Short Stay Packages
Food, Wine and Beer Tours
Sailing Tours
Ziplining Tours
What is included in the 5-Day Auckland Food & Wine Escape?
| Day | Where you go and what you do | Indicative time | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland Airport to your central Auckland hotel | Transfer timed to your flight | Airport transfer and first hotel night |
| 2 | Auckland neighbourhoods, markets and food producers | Tastebud Tour, approximately 9:30 am–1:30 pm | Guided transport and food tastings |
| 3 | Downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island and back | Approximately 40 minutes by ferry each way; allow most of the day | Return ferry, guided food and wine tour, tastings and vineyard lunch |
| 4 | Kumeū vineyards and Muriwai Beach | Approximately noon–5:15 pm | Guided transport, wine tastings and vineyard lunch |
| 5 | Central Auckland hotel to Auckland Airport | Transfer timed to your flight | Return airport transfer |
The package includes four nights in a selected central Auckland hotel. Tour departure points, venues and ferry connections are confirmed with your booking.
Is it suitable for families, and what fitness, distance and terrain should you expect?
The standard itinerary is best suited to adults. The Kumeū wine tour lists a minimum age of 18, and the Waiheke operator currently says its shared Gourmet’s Food and Wine Tour is not suitable for guests under 18. Families should request a revised itinerary with age-appropriate experiences before booking. The city food tour can welcome children, but that does not remove the restrictions on the included wine days.
Fitness grade: easy in practical terms. Most travel is by vehicle or ferry, with short walks at food businesses, vineyards and viewpoints. There is no scheduled long-distance walk, ride or hike in the standard package. Consequently, it has no fixed walking distance in kilometres or elevation gain in metres; neither figure is published for the five-day itinerary. Expect city footpaths, winery entrances and outdoor ground at Muriwai, which may be uneven or wet. Tell Go New Zealand if steps, standing for tastings or boarding the ferry may be difficult, so the individual venues and transport can be checked. Families should request a revised itinerary before booking; the 5 Day Auckland Family Escape offers a different selection of included activities for children and adults.
What should you bring, what is provided, and what happens in rain?
Accommodation, airport transfers, the Waiheke return ferry and transport during the guided tours are arranged as part of the package. Guides organise the scheduled tastings and lunches. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket and a way to carry any food or wine you buy. Take photo identification for alcohol tastings. You will need to make your own way from your hotel to the Day 2 meeting point and the Downtown Ferry Terminal unless your confirmed itinerary specifies otherwise.
The Tastebud Tour and Waiheke food tour can operate in rain. Severe weather may change outdoor stops or disrupt ferry travel, so check your sailing before leaving for the terminal. If a ferry or tour is cancelled, contact Go New Zealand to discuss the available rearrangement under your booking conditions; do not assume another departure will connect with the same island tour. A rain jacket is also useful for the exposed stop at Muriwai Beach.
This 5-day, 4-night Auckland package combines city flavours with guided journeys to Kumeū and Waiheke Island. Accommodation, return airport transfers, selected meals, wine tastings and scheduled touring are included.
- Return transfers between Auckland Domestic or International Airport and your Auckland City accommodation
- Four-hour guided Tastebud Tour of Auckland with Big Foody
- Food and beverage tastings from selected Auckland cafés, markets and artisan producers
- Return passenger ferry between Auckland and Waiheke Island with Fullers360
- Five-hour Gourmet’s Food & Wine Tour on Waiheke Island with Ananda Tours
- Hosted wine tastings at two boutique vineyards.
- Local food samples and extra virgin olive oil tasting.
- A tasting at The Heke distillery.
- Vineyard lunch with a glass of wine.
- Guided island sightseeing and local commentary.
- Auckland Kumeū Wine Country Tour with Lunch with Bush and Beach
- Cellar-door wine tastings at three selected Kumeū vineyards
- Seasonal vineyard lunch with a glass of wine
- Visit to Muriwai Beach and its dramatic black-sand coastline
- Seasonal viewing of the Muriwai gannet colony when accessible
- Professional guides, scheduled transport and commentary during the included tours
Optional and alternative experiences are available at an additional cost. These include Wētā Workshop Unleashed, Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise, Waiheke Island Vineyards & Bush Walk, Waiheke Zipline & Wine Tour, Taste of Auckland City & Wine Tour and the Matakana Art & Vineyard Experience Private Tour.
Venues and tastings are subject to availability.
Accommodation Options
Choose four nights at one of the following Auckland City hotels, listed from the lowest to highest advertised package rate:
- Oaks Auckland Hotel – 4-star Hotel Room
- Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland – 4-star Gold Qualmark Superior Room
- Adina Auckland Britomart – 4.5-star Studio Room
- Rendezvous Hotel Heritage Auckland – 4-star Studio Room
- Travelodge Hotel Auckland Wynyard Quarter – 4-star Guest Room King
- Legacy Airedale Hotel Auckland – 4-star-plus Silver Qualmark Classic Studio
Other room types may be available on request.
