During our vacation in New Zealand, we were sure to reserve time for an Auckland wine day trip. Before we left the country we had managed to double that, embarking on two unique day trips to try a few local varietals. Each day trip started the exact same way: under cloudy, gray skies and with a frantic rush to find breakfast before embarking on a little day drinking.
If you have been following our adventures at Road Unraveled, you know that Adam and I are not novices when it comes to wine tasting. In addition to extensively exploring wineries near our home in Virginia, we have sipped wine throughout the USA in states from Delaware to New Mexico to Washington, and we have dedicated plenty of time to learning about wine regions around the world in countries like Uruguay, North Macedonia, Italy, and Portugal. Although we’re flexible about almost every aspect of wine tasting (including getting an early start—that’s how we discovered sauvignon blanc and oysters are delicious at 10:00 AM!), we do have a few rules we universally follow. We sip slowly. We stay hydrated. And we always start the day with a good, carb-laden foundation. Somehow, we almost broke that rule twice in as many days before our Auckland wine day trips; vacation mode caught up with us, and a leisurely morning of sleeping in and getting ready ended with a crazed dash to find something to eat. If there was ever a time to be grateful for the Auckland food scene, it was in those moments: fueled by piping hot coffee and bagels (really good bagels!), we were ready to learn about and try some Auckland wine.
Whether your Auckland wine day trip takes you into your own backyard or, like us, halfway around the world, there are plenty of exceptional wineries to choose from and delicious wines to try. We incorporated two wine tours into our vacation schedule: one that took us toward New Zealand’s west coast and another that took us to Waiheke Island. We quickly discovered what we know you will realize as well: New Zealand wine has a well-earned reputation for excellence, and no wine-lover’s vacation is complete without an Auckland wine day trip. Here are some of the wineries we loved and the tours that will take you on an Auckland wine day trip you won’t forget!
What wines to try in Auckland?
Wine flows through New Zealand like the water flows around it. Our New Zealand wine education started several days before we arrived in Auckland; we took a wine day trip from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, a region established by James Busby. As it turns out, Busby is also the father of the New Zealand wine tradition. In fact, the vines he planted were productive before those planted in Australia. Historically, wine struggled for a long time within New Zealand’s culture. Plagued by political issues like prohibition and the public’s preference for beer and liquor, it wasn’t until the 1980s that New Zealand wine began to enjoy true international recognition.
When you think about wine in New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc universally comes to mind. New Zealand’s moderate climate and rocky soil lends itself well to growing Sauvignon Blanc, a bright and fruit-forward grape that lends itself to vibrant wines. As we found out—and as has been the case in so many grape-growing regions we have visited—talented winemakers can produce exceptional wines even from grapes that aren’t purported to grow as well in a region, and New Zealand’s less famous varietals shine just as brightly as the famous Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay, Pinos Gris, and even Albariño and Gewürztraminer popped up on tasting menus during our visit. Red wine is also popular, and Adam was excited to see the focus on Pinot Noir (a favorite of his as well as a connection to Oregon, where he grew up and one of the most famous Pinot Noir regions in the world). Combined with the prevalence of Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, we didn’t have a hard time finding wines we loved as well as wines that perfectly paired with meals we ate in Auckland.
Auckland Wine Day Trip: Self-Driving and Tours
When planning an Auckland wine day trip, you’ll have two primary choices regarding your transportation: you can plan a day trip on your own, or you can take a guided tour.
Self-driving has some definite benefits, especially when it comes to which wineries you will visit and how much time you will have to spend at each one. If planning your schedule and having complete control over your itinerary is important to you, a self-driving Auckland wine day trip may be a great idea. You will be able to select the wineries you want to visit, and if you happen to find one you love you can easily extend your time there to incorporate a relaxing glass overlooking the vineyards. There are drawbacks; you will need a designated driver to avoid drinking and driving, and you will be responsible for all of your own research—including looking into special hours of operation due to local events and choosing the wineries you want to visit.
Tours often have more pros than cons for us, and when we planned our Auckland wine day trip, we decided a tour was the right choice. Although we did not have a say about which wineries we would visit, we were very happy to relax and enjoy the day without worrying about skipping a tasting so one of us could safely drive home. We also appreciated the chance to let the experts tell us which wineries we should try. Our tour guides were New Zealand wine experts, which meant we had a chance to benefit from their recommendations and knowledge about which wineries would provide a great experience.
Sipping Wine on Auckland’s West Coast

After a few other tourists joined us, it wasn’t long before we arrived at the Arataki Visitor Centre for a brief introduction to local culture. From there, it was on to the first of two major attractions: Karekare, home to the eponymous beach and waterfall. We parked along the side of the road and began a trek toward the beach, where a winding trail eventually emptied onto the famous black volcanic sand. Under gray skies threatening to open at any moment the beach looked brooding and pensive as waves thundered toward us and crashed along the shore. Our group was all but alone that morning; with most locals avoiding the incoming rain and because Karekare enjoys a bit of isolation from most tourists, there wasn’t a lot of competition for open space on the beach. We had plenty of time to explore and even dip our toes into the chilly Tasman Sea, marveling at the depth of the blue surf before us and the dark sand below us. From there we walked back inland toward the Karekare waterfalls, past native flora and fauna that punctuated each turn as the sound of the falls grew closer. Not far from the road we reached them, and our whole group paused for photos and, eventually, to simply appreciate how calming and lovely nature can be.
Our Post: 10 Things to Do in Auckland, New Zealand
► Soljans Estate Winery

More Information: Soljans.co.nz
► Westbrook Winery

More Information: Westbrook.co.nz
► Hunting Lodge Winery
Our Auckland wine day trip journey next took us to Hunting Lodge Winery, where we sat down to sample six different wines. With enough extra space in our luggage we would have taken home a bottle of anything we tried—maybe even everything we tried! The Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were lovely, and the Pinot Gris with notes of vanilla and pear was one of our favorite wines of the day. We ended up buying a bottle of the final wine we tried, a complex and flavorful Pinot Noir, that had lots of cherry notes and was almost too easy to drink. The tasting experience itself was just as nice as the wines we tried. Comfortably settled at tables against a stunning backdrop of rolling vineyards, our group was pleasantly relaxed as we sipped and compared notes.
More Information: TheHuntingLodge.com
► Coopers Creek Winery

More Information: CoopersCreek.co.nz
As our Auckland wine day trip came to a close and John brought us safely back to our hotel, we agreed that we could have used even more time to taste our way through the picturesque vineyards that are so prevalent throughout the country. Realizing we had one entire unscheduled day in our itinerary before we were due to head back to the United States, we eagerly booked one more Auckland wine day trip—this time to Waiheke Island!
Wine Tour on Waiheke Island
Known by many as “the wine island,” Waiheke Island is just 15 miles off the coast of New Zealand and easily accessible from Auckland’s ferry terminal. Like our Auckland wine day trip with John to the country’s west coast, our trip to Waiheke Island took place under dark clouds and with the threat of rain around every turn. While many visitors enjoy renting bikes or taking local transportation as they create a wine tasting itinerary, we decided to book a last-minute tour that included ferry tickets and tastings at three different wineries. After a rushed hunt for breakfast just in case we didn’t have a chance to eat during the tour, we were more than ready for a scenic boat ride. The ferry, which leaves regularly, comfortably shuttled us from the mainland to Waiheke Island, where we boarded a waiting bus to begin our island wine adventure.
► Mudbrick Vineyard

More Information: Mudbrick.co.nz
► Cable Bay Vineyards
Our second tasting of our second Auckland wine day trip took us to Cable Bay, where we were served four different wines. We started with Rosé, a dry wine that wasn’t too heavy with strawberry notes and instead maintained a balanced, fruity finish. From there we were offered a citrusy, ever-so-slightly oaky Chardonnay before enjoying two red wines: a Syrah and a Malbec. I really liked the Syrah, which had lots of blackberry and cherry; the Malbec offered deeper notes of red fruits and chocolate that made it more complex but still approachable. We would have enjoyed more time to relax and appreciate the wines, but our large group was already growing rowdy, and the noise and the crowds had us returning our glasses and seeking the comparative solace of the back patio shortly after the tasting was finished.
More Information: Cablebay.nz
► Te Motu Vineyard

More Information: TeMotu.co.nz
Which Auckland Wine Tour to Choose
Like with any destination you may visit, there are numerous types of tours and experiences available to you. Here are a few tips that may help you select the experience that will be a perfect fit for your vacation.
Think about timing. How long do you have to spend during your Auckland wine day trip? With a full day, you can venture away from Auckland to see stunning sights and try some off-the-beaten-path wineries. With a shorter amount of time you will be more restricted by geography, although destinations like Waiheke Island can be enjoyed in just half a day. Consider how much of your itinerary you want to dedicate to wine tasting to identify the experience that will work best for you.

Look at what is included. While most Auckland wine day trip tours will include transportation and wine tastings, know what else is included—or excluded—before you book. Our small group tour to the waterfalls and wineries included a full lunch and a stop at the Arataki Visitor Centre, but our trip to Waiheke Island only included transportation and the tastings—we didn’t receive any food or the opportunity to purchase food while we were on the island. Be sure you know what to expect so you budget for additional expenses.
Where to Stay in Auckland
We stayed at the Grand Mercure Auckland Hotel our home base during our visit, and if you are looking for a conveniently-located place near many key sightseeing attractions it may be a great place for you to stay, too. The Mercure is within walking distance of many of our favorite places, including our favorite Auckland restaurants, and it’s also close to the harbour for easy access to the ferry terminal! The Mercure offered well-sized, clean rooms with comfortable beds and free WiFi—we are planning to stay there again the next time our travels take us to Auckland.
More Information: Booking.com/Grand-Mercure-Auckland-Hotel
We found the best hotel rates on Booking.com; you may find a great deal for the Mercure or other properties on Booking.com as well. Here are a few deals to consider.
Enjoy Your Auckland Wine Day Trip!
We have had the chance to try wine around the world, but there is a good reason why we booked an Auckland wine day trip before arriving in New Zealand—and why we booked a second one before we left to return home. New Zealand has some exceptional wineries that produce some world-class wines, and we know you will have a fantastic time exploring and sipping during your vacation. If the skies look a bit gray, don’t worry—the wine tastes just as good between rain drops as it does under sunny skies.
Just be sure you leave enough time for breakfast.
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* From time to time, our travels are directly impacted by a service or company. In this case, we visited multiple locations as part of a tour with Auckland Wine Trail Tours, and this post includes our candid review of our experience. We selected Auckland Wine Trail Tours and other locations based on our own research and travel needs; we were not offered and did not receive compensation of any kind from them or any other party in exchange for our review. Learn more about our travel philosophy here.