Best Wine Tasting Shore Excursions in New Zealand — Our Top 11

1.Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 165 reviews · from $155Our pick

Meet your guide at Picton’s i-SITE and ride a comfortable minibus through the Koromiko Pass to Marlborough’s cellar doors. You’ll visit four or five wineries when time allows, with guides such as Bruce, Lucinda, Lisa, John, or Marsley sharing local wine knowledge. Lunch costs extra, and the group is limited to 11.

“Fantastic tour!! Our local driver/guide was awesome!! Lucinda was very knowledgeable of both the local area and everything associated with the wine making process. She also was very concerned with everyone’s comfort and well being. We started with a visit to a chocolate factory and then 4 wineries with lunch at one of them. Awesome tour!!!!”

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2.CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 88 reviews · from $80

From Picton, ride an air-conditioned bus through Marlborough’s wine country and choose your stops. Taste wine, visit Omaka’s aircraft and classic-car museums, eat among the vines, or browse chocolate and local gifts. Drivers share local tips, but reserve tastings and allow extra time for cruise-day delays.

“Our driver offered great recommendations for venues and shared local knowledge. We were also lucky enough to score the same driver for the entire journey.”

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3.Marlborough Wine Region Tour from the Port of Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 88 reviews · from $183

Meet your guide at Picton i-SITE at 10am for a 4 to 6 hour minivan tour through Marlborough. Taste Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, low-alcohol wines, chocolate, and local produce, with stops at Saint Clair, Forrest, Nautilus, Rarangi, and The Vines Village.

“Our tour was wonderful and tour guide Paul was fantastic! We were in a small vehicle and Paul took us all around the area and even added in the beach and coastline. We stopped at three wineries had lunch and a rive around the area. Very enjoyable day.”

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4.Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Region Tour from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $148

From Picton’s i-SITE, you’ll ride in an air-conditioned minivan with up to 11 people to four Marlborough wineries and Makana Confections. Guides such as Gavin, Keith, Phil, and Paula share local stories, arrange tastings, and adjust the route around your ship’s schedule. Lunch costs extra.

“Gavin was the most amazing tour guide. We made friends with our wonderful tour group. The wineries were beautiful and the wine was delicious! A fantastic experience overall!”

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5.From Picton: Marlborough Wine Trip Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 28 reviews · from $146

Meet Jade Tours near Picton’s i-site for a five-hour minibus trip through Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. Visit four or five cellar doors, taste local wines, stop for vineyard lunch, and possibly visit the Chocolate Factory. Guides such as Marsley, Bruce, Mike, and Chris lead groups of up to 10.

“Fantastic tour!! Marsley our guide was awesome. Wineries were fantastic and a wonderful day in New Zealand wine country!! Thanks Shawn and Julie”

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6.Lyttelton Shore Excursion – Waipara Wine Tour With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · from $117

From Lyttelton, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Waipara Valley for tastings at three wineries, a platter lunch at Waipara Springs, and local commentary. Guides such as Andrew, Tania, Joseph, and Caroline are known for friendly hosting, scenic routes, and getting cruise passengers back on time.

“Tania our tour guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable about the area and kept us entertained the whole day. Took us to some beautiful boutique winieries. Great day with a lovely group of people”

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7.Lyttelton Shore Excursion – City Highlights & Waipara Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 17 reviews · from $139

From Lyttelton, you’ll see Christchurch highlights with guides such as Andrew, Rob, Carmen, Tania, or Di, then head north for lunch and tastings at Waipara Springs, Torlesse Wines, and Georges Road Wines. The 7.5-hour tour suits cruise passengers who want scenery, local stories, and wine in one day.

“Our Tour guide Tania was the best! And thanks to Lizzie for keeping us updated and for her patience and positivity!”

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8.CRUISE SHIP DAYS – HOP ON HOP OFF – Wine, Beer, Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 9 reviews · 8 hours · from $77Best value

Build your own Marlborough day from 26 wineries, breweries, cafes, museums, shops, and activities. Buses run from Picton on a simple timetable, giving you time to choose your stops. Tastings and lunch cost extra and should be booked ahead.

“The initial reaction was chaos when we got to the office. Only one lady seemed to know what she was doing and the stress on her was horrible. She handled it well if not abruptly. We didn’t really know what we were supposed to be doing. Once we finally got to a bus things improved.”

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9.From Picton: Marlborough Wine Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4 reviews · from $144

Travel from Picton with an English-speaking guide to four or five Marlborough cellar doors, including a vineyard or brewery restaurant. You will taste standard and reserve wines, choose lunch at your own cost, and may stop at Makana Chocolate Factory. Groups are limited to 11.

“Our guide, Bill was: A great driver; knows his wines; and knows the local and greater wine varieties. Great tour with 4 great tasting stops and a great lunch stop. Well worth the $s for this day trip. We plan to track down those winery’s agents, when we get back home.”

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10.CRUISE SHIP DAY LYTTELTON Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours to Waipara

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $80

Set your own North Canterbury itinerary with a five-hour hop-on hop-off tour from Lyttelton. Your air-conditioned shuttle links more than 20 wine, food, beer, and shopping stops, including Pegasus Bay, Greystone, Black Estate, and Brew Moon. Guides such as JJ, Warren, and Pete have led recent departures.

“Great trip! Our driver was patient with us when it took a while to get off our ship. He recommended and took us to amazing wineries. Very very friendly and a highlight of our trip! I would definitely recommend.”

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11.Napier: Shore Excursion with Wine Tasting and Platter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3h 30m · from $101

Meet at Napier i-SITE after the port shuttle and explore Art Deco streets, Ahuriri, Bluff Hill, and the Ātea a Rangi Star Compass. Finish with Hawke’s Bay wine, a New Zealand platter, and time with a local guide such as Leanne. Groups are limited to 11.

“Amazing! Leanne was a fantastic guide, and being in such a small group we were able to deviate slightly from the itinerary and saw so much more than planned, including an impromptu stop at the ice cream parlour and the gin distillery (to see the art deco interior). Would highly recommend!”

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