the booking calendar of each wine tour, the Explorer bus and the zipline, and show which still have places. The plain return ferry is left out, because its ticket stays valid for a month.
In the next 7 days, all 5 tours on this page still have places.
Ferry: Not included
Ferry: Not included
Ferry: Not included
Ferry: Not included
Ferry: Included
Every guided wine tour on this page takes you to Waiheke wineries with tastings led by people who know the island, moves you between cellar doors so driving stays off your plate, and is strictly for ages 18 and up. That part is constant. What varies is the frame around it: the tours run between four and six hours; one includes a plated lunch with a glass of wine, one a shared winery platter, one a food pairing at the tasting itself; one caps the group at 11 guests.
And then there is the question every Waiheke booking has to answer: the ferry. Every guided tour on this page lists the ferry ticket as not included: you book the crossing yourself and the tour starts on the island. The Essence tour (currently 4.9★ from 128 reviews) plans around the 10:00 Fullers ferry, the half-day tour around the 12:00 one, and the scenic four-vineyard tour brings you back to the ferry at 15:40. Before you pay, look at the inclusions at checkout once more.
One wine day per priority, chosen on what its listing includes. Every tour follows further down.
Three wineries with all tasting fees, then a one-course lunch and a glass of wine at Three Seven Two on the Onetangi beachfront. Pickup at Matiatia wharf; the 10:00 ferry from Auckland is yours to book. Ages 18 and up.
At most 11 guests, tasting fees at three boutique vineyards and a food tasting at Casita Miro. Pickup at the ferry or your island accommodation; ferry tickets and lunch are not included.
Starts after the 12:00 ferry and leaves your morning free: wine tastings, a vineyard platter lunch and, time permitting, Onetangi Beach. Ages 18 and up, and not suitable for vegans.
Five hours from Matiatia wharf by people carrier or double-decker bus, with two or four wineries depending on the option you book. Lunch and the ferry ticket are not included. Ages 18 and up.
Each card answers the same questions, including whether the ferry is part of the ticket. Open one for the full tour details.
The fullest guided format: three boutique wineries over five hours, with a one-course lunch and a glass of wine at Three Seven Two in Onetangi. Runs from 2 guests; the ferry is not included.
Ananda Tours' signature wine tour: a guided 5-hour circuit of three boutique Waiheke wineries, with a one-course lunch and a glass of wine at Three Seven Two in Onetangi. It is the fullest of the guided wine-tour formats on this site: tastings, lunch and transport around the island in one booking.
The ferry is not part of the ticket: the listing names ferry tickets as not included, and the operator asks you to take the 10:00 Fullers ferry from Auckland at your own cost. The guide meets you at Matiatia with a sign board.
Details as the operator lists them on the booking platform. Where a listing is unclear about the ferry, this page says so.
Two wineries and a shared winery platter in four hours, with a stop at Onetangi Beach if time allows. It is an afternoon tour that starts after the 12:00 ferry from Auckland and ends around 16:45; the crossing is not included. Not suitable for vegans, per the operator.
The shorter Ananda format: two wineries instead of three, a winery platter instead of a plated lunch, and, if time allows, a stop at Onetangi Beach on the way. It suits a day where the wine tour is one chapter, not the whole programme. It fills the afternoon and leaves the morning free: the tour leaves Matiatia at 12:40 and drops you back around 16:45.
The ferry is not included: the operator asks you to take the 12:00 ferry from Auckland and meets you on the island.
Details as the operator lists them on the booking platform. Where a listing is unclear about the ferry, this page says so.
The small-group vineyard day: three wineries over six hours, among them Casita Miro with a food pairing. Ferry tickets explicitly not included; pickup at Matiatia or your accommodation.
The small-group option from Waiheke Island Wine Tours: at most 11 guests, three wineries over six hours, among them Casita Miro with a food pairing to go with the tasting. The longest of the guided wine tours that start on the island, and the one to pick if a full vineyard day is the point of the trip.
Ferry tickets are explicitly not included. Book the crossing separately. Pickup is at Matiatia ferry terminal or from your accommodation on the island.
Pickup at Matiatia ferry terminal or from your Waiheke accommodation.
Details as the operator lists them on the booking platform. Where a listing is unclear about the ferry, this page says so.
Four wineries in five hours, starting at Matiatia ferry terminal: sit-down tastings at Cable Bay, Stonyridge and Mudbrick, plus a lunch stop at Batch Winery at your own cost. Back at the ferry at 15:40; booked per seat, by minivan or double-decker bus depending on the option. The ferry ticket is not included, so book it yourself.
A guided wine day by minivan or double-decker bus, depending on the option you book. The guide meets you at Matiatia ferry terminal, and the route runs to Cable Bay first, then to Batch Winery (the island's highest point) for the lunch stop, then to Stonyridge and finally to Mudbrick. The sit-down tastings are at three of the four wineries; lunch at Batch is optional and at your own cost.
The tour brings you back to the ferry terminal at 15:40. If you would rather stay on (at Mudbrick or in Oneroa, for instance), you take a later ferry on your own. The listing names the ferry ticket as not included, so book the crossing yourself. Booked per seat with no minimum, for ages 18 and up. Not to be confused with the premium small-group tour on this site: that one caps the group at 11 and runs six hours.
Matiatia ferry terminal on Waiheke. The guide waits with a name board.
Details as the operator lists them on the booking platform. Where a listing is unclear about the ferry, this page says so.
The no-tour alternative: return ferry plus the 16-stop hop-on hop-off loop, and you step off at cellar doors along the route, paying tastings as you go. The one option on this page with the ferry in the ticket. April to November: Wednesday to Sunday only.
The build-your-own island day: the return ferry from Auckland plus a day ticket for the Explorer hop-on hop-off bus, in one booking, with the ferry included in the ticket. The bus runs a loop of 16 stops in about 80 minutes, starting from Matiatia at 10:00, and covers beaches, villages and several cellar doors; a live tracking app shows where the next bus is.
Two scheduling facts to plan around: from April to November the Explorer bus runs Wednesday to Sunday only (daily December to March), and the ticket requires a booking. You cannot just walk up.
Details as the operator lists them on the booking platform. Where a listing is unclear about the ferry, this page says so.
Read off each trip’s own product page. When a page is silent on a point, the cell tells you.
| Trip | Ferry | Programme | Food | Age | Starts at | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Essence of Waiheke wine tour, three boutique wineries + lunch | Not included | 3 wineries | Lunch with a glass of wine | 18+ | Matiatia wharf, Waiheke | 5 h |
| Wine tastings & lunch, the half-day tour | Not included | 2 wineries | Vineyard platter lunch | 18+ | Matiatia wharf, Waiheke | 4 h |
| Premium wine tour, small group of at most 11 guests | Not included | 3 wineries | Food tasting, lunch extra | 18+ | Matiatia or your island stay | 6 h |
| Scenic wine journey, four vineyards, lunch stop at your own cost | Not included | 2 or 4 wineries, by option | Not included | 18+ | Matiatia wharf, Waiheke | 5 h |
| Return ferry + hop-on hop-off Explorer bus, day ticket | Included | Bus loop with 16 stops | Not included | Not stated | Auckland ferry terminal | 1 day |
From the GetYourGuide product pages, checked in October 2026. The duration is the provider’s figure; on the zipline, anyone aged 15 or under rides with a paying adult who zips too.
| Essence (5 h) | Half-day (4 h) | Premium small group (6 h) | Scenic, 4 vineyards (5 h) | DIY: ferry + bus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry included? | No: take the 10:00 Fullers ferry from Auckland at your own cost | No: take the 12:00 ferry from Auckland yourself | No, the operator says so explicitly | No: book the crossing yourself; the guide meets you at Matiatia | Yes, the return crossing is part of the ticket |
| Wineries | 3 boutique wineries | 2 wineries | 3 wineries, incl. Casita Miro with food pairing | 4 wineries: Cable Bay, Batch (lunch stop), Stonyridge, Mudbrick; sit-down tastings at three | Your pick of the cellar doors along the 16-stop loop, with tastings paid at each door |
| Food | One-course lunch + glass of wine at Three Seven Two, Onetangi | Shared winery platter (not vegan-suitable, per the operator) | Food pairing with the Casita Miro tasting; lunch at your own cost | Lunch stop at Batch Winery, at your own cost | Whatever you order, wherever you get off |
| Group size | Up to 18 guests per the operator; runs from 2 | Up to 18 guests per the operator | Capped at 11 guests | Not published. Booked per seat, no minimum; minivan or double-decker bus depending on the option | A public bus, shared with whoever else is riding |
| Time on the island | 5 hours of programme | 4 hours, from the 12:00 ferry until about 16:45; the morning stays yours | 6 hours, the full vineyard day | 5 hours from Matiatia, back at the ferry at 15:40 (or stay on and take a later ferry yourself) | Entirely up to you; the loop takes 80 minutes if you stay on the whole way round |
| Best for | First visit, wine + a proper lunch in one booking | Wine as one chapter of a wider island day | Wine-first travellers who want a small van, not a coach | Seeing more wineries in one day, with a lunch you choose yourself | Independent explorers, mixed groups where some skip the wine |
The product pages do not state group sizes for the two Ananda tours; Ananda’s own website gives a maximum of 18 for both. For the scenic four-vineyard tour we found no figure, and we would rather say so than guess. Current prices are in the tour cards above and in the table below.
The guided wine tours on this page do not carry the ferry in the ticket: you book the crossing separately and the operator meets you on the island. The option that does is the ferry + Explorer bus combo, which is a different kind of day. The Essence tour plans around the 10:00 Fullers ferry, the half-day tour around the 12:00 one, and the scenic four-vineyard tour has you back at Matiatia at 15:40. Whatever you book, read the inclusions at checkout before you pay.
Not every Waiheke wine tour is part of our comparison: we list the tours whose prices and availability we can show you live. Tours you may have seen elsewhere under other names are real options too, and if one of them fits your day, nothing on this page argues against it. The same caveat applies to them too: check whether the ferry is included before you pay, because the combos and the boutique tours handle it differently.
You want the Essence tour if this is your first Waiheke wine day and you want it complete. Three wineries, a proper sit-down lunch in Onetangi, five hours: the version most people picture when they say “wine tour”. The ferry is yours to book; the operator plans around the 10:00 Fullers sailing.
You want the half-day tour if the wine is a chapter, not the book. Two wineries and a platter in four hours, from the 12:00 ferry until about 16:45, so the morning stays free. Vegans should pick a different tour, because the operator says the platter format does not suit them.
You want the premium small-group tour if the vineyard day is the point of the trip. Six hours, three wineries including Casita Miro with its food pairing, and at most 11 guests in the van. Pickup from the ferry terminal or your accommodation takes the logistics out of it. Just remember the crossing itself is yours to book.
You want the scenic four-vineyard tour if you would like to see more wineries and choose your own lunch. Five hours from Matiatia ferry terminal, where the guide waits with a name board: tastings at Cable Bay, Stonyridge and Mudbrick, and in between a lunch stop at Batch Winery, the island’s highest point, where you order at your own cost. You are back at the ferry at 15:40, or you stay on at Mudbrick or in Oneroa and take a later ferry on your own. It is booked per seat with no minimum and runs by minivan or double-decker bus depending on the option; the group size is not published. That makes it a different day from the premium small-group tour, which caps the group at 11, runs six hours and pairs food with the tasting at Casita Miro. The crossing is yours to book.
You want the DIY combo if you would rather steer the day yourself or part of your group skips the wine. The ferry + Explorer bus ticket is the one option here with the crossing included, and the loop passes several cellar doors where you pay tastings as you go. From April to November, plan it for Wednesday to Sunday, because the bus rests on Mondays and Tuesdays.
First visit and one booking should cover everything: take the Essence tour. Morning free, wine in the afternoon: take the half-day tour. Small van, full vineyard day: take the premium small-group tour. Four wineries, lunch of your choosing, back at the ferry mid-afternoon: take the scenic four-vineyard tour. Your own pace, ferry included: build the day with the ferry + Explorer bus combo. Whichever you pick, check the inclusions at checkout before you pay.
Sorted by review count. Tap a column header to re-sort. The “What’s in it” column starts with the ferry answer.
| Photo | Trip | What's in it | Rating ↕ | Price ↕ | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
DIY: ferry + Explorer bus | Ferry INCLUDED · return crossing + 16-stop bus loop, tastings paid at each cellar door (Apr–Nov: Wed–Sun) | ★ 4.6 (3,939) | NZ$ 104 per person | Book now |
|
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Scenic wine journey (4 vineyards) | Ferry NOT included · 4 wineries, tastings at 3, lunch stop at own cost · 5 h · 18+ | ★ 4.8 (336) | NZ$ 190 per person | Book now |
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Essence of Waiheke wine tour | Ferry NOT included · 3 boutique wineries, lunch + glass of wine · 5 h · 18+ | ★ 4.9 (128) | NZ$ 285 per person | Book now |
|
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Premium wine tour (max 11 guests) | Ferry NOT included · 3 wineries incl. Casita Miro food pairing, small group · 6 h · 18+ | ★ 4.8 (30) | NZ$ 249 per person | Book now |
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Wine tastings & lunch half-day | Ferry NOT included · 2 wineries, winery platter, Onetangi Beach if time allows · 4 h · 18+ | ★ 4.8 (21) | NZ$ 255 per person | Book now |
Prices in this table come live from GetYourGuide or Viator and include taxes and booking fees. They pay for the trip itself; the ferry costs extra unless the row says it is included. “What’s in it” summarises the product title and states whether the ferry is included. The full list of inclusions is on the product page.
Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.
★ 4.9 (128 reviews)
“An absolutely amazing tour- the vineyards were stunning and felt like they were really hand picked and special. Our guide Janis was amazing- he really catered to our level of knowledge on wine (not much!) and we left the day having learnt so much. It was also so appreciated that we were picked up and dropped off at our accommodation rather than the ferry port- nothing felt like too much trouble.”
“Michael was an excellent guide, informative and humourous, and extremely knowledgeable. We visited Mud Brick, Goldie and Obsidian. Goldie was our favourite, we loved the history behind it, and the wines were all good. Lunch at 372 in Onetangi was very enjoyable with meat, fish and veggie options.”
“… we are still delighted with our experience. Among others, the Casita Miro vineyard which we did not know about and which won us over. The guide, very friendly, provided us with very interesting explanations.”
“late to lunch, long wait for lunch. lunch was excellent”
“Unfortunately our 10 am ferry left at 9.45 and was fully loaded so couldn’t get on another till around 10.45 and missed first winery because of the lateness (which was made up at the end) & then the other 2 wineries (although lovely) were quite rushed … Despite this the tour tried very hard to accomodate everyone’s needs and the wineries we did visit were very nice.”
The praise across these reviews is consistent: guides who know the island, wineries that expect you, a lunch spot right on the beach. The most concrete criticism concerns one structural point: the ferry is not under the tour's control. One review describes a full ferry that cost winery time, because the tour starts on the island and plans around the 10:00 boat you book yourself; one older review also complains about a changed lunch venue. For context, all critical text reviews date from 2019, and the recent reviews we collected are all positive.
★ 4.8 (21 reviews)
“Comfy air-conditioned bus with very knowledgeable tourguide. An easy and relaxed tourwith excellent food and even better wine. We enjoyed learning about the history of Waiheke and the wine industry there as well as great local recommendations. Thanks for a great day out!”
“Great tour - each winery was a unique and lovely experience. Loved the charcuterie board lunch - no one was able to finish it as their was so much food. Simon was a knowledgeable tour guide as he resides on the island. The group got more fun with each stop. And the island views were gorgeous.”
“Excellent guide Glenn was good company and informative”
“First winery was very good, except they charged all the party for extra glass of wine … Second winery, disorganised and only one glass to taste 4 different wines ! Totally unprofessional. Third winery, again , not prepared for our visit, only one wine glass to sample 4 different wine/ not even water to clean out glasses between tastings … Lovely guide Simon, but he just a cog in the money making machine.”
A thin data set, read it as such: this tour has few reviews, and all the text reviews date from 2023. The praise is about the guides, the food and the relaxed pace. The one detailed critical review targets the organisation of the tastings on that day (unprepared wineries, one glass for several wines, an unexpected extra charge), and in the ratings breakdown, value for money is where this tour reads weakest. Nothing here suggests a pattern across many trips; there simply are not many voices yet.
★ 4.8 (30 reviews)
“I cannot say enough about how fantastic this tour was! Definitely worth the extra $ for this small group tour where the intimate nature just makes her experience so much more special. … when I got off the ferry and couldn't locate my guide, one call and they connected me with him in no time flat. … The day is nicely balanced out with 3 FANTASTIC wineries, where we did not feel rushed at all. … it was one of my favorite days of my NZ trip, hands down.”
“This trip was perfect! Just 9 guests, a funny, knowledgeable and informative guide/driver called Oliver and 3 excellent wineries serving 3 interesting and very tasty wines each. I really enjoyed the day and would do it again if other wineries are included next time.”
“Glenn was a character, full of humor that kept us laughing. We traveled to Batch, Casita Miro and Mudbridge, the latter the very best. … Make sure to ask Glenn about lunch before making any changes to reservations youve made, and hold your questions to the end for a smooth experience.”
“My only complaint is that Casita Miro was so good, the other two wineries didn’t match it. That’s nobody’s fault!”
At the time we collected these, the review filter for one to three stars held no text reviews at all. The mildest published criticisms are a four-star review with practical tips and a five-star note that the wineries are not equally strong (Casita Miro stands out). Two caveats live outside the reviews, on the product page itself: lunch is at your own cost, and ferry tickets are not included. The review base is small, so read the enthusiasm accordingly.
★ 4.8 (336 reviews)
“Absolutely fantastic tour, even better than expected! Well paced and flawlessly organised. Great mix of stunning wineries for everyone to enjoy. We had not been to NZ before and during this tour we learnt a lot about not only the wineries but the country and culture.”
“Oliver was very friendly and timely. The overall experience was great. Bus was clean and easy access. As a note the fuller ferry leaves Auckland on the hour. The Island Direct ferry leaves at 10:15. So you must take the Fuller ferry.”
“This was a fantastic way to see Waiheke Island. Our guide, Julie, was a fountain of knowledge and had a great sense of humour. Lunch was very tasty and eaten in a beautiful setting. The 3 wine tastings added to our understanding of Waiheke wines that are unavailable off the island.”
“I highly recommend this experience. Caleb was wonderful. He was waiting at the dock as we disembarked from the ferry from Auckland Downtown Terminal. He was knowledgeable of the island and the individual wineries themselves. I recommend staying a bit later after the last stop - Mudbrick - and stay for the sunset and catch a later ferry. It's worth it.”
All ten written reviews we collected from this listing are five-star, so there is no critical voice to show here; the listing's own review summary mentions some criticism of timing and ferry connections, but none of these ten says so. Two practical notes come from the reviewers themselves: one advises taking a Fullers ferry rather than the 10:15 Island Direct sailing, and two describe staying on at Mudbrick for the sunset. Two caveats live on the product page, not in the reviews: lunch at Batch is at your own cost, and the ferry ticket is not included.
Reviews collected from the tours' GetYourGuide pages. Shortened for length (marked with …), wording unchanged; names reduced to first name and country.
Mostly no. The premium small-group tour and the half-day tour state plainly that the crossing is not included: you book the ferry separately and the tour starts on the island. The Essence tour also lists ferry tickets as not included and asks you to take the 10:00 Fullers ferry at your own cost. The scenic four-vineyard tour meets you at Matiatia and leaves the ferry ticket out as well. One option on this page carries the crossing in the ticket: the ferry + Explorer bus combo.
They aim at different days rather than competing head-on. The Essence tour is the complete first-visit package with lunch. The half-day tour is an afternoon of wine that leaves your morning free. The premium tour is the small-group, wine-first day with at most 11 guests. The scenic four-vineyard tour covers four wineries in five hours, with a lunch stop you pay for yourself. If you would rather roam, the ferry + Explorer bus combo passes several cellar doors and includes the crossing. The comparison table on this page walks through the differences.
In summer, yes. December to February is Waiheke's high season, and weekends and public holidays fill up first. Every option on this page can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start.
The guided wine tours are for ages 18 and up, because tastings are the core of the programme. A mixed group where some skip the wine is usually happier with the ferry + Explorer bus combo: the wine drinkers step off at cellar doors, the rest at beaches and villages, and the ticket includes the crossing for the whole group.
The Essence tour includes a one-course lunch with a glass of wine at Three Seven Two in Onetangi. The half-day tour includes a shared winery platter, which the operator lists as not suitable for vegans. The premium small-group tour pairs food with the tasting at Casita Miro; lunch itself is at your own cost. The scenic four-vineyard tour stops for lunch at Batch Winery, at your own cost. On the DIY combo you eat wherever you get off the bus, at your own cost.
The tours begin on Waiheke, a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. The half-day tour asks you to take the 12:00 ferry, the Essence tour plans around the 10:00 ferry, and the premium tour picks you up at Matiatia ferry terminal or your Waiheke accommodation. The scenic four-vineyard tour meets you at Matiatia ferry terminal, where the guide waits with a name board, and brings you back there at 15:40. Ferries run every 30 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Every option on this page offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The policy shown at checkout is the binding one, so give it a quick look before you book.
