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Auckland tours Waiheke Island Wineries / Gourmet’s World

LuckiePuris
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LuckiePuris

LuckiePuris

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Hi all, 

Looking for feedback please on these two Princess shore excursions.

We are in port early but also leave early, which means so far all the independent wine tours we’ve found wouldn’t be suitable and won’t get back in time.

Also open to any other suggestions for food & wine sightseeing in Auckland.

We’re not particularly interested in sky towed, sea life aquarium, museums, whale watching etc, and stumped on what else to do for the day.

Thank you!

Waiheke Island & Wineries / LOCAL CONNECTIONS: A GOURMET'S WORLD

Waiheke Island & Wineries

5.5 hours

Waiheke Island 
An unforgettable taste of paradise in the Hauraki Gulf, Waiheke Island is home to a small population of around 8,000 residents, but it has long provided inspiration for artists and writers who have graced its sandy shores, including beautiful Onetangi Beach, regarded as one of the best in New Zealand. Waiheke is also noted for its idyllic landscapes, from lush vineyards to olive groves, as well as a thriving art scene and inspiring sculpture park that brings art and nature together in harmony.

Waiheke Wineries
Blessed with a warm, dry microclimate, Waiheke Island's beautiful vineyards and olive groves thrive in the sunshine. A host of boutique wineries produce acclaimed artisan wines, and the majority of vineyards have a cellar door that is open year round, as well as tastings that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and, more recently, Chardonnay, served with local tidbits amidst breathtaking views overlooking the Auckland skyline. Visit two wineries as you explore the island.

What you will see along the way:
During your Waitemata Harbour ferry ride, take in picture-postcard views of Auckland's waterfront, sandy beaches and coastal scenery on your approximately 35-minute cruise.

Snack:
Beautiful Onetangi Beach, long regarded as one of the best in New Zealand, is where you'll stop for a cup of morning tea and a fresh muffin. Later, as you explore the local wineries, you'll enjoy a tasting of their best labels.


LOCAL CONNECTIONS: A GOURMET'S WORLD

4.5 or 6 hours (time unclear)

WHAT YOU VISIT
The Vineyard Cottages
Designed by Princess Cruises and inspired by local expert Karen Thompson Smith, this exclusive and immersive tour allows you to have lunch at a stunning countryside retreat, to taste local products, sip wine and to relax at the magical black sand beach of Muriwai. Elle Armon-Jones, owner of The Vineyard Cottages will meet you at the dock and whisk you away to meet artisan producers, honey producers, cheese mongers and more. Once you arrive at The Vineyard Cottages, you'll stroll through the vineyard and enjoy a tasting of three different wines. Later, you can admire the work of an artist in residence, Donna Massey, whose vibrantly colored pieces line the walls of the Vintners Lodge. 

Muriwai Beach
Acclaimed as one of New Zealand's most spectacular black-sand surf beaches, the windswept cliffs are home to a huge gannet colony from August to March. 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Your camera will be working overtime! The gardens at The Vineyard Cottages offer endless birdsongs of the fantails, Kereru and stunning parakeets while the trailhead at Muriwai Beach boasts sweeping views out to the Tasman Sea.

LUNCH
Lunch will be a showcase of produce all collected from within a six-mile radius. After the wine tasting, you'll take a trip to the veggie patch with the chef to pick herbs for the salads and taste some of the native spices dotted around the property. 

WHAT YOU SEE ALONG THE WAY
The bustling streets of Auckland give way to a sprawling countryside of rolling hills and quaint farmhouses.

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LuckiePuris

LuckiePuris

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12 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Either would be great but I'd probably go for the Waikeke excursion. The ferry ride itself is gorgeous.

Thank you, I’m leaning towards this one too as it’s better value and a bit more clear on what the tour includes.

 

By chance have you had any experience with the Waiheke bus that runs through the wineries? Would this be a recommended option or better to stick to the cruise tour? Thanks!

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OzKiwiJJ

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14 hours ago, LuckiePuris said:

Thank you, I’m leaning towards this one too as it’s better value and a bit more clear on what the tour includes.

 

By chance have you had any experience with the Waiheke bus that runs through the wineries? Would this be a recommended option or better to stick to the cruise tour? Thanks!

No, it's years since we last went to Waiheke.

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OzKiwiJJ

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4 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Now I feel envious.  I always organised land travel pre and after cruises.  

We usually go over 2-3 days before a cruise but this time I wanted to allow extra time, just in case. I don't trust the airlines atvthe moment but I booked the flight through HAL so if anything goes haywire it's on them to get us to Auckland. 

 

We have quite a few friends in Auckland so visits there these days is usually a mad rush catching up with them. 

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MMDown Under

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11 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

We usually go over 2-3 days before a cruise but this time I wanted to allow extra time, just in case. I don't trust the airlines atvthe moment but I booked the flight through HAL so if anything goes haywire it's on them to get us to Auckland. 

 

We have quite a few friends in Auckland so visits there these days is usually a mad rush catching up with them. 

Agree it is a smart move to book airline through HAL.  Nice to have friends in Auckland.  

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LittleFish1976

LittleFish1976

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21 hours ago, LuckiePuris said:

Thank you, I’m leaning towards this one too as it’s better value and a bit more clear on what the tour includes.

 

By chance have you had any experience with the Waiheke bus that runs through the wineries? Would this be a recommended option or better to stick to the cruise tour? Thanks!

 

I agree that Waiheke is a pleasant day trip. The ferry ride I loved but I do love being on a boat of any size. We went there at dusk for a wonderful dinner at one of the wineries - drinks prior to dinner, outside enjoying the view. Consequently I haven't seen much of the island (although it's very pretty) but it does lead me to comment that it would be a shame to go there and not enjoy a lovely meal which you'd be unlikely to get on a ship's tour. I've been on a winery tour with a different cruise line in another area of NZ and it was a very lame experience - not a bit of food on a tour hours long and just tasting wines.

 

Could you perhaps go there independently having booked a table at a winery restaurant for lunch? We took a cab from the harbour at Waiheke to the winery and back again. Couple it with a visit to another site there, if you wish, and have a memorable day.

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LuckiePuris

LuckiePuris

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On 11/21/2022 at 6:09 PM, LittleFish1976 said:

 

I agree that Waiheke is a pleasant day trip. The ferry ride I loved but I do love being on a boat of any size. We went there at dusk for a wonderful dinner at one of the wineries - drinks prior to dinner, outside enjoying the view. Consequently I haven't seen much of the island (although it's very pretty) but it does lead me to comment that it would be a shame to go there and not enjoy a lovely meal which you'd be unlikely to get on a ship's tour. I've been on a winery tour with a different cruise line in another area of NZ and it was a very lame experience - not a bit of food on a tour hours long and just tasting wines.

 

Could you perhaps go there independently having booked a table at a winery restaurant for lunch? We took a cab from the harbour at Waiheke to the winery and back again. Couple it with a visit to another site there, if you wish, and have a memorable day.

Thank you for the suggestion. If we do this independently how would you get around the island to make your way to a winery or two? Thanks!

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LittleFish1976

LittleFish1976

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5 hours ago, LuckiePuris said:

Thank you for the suggestion. If we do this independently how would you get around the island to make your way to a winery or two? Thanks!

 

We took a cab from the harbour to the winery and back again. There didn't seem to be any problem with ringing for one.

 

My daughter is going to Waiheke on Saturday with some friends so I'll make some enquiries and see what she recommends.

 

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LuckiePuris

LuckiePuris

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9 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

 

We took a cab from the harbour to the winery and back again. There didn't seem to be any problem with ringing for one.

 

My daughter is going to Waiheke on Saturday with some friends so I'll make some enquiries and see what she recommends.

 

Thank you very much

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OzKiwiJJ

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4 hours ago, LuckiePuris said:

Thanks Julie, I liked the look of this but unfortunately it only looks to run a few days a week

Yes, that's a bit annoying if you're not there on a weekend. There used to be a regular bus service from Matiatia to Onehangi which went past a few of the wineries but I don't think it ran as often as a HoHo bus would. 

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JeffroK

JeffroK

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OK, Miles off thread here but......

 

Roughly 2016 I visited NZ , went  to Bay of Islands (Paihia) and though we got torrential rain overnight (about 200mm in 4 days) the days were beautiful. I then went to Auckland where I had booked an evening Ferry-Wine Tasting-Dinner tour.

The weather was terrible, went to the Ferry and battled 2m waves i the dark and rain. Got to Waiheke and discovered that I was the tour!!!!

So off to a flash winery where I found a 1 person tasting isnt too much fun.

The to a Restuarant where there was a wedding reception which was happy noisy and I suppose better than being there as the only customer.

 

It wasnt the tour from hell and I'd love to try it again but my cruise gets into Auckland at 1100 on Christmas day so I will not be venturing too far.

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MMDown Under

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14 minutes ago, JeffroK said:

OK, Miles off thread here but......

 

Roughly 2016 I visited NZ , went  to Bay of Islands (Paihia) and though we got torrential rain overnight (about 200mm in 4 days) the days were beautiful. I then went to Auckland where I had booked an evening Ferry-Wine Tasting-Dinner tour.

The weather was terrible, went to the Ferry and battled 2m waves i the dark and rain. Got to Waiheke and discovered that I was the tour!!!!

So off to a flash winery where I found a 1 person tasting isnt too much fun.

The to a Restuarant where there was a wedding reception which was happy noisy and I suppose better than being there as the only customer.

 

It wasnt the tour from hell and I'd love to try it again but my cruise gets into Auckland at 1100 on Christmas day so I will not be venturing too far.

Those are the type of memories we can all laugh about later on.  Hope for better experiences next visit but not Christmas Day.  

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LittleFish1976

LittleFish1976

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On 11/25/2022 at 4:29 AM, LuckiePuris said:

Thank you very much

 

Confirmed that taxis are very easy to get so if you're going to 2 or even 3 places then getting a taxi would be the way to go. That's what I would do If I wanted to enjoy the scenery and a pleasant meal from a vineyard.

 

You can book tickets for the ferry in advance.

 

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