Martinborough Winery and Foodie Day Tour

Martinborough is close enough to Wellington for a day trip, yet the Remutaka Ranges make the journey feel like a proper change of scene. This tour links the mountain crossing with a vineyard visit, lunch among the vines, olive oil, cheese, craft beer and chocolate, giving you a broad taste of Wairarapa in one day.

I like two things in particular: the mix of producers means the day is not just a string of wine pours, and the winemaker-led vineyard walk gives you a look at how the wine begins, not only how it tastes. A recent departure was led by Phil, who helped make the day relaxed and informative; guide assignments can change.

The trade-off is a long day with several timed stops. Lunch is scheduled for just 30 minutes, and the route depends on traffic and weather, so this is a better fit for someone who enjoys a full itinerary than someone hoping to linger over a leisurely meal.

• A scenic start: Pause at the Remutaka summit before descending into Wairarapa.
• Wine with context: Walk among old vines with a winemaker, then taste a flight with artisan cheese.
• More than wine: Sample olive oil, local cheese, craft beer and Schoc chocolates.
• Lunch included: Eat among the vines, with the menu subject to seasonal ingredients.
• A full-day outing: Depart Wellington in the morning and return at about 5:30 p.m.

Over the Remutaka Ranges and into Wairarapa

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The tour starts with a drive from Wellington over the Remutaka Ranges. A short stop at the summit breaks up the journey and gives you a chance to take in the views before the road descends toward Wairarapa. The mountain crossing is part of the appeal: rather than simply arriving at a tasting room, you see the shift from the capital to the region that supplies the day’s food and drink.

The scheduled departure is 9:30 a.m. from the Wakefield Street pickup lane at Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre, 217 Wakefield Street. Hotel pickup may be available, with Zozo Travel providing the time in advance. Pickups are shared, so allow for a little variation in timing and check your messages before you set out. If you are meeting at Tākina, arrive 15 minutes early.

The day runs to around 5:30 p.m., with return to your hotel or personal address noted as an option. That is a useful amount of time for several stops, but remember that the route includes winding roads and a full schedule. If you are prone to motion sickness, it may be worth preparing for the hill drive.

👉 See our pick of the 7 Best Guided Tours In Wellington

C’est Cheese brings local flavor to the table

The first tasting stop is C’est Cheese, an artisan cheese and deli in Featherston. You have about 15 minutes here, with an optional tasting of handcrafted cheeses and time to look at local and imported products. It is a quick introduction, not a long browsing stop, so think of it as a small appetizer to the food-focused day ahead.

That short visit also makes practical sense before the vineyard. Cheese appears again alongside the wine tasting, and later the tour turns to olive oil, beer and chocolate. If you are keen to buy something, ask the guide about timing and whether there will be room to carry purchases comfortably.

A winemaker’s walk among old vines

At about 11:30 a.m., the tour visits a vineyard with some of the region’s oldest vines. A winemaker leads a walk through the vineyard and explains the process from grape to glass. This is the most useful stop for anyone new to wine tasting: you can connect what you see in the rows with what you later taste in the glass.

After the walk, expect a wine flight paired with an artisan cheese platter. The vineyard’s name is not specified, so the exact producer may depend on the day’s arrangements. That flexibility can be helpful for a small operator coordinating a regional route, but it means you should not book expecting one particular estate or wine label.

I especially like that this visit includes both a guided walk and a tasting. A tasting alone can feel like a pleasant pause; seeing the vines and hearing from a winemaker gives you some context for the region’s wines. You do not need prior wine knowledge to enjoy it, though a curious palate will get more from asking what makes each pour different.

Lunch among the vines, with the clock in view

Lunch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and lasts around 30 minutes. It is served among the vines, with food and beverages included in the tour price. The menu changes with the season and ingredient availability, so it is best to expect a meal built around what is available rather than a fixed dish.

The setting is a welcome part of the meal. You are eating at a vineyard rather than stopping at a roadside café, and the lunch is paired with local flavors and wines. Still, half an hour is brisk. If you like a slow lunch with time to linger, this schedule may feel tight; if you want a full day of tasting stops, it keeps the route moving.

Vegetarian and gluten-intolerant dietary requirements can be accommodated. Provide your needs when booking, and confirm them with the operator in advance. The tour includes meals and beverages, but personal purchases beyond what is included are your own expense.

Juno Olives offers a change of pace

After lunch, the route heads to Juno Olives for about an hour. The visit takes you among Martinborough’s old olive trees, where you learn about different varieties and the cycle of the olive tree through the year. A virgin olive oil tasting follows.

This stop adds a different kind of agricultural detail to the day. Wine is the headline act in Martinborough, but olive oil gives you another way to taste the region and understand what local producers make. The hour is longer than the cheese and brewery stops, leaving more room to walk and listen rather than simply sample and move on.

The tasting can also sharpen your attention to food. Olive oils vary in flavor, and trying them side by side is a more useful introduction than buying a bottle based on a label alone. If you already know your favorite style, you may enjoy comparing it with the local varieties.

Beer or another wine at Martinborough Brewery

At around 2 p.m., Martinborough Brewery offers a 30-minute tasting stop. You can choose a craft beer tasting paddle or opt for a second wine tasting. That choice is handy if you are traveling with someone whose interests differ from yours, or if you would rather stay with wine after the vineyard visit.

There is not much time for a long brewery tour, so approach this as a tasting stop rather than a deep look at brewing. The value is in the contrast: beer breaks up a day otherwise centered on wine and food, while the second wine tasting lets you compare another set of pours. Since tastings involve alcohol, pace yourself and drink water when available.

Participants must be at least 18, the legal drinking age in New Zealand, and should bring valid identification. Anyone who appears intoxicated can be refused service without a refund. That is a sensible rule on a day with several tasting stops, and another reason to treat each sample as a taste, not a full drink.

Schoc Chocolates finishes the tasting trail

The final scheduled tasting is at Schoc Chocolates in Greytown, at about 3 p.m. You have around 30 minutes to sample the shop’s chocolate creations, including newer offerings. After cheese, wine, olive oil and beer, chocolate makes a fitting last stop and gives the day a sweet finish.

This is a tasting visit rather than a long shopping break. If you want to take chocolates home, allow for the fact that the schedule is shared with the group and may shift with road conditions. The itinerary lists a return around 5:30 p.m., but traffic and weather can change the timing.

What the price covers, and how to judge the value

The published starting price is US$167.85, while the join-in full-day package is also shown from US$182.45. Those figures differ, so check the total shown for your date and booking before paying. The value depends on what you would otherwise spend arranging transport, tastings and lunch separately.

The tour includes round-trip transfers, a professional English-speaking driver-guide, live commentary, attraction admissions, lunch, meals and beverages. It also connects several stops across the region in one day, which is useful if you do not want to drive after drinking or piece together transport between producers. The price is less compelling if you prefer to spend most of a day at one vineyard or want full control over the pace.

One recent solo participant described a small, relaxed group, which can make conversation easier than on a large coach tour. But group size is not specified as a guarantee, so do not book on the assumption that every departure will be intimate. Zozo Travel Limited operates the trip, and the provider has a 100 percent good review rate across 25 total reviews, though that is a small sample compared with a long-running high-volume tour.

Who will enjoy this full day most

This trip suits first-time visitors to Martinborough, people who want an easy introduction to regional wine, and food-minded travelers who like variety. The mix of vineyard, olive grove, brewery and chocolate shop is particularly useful if one person in your party is less keen on wine than the other. The winemaker-led walk and the summit stop add context beyond a basic tasting shuttle.

It also works for solo travelers who enjoy joining a group. One recent solo participant found the company relaxed and welcoming, but the group size may vary. If you are traveling with a wheelchair user or stroller, the activity is listed as accessible for both; check any specific needs with the operator before booking, since details about access at individual stops are not provided.

This is not the best choice if you want long visits at each producer, a fixed menu, or a quiet day with little movement. The schedule is full, the lunch break is short, and the route spans several locations. Seasonal menus and possible changes due to traffic or weather mean flexibility helps.

Should you book the Martinborough Winery and Foodie Day Tour?

I would book this tour if you want a convenient, full-day introduction to Wairarapa’s food and drink, especially if you are new to the region and would rather leave the driving to someone else. The combination of a winemaker-led vineyard walk, lunch among the vines, olive oil, cheese, beer and chocolate gives you more range than a wine-only outing.

Choose another option if you would rather stay at one vineyard, set your own pace, or devote more time to lunch and shopping. Before booking, check the final price, provide any dietary requirements, confirm your pickup arrangements and bring photo ID. If the day’s pace sounds appealing, this is a satisfying way to sample Martinborough without turning the outing into a driving assignment.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The main departure point is the pickup and drop-off lane on the Wakefield Street side of Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre, 217 Wakefield Street. The tour departs at 9:30 a.m., and you should arrive 15 minutes early.

Is hotel pickup available?

Hotel pickup may be arranged. Zozo Travel provides the scheduled pickup time in advance, and shared pickup timing may be early or late. Enter your hotel name and address when booking, then check your email or Klook messages for details.

How long is the tour?

It is a full-day tour, with departure in the morning and a scheduled return at about 5:30 p.m. Traffic and weather can affect the schedule.

What food and drink tastings are included?

Stops include cheese, wine, olive oil, craft beer or a second wine tasting, and Schoc chocolate. Lunch is included and served at a vineyard.

Can the tour accommodate dietary requirements?

Gluten intolerance and vegetarian diets can be accommodated. Share your requirements when booking and confirm them with the operator.

What is the minimum age?

Participants must be 18 or older. New Zealand’s legal drinking age is 18, and you should bring valid identification.

Is the tour wheelchair-accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair-accessible and stroller-accessible. For questions about access at specific stops, check with the operator before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time. If extreme weather or another unforeseen event leads the operator to cancel, you can reschedule or request a full refund. Late arrivals and no-shows are not eligible for refunds or amendments.