Wine Tour & Maori Culture Wanaka
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
August 2026
2. Select participants
What you can expect
Discover a unique cultural and wine experience with the Wanahaka Wine Tours & Maori Culture in Wanaka. This 5 hour tour blends the flavours of Central Otago’s celebrated wines with the rich traditions of Maori heritage. Begin with a traditional Maori greeting, the Hōngi, which symbolises connection to the land and people. From there, journey through three to four carefully selected wineries in the Wanaka and Cromwell regions, each offering a distinct perspective on Central Otago wines.
Over the course of the tour, you’ll sample between 16 to 22 wines, from Pinot Noir to Sauvignon Blanc, including unique local blends. Each tasting is paired with a cheese or grazing platter to enhance the experience. Your Wanahaka Tours guide, deeply knowledgeable in both New Zealand wine and Maori culture, will share stories of the Maori connection to the land and how it influences the winemaking practices in the region. This is the only tour in Central Otago that combines wine tasting with Maori cultural insights, offering a meaningful and flavourful way to connect with New Zealand’s heritage.
Location
What you need to know
- Transfers from your Wānaka CBD accommodation
- 18-23 wine tastings including Pinot Noir, Rose, Sav Blanc, Chardonnay
- food which includes a grazing/cheese platter per 2 pax
- Māori history of region and deeper insight into Māori culture
- 11:00am Departure: We depart Wānaka and pick up from your Wānaka accommodation 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 5 minute drive to Aitkens Folly or Rippon where a selection of Pinot Noir, Gris, Sav Blanc and more will be in tasting. The next winery will be an option of Maude, Misha’s, Cork and Cap or Måori point near Tarras, before our drive back to Wānaka. Along this tour you will get an insight into the Māori footprint and history from many hundreds of years ago of the beautiful Otago region and the Queenstown and Wānaka region. We aim to get back to your accommodation about 4-5pm.
- 11:00am with a 10:45am pick up
- This experience starts at 11am
- Available on Saturday and Sunday
- Allow 6 hours
- 11:00am
- Meet at 103 Ardmore Street in Wanaka, or pick up from your Wanaka accommodation
- Operates Saturday & Sunday 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 are required for the tour to go ahead
- Tastings include Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay
- Participants must be over 18 years of age to sample wines and bring a valid ID (passport or NZ driver’s licence)
- Bring a camera, extra spending money and sunglasses
- If for any reason your travel plans change, and you are not going to be able to take a trip with us on the day booked, please be sure to contact us immediately on: +64 215 19730 or email info@wanahaka.co.nz
- The following cancellation policy applies to all bookings:
- 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.
