Wine Tour & Maori Culture Queenstown
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
September 2026
2. Select participants
What you can expect
Experience a one-of-a-kind Queenstown wine tour that pairs the flavours of Central Otago wine with the rich history of Maori culture. On the Wine Tour & Maori Culture Queenstown experience, you’ll begin with the traditional Maori greeting, the Hōngi, a gesture that symbolises a physical and spiritual connection to the people and the land. You’ll then visit three boutique wineries, each offering personalised insights into the region's wines and, of course, wine tastings. This is the only Queenstown wine tour that weaves together Maori stories, cultural insights and a tasting journey through renowned Gibbston wineries.
Over the course of the Wine Tour & Maori Culture experience from Queenstown, you’ll sample between 16 to 22 wines, complemented by cheese or grazing platters to enhance your tasting experience. Your WanaHaka Tours guide, passionate about both New Zealand wine and culture, will share stories about the Maori heritage in the Central Otago region, as well as the role of the natural landscape in shaping the vineyards you visit.
This Queenstown cultural tour offers a relaxed, informative and flavour-filled experience, suitable for anyone eager to connect with New Zealand’s heritage while enjoying exceptional wine.
Location
What you need to know
- Māori history of region and deeper insight into culture
- Transfers return from your Queenstown CBD accommodation
- All wine tastings approximately 18-23 food which includes a grazing/cheese platter per 2 pax
- History of Māori footprint in Queenstown area
- 11:00am Departure: - We depart Queenstown at 10:30/45am with the Māori greeting the Hongi establishing the connection with you the guest and the Māori people of New Zealand and the land, then with a 15 minute drive to Gibbston and Lake Hayes where a selection of Pinot Noir, Gris, Sav Blanc and more will be in tasting. The first winery being Mora near Arrowtown, then we visit the Mt Rosa winery. Then onto either Amisfield, Wet Jacket or Nokkies Palatte before our drive back to Queenstown. You will get an insight into the Māori footprint and history from many hundreds of years ago of the beautiful Otago region and Queenstown.
- Allow 5.5 hours
- 11:00am
- Pick up from your Queenstown accommodation
- Operates Monday & Wednesday all year
- Comfortable clothing
- Bring a Camera-incredible views and wines
- extra money incase you LOVE the wine and want to buy a bottle or even a case!
- Minimum numbers required for tour to go ahead
- Tastings include Pinot Noir, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
- If you are sampling you must be over 18 years of age by New Zealand law and bring a valid form of ID. An international passport or NZ drivers licence
- Bring your camera, additional spending money and sunglasses
- For bookings cancelled from 7 days and up to 14 days prior to the wine tour departure time or booking there will be a 50% charge of total booking
- For bookings cancelled within 7 days prior to departure time or in the case of a ‘no show’, you will be charged the full cost of the trip
- For bookings cancelled from 14 days and up to 1 month prior to the wine tour departure time or booking there will be a 50% charge of total booking.
- For bookings cancelled from 7 days and up to 14 days prior to the wine tour departure time or booking there will be a 75% charge of total booking.
- For bookings cancelled within 7 days prior to departure time or in the case of a ‘no show’, you will be charged the full cost of the trip.
Recent reviews
Fantastic tour! We were very lucky as it only ended up being the 2 of us on the tour with guide Joe so it was a very personal experience. We visited 3 wineries, all very different settings so it was a great way to see the region. Joe also taught us a lot about Māori history, which was a great cultural insight. Would definitely recommend this tour to others!
