11 Wine Country Day Trips in New Zealand the Drive Pays For

1.Beyond the Vines – Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · from $136Our pick

Spend about six hours visiting Marlborough wineries by air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup in Picton or Blenheim. Taste Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and smaller-production wines. Guides such as Gavin, Lynley, Hamish, and Keith add local stories and wine know-how. Lunch at Saint Clair or another winery is separate.

“Gavin was the best tour guide we’ve had for a wine tasting so far!! It was like driving around with your best friend for the day! The wineries around here are so beautiful and he knew all the little boutique spots to visit. Cannot recommend this tour enough, and if you can request Gavin - DO IT!! We were so excited to visit the Marlborough and it definitely did not disappoint. Ally & Jake.”

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2.Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 285 reviews · from $133

Spend about 6.5 hours touring Marlborough wineries with Hop n Grape Tours, departing from Blenheim or Renwick. A guide such as Darlene, Cam, Amanda, or Doug leads your small group to 4 to 6 wineries, with tastings included. Expect changing stops, a lunch break at your own cost, and possible brewery or chocolate visits.

“Our guide Cam was fantastic, personable and extremely knowledgeable of all things wine and the South Island. I would highly recommend this tour to anybody. The group we toured with were very friendly, from all points of the globe, and even the Poms were well behaved. Haha.”

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3.Marlborough: Full-Day Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 221 reviews · 1 day · from $41Best value

Start with hotel pickup from Blenheim or Renwick, then collect a bike, helmet, lock, and wine map near The Vines Village. Staff such as Rory or Roo can help shape your route. Ride flat back roads to up to 12 nearby wineries, with e-bikes, child bikes, winter van support, and wine collection available at extra cost or by arrangement.

“Great fun day. Plenty of tips about wineries. Very upbeat guide and very thorough with advice.”

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4.Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour (full day) in the Marlborough Region.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 206 reviews · from $43

Start with pickup from your Blenheim or Renwick accommodation, then collect a bicycle, helmet, vest, lock, and map at The Vines Village. Choose a standard bike, tandem, kids’ bike, or electric bike, and spend about six and a half hours visiting nearby wineries, cafes, and restaurants at your own pace. Andy, Matt, or Roo may help with local tips and route planning.

“What a fun day biking through the Marlborough vineyards! The bikes provided were quite fine and perfect for the day! Before taking off, a map and suggestions/ideas for our day’s journey were offered which were very helpful! The vineyardRead more”

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5.Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 159 reviews · 6 hours · from $131

Join Jade Tours for a six-hour Marlborough wine tour from Blenheim, with hotel pickup, tastings at about five varied cellar doors, a vineyard lunch stop, and a possible visit to Makana Chocolate Factory. Guides including Bruce, John, Marsley, Mike, and Lisa share local wine knowledge in a small group of up to 10.

“Lucinda was an amazing guide and we had a wonderful day experiencing some of the Marlborough wineries.”

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6.Full-Day Taste the Wines of Marlborough Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 130 reviews · from $136

Start at 10:00 am with pickup from your Blenheim accommodation, then visit several Marlborough cellar doors in an air-conditioned minibus. Guides such as Bruce and Mike tailor winery choices to your tastes, with tastings, water, snacks, lunch time, and a final stop for handmade chocolates included. Lunch and purchases cost extra.

“Bruce had a very good knowledge of wine production and techniques taking us to 5 small wineries and the lunch break was super”

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7.Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tour from Blenheim

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $183

Join the Marlborough Tour Company for a seven-hour wine day from Blenheim, with tastings at several wineries, vineyard views, winemaker contact, and a two-course lunch. Guides may include Andrew, Bruce, Ray, Lisa, Jim, or Steve. Meet at the Blenheim isite, or arrange paid pickup from Blenheim or Picton.

“An excellent day visiting 5 local wineries with a group of 8 others. Andrew, our driver, was very knowledgeable and gave us background information relating to each place we visited. Well worth the trip.”

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8.Marlborough: Full-Day Wine and Seafood Tour with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 57 reviews · 7 hours · from $191

Spend seven hours combining two Marlborough winery visits with a three-hour Seafood Odyssea Cruise in the Queen Charlotte Sound. Your morning guide may be Andrew, Karen, Lucinda, or another local host, while the boat crew serves mussels, salmon, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Expect scenic views, commentary, a light lunch, and a larger afternoon group.

“We were treated like royalty ! Excellent guides , everything clean and tidy , food and drink of high standard , awsum day out .”

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9.Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 37 reviews · 330 - 390 minutes · from $166

Travel from Queenstown in a small group of up to 12 with an English-speaking guide such as Craig or Donna. Taste premium Central Otago wines at four boutique vineyards, enjoy a local-produce platter at Carrick Winery, pass through Kawarau Gorge, and visit historic Old Cromwell Town. You can also add a jet boat ride or nine holes of golf.

“This was an amazing day out !! Great Wineries, our lunch was delicious and our guide Donna made the day even better - so friendly and knowledgeable !! A wonderful trip ! 10/10 Would totally recommend !”

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10.Full-Day Marlborough Wine Region Bike Hire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $43

Pick up a bicycle in Blenheim or at The Vines Village, then spend 9:30am to 4:30pm following a mapped wine trail through Marlborough’s vineyards. Choose from step-through bikes, e-bikes, tandems, and kids’ bikes, with cellar doors, lunch stops, and local recommendations along the way.

“We had such a wonderful day cycling around the beautiful Marlborough wineries. The best way to see this amazing area & sample lots of delicious wines . From pick up to drop off the day was perfect.”

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11.Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $123

Spend about five hours touring West Auckland’s Kumeu Wine Trail with a guide such as David, tasting wines at local vineyards and enjoying a three-course lunch with drinks. The route includes Hunting Lodge, Soljans Estate, and Westbrook Winery. Pickup is offered, groups are capped at 16, and all participants must be 18 or older.

“David was an exceptional tour guide. Could not have asked for a better person. We came from Canada and were only expecting him to talk about wine. We also got an in depth history on Auckland. He went above and beyond. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed!!”

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