A Taste of Auckland – City and wine tour

Spend the morning exploring Auckland city on a small group tour and then from midday, taste some of New Zealand’s best wine, eat local food and drink in the dramatic scenery of Auckland’s west coast.

After the pick-up from your city accommodation, you travel up Queen St, through Auckland’s central business district, past Auckland University before a photo stop in the inner-city park, known as The Domain. We continue on through the picturesque suburb of Ponsonby, known for its historic buildings, before heading over the Harbour Bridge to the North Shore.

You stroll on Narrow Neck Beach near historic Devonport before continuing up to the summit of Takarunga (Mt Victoria) where there are stunning panoramic views of Auckland city and the Waitematā Harbour. Then travel back over the Harbour Bridge to Westhaven Marina, the largest marina in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the afternoon we take a short (20 minute) drive to get to Kumeu Wine Country – Auckland’s Heritage Wine Region. Enjoy lunch at a contemporary vineyard restaurant, sample world renowned wines at 3 vineyards and visit the rugged cliffs and surf at the nearby Muriwai Beach.

Your first stop is at Soljans Vineyard. They have won many awards for their wide varieties of wines and has been owned and run by the Soljan family since 1937

Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at Soljans Winery restaurant. The restaurant is built with sunshine in mind and serves a seasonal menu showcasing fresh produce from around the region.

During the afternoon we visit two other wineries.

West Brook Winery. The West Brook cellar door looks across an idyllic duck pond and terraced picnic area to row after row of vines. The wines reflect true varietal character and their unique regional origins. Produced by one of New Zealand’s leading wine makers they are premium quality and have won numerous awards.

Coopers Creek Winery which offers outstanding wines from New Zealand’s best grape growing regions. Coopers Creek produce a wide variety of wines and are adventurous in their choice of grapes and blends.

During the afternoon we visit one of the region’s special places where (from August to mid April) you have the chance to see one of the world’s largest seabirds in their natural environment. Your journey takes you to one of the few mainland gannet nesting sites in the world situated on the cliff-tops overlooking the Tasman Sea. Here you get a close-up of gannet behaviour without disturbing their environment.* The views extend for miles along the wild, black sand beach of Muriwai.

This full day Auckland tour including both a city tour and a wine tour is a great introduction to the region.