A completely unscientific list of the best Waiheke wineries to visit (by a non-expert wine drinker)
A guide to Waiheke wineries for anyone who appreciates a good view as much as a good glass
I don’t know a lot about wine, but I do know that the experience of knocking back a few glasses is greatly enhanced by a nice view and an even better platter.
That’s what makes Waiheke Island so lush; there’s wine, and the surroundings are beautiful. It’s hard to beat enjoying a glass of the good stuff on an island drenched in natural beauty.
Waiheke is only a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, so you can head over for the day and visit two or three vineyards. Three is probably the maximum — that lets you appreciate the story of each vineyard more, and if you try to do more than three tastings you probably won’t remember the last one anyway.
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Make life easy and book a Waiheke winery tour
the tasting room at man o’war
The wineries you visit is a little dependent on how you plan to get around.
You can take public buses between some wineries, but if you’re not on a tight budget, a tour is the easiest option. That way you won’t have to worry about lining up reservations for tastings and lunch, or having to navigate transport when tipsy.
I highly recommend exploring Waiheke and the island’s wineries with Kiwi Connect — their scenic wine tour takes in views as well as vineyards, and focuses on the smaller, family owned wineries (my favourites).
They only have small vehicles, which means small groups (this in contrast to a lot of other wine tours on Waiheke, which hustle people on and off large buses) and the vans are electric.
You can also find Kiwi Connect on Viator, but it’s a fraction more expensive to book through that platform. Check them out here >>
The best Waiheke wineries, listed by order of preference, by a non-expert wine drinker, based entirely on my own opinion
vines with a view of the sea at kennedy point (they are covered to stop the birds stealing all the grapes)
You’ve been warned.
I can’t tell you exactly why I like Awaroa’s Pinot Gris, but I can tell you it’s delicious. That should give you some indication of my level of wine knowledge (it’s low).
What I do have is a strong conviction that it’s better to visit the smaller, family owned vineyards. Not only because it’s always better to support local businesses than large international conglomerates (who own some of the more popular Waiheke wineries), but because intimate wine tastings are much more inspiring.
I find the best tastings I’ve had is when you have the full attention of the person pouring the wine — which only happens when they aren’t rushing around attending to dozens of other people.
Waiheke might be a moneyed island these days, but it still has a slow undercurrent of island life. So, with that in mind, slow down and enjoy the wine at these lovely vineyards.
Kennedy Point Vineyard — the only Waiheke winery with highland cattle (and my personal favourite)
the tasting room at kennedy point looks out to the sea, with views framed by pohutuwaka
as well as wine, you can buy olive oil produced from olives grown on the estate
Kennedy Point is a little family owned vineyard that is the only certified organic wine-growing property on Waiheke (Awaroa is still awaiting certification). It’s also in one of the prettiest locations on the island, overlooking Kennedy Bay.
Surrounded by gnarled old pohutakawa trees, with views out across the sea and a pair of highland cattle roaming the property, Kennedy Point is quiet and calm, a far cry from the bigger, flashier vineyards that cater to groups of hen and stag dos.
It’s a small winery, producing only 8000 barrels a year. Only one of those is a chardonnay — it’s a drop of liquid gold. My favourite was the Syrah, which is like a glass of red velvet.
GETTING THERE
Alternatively, you can rent a car (see options on Discover Cars).
Or you can catch the 501 public bus — you can just tap on/tap off with a credit or debit card, and buses leave from the Matiatia ferry terminal.
Awaroa Organic Vineyard (my second favourite)
the garden at awaroa is delightfully laid back and rustic
Both the settings and the wines feel down to earth and approachable
This is a little hidden gem of a Waiheke vineyard.
Awaroa Organic Vineyard produces small batches of organic wine. The tasting room has a lovely homey feel, perched on top of a hill with views of vines rolling down into native bush.
You can order grazing platters to enjoy with your wine tastings, and enjoy views of hills and pine forests.
The absolute favourite among my group of friends when we visited was the Waiheke Road Pinot Gris — I think it might my personal favourite of all the wines I’ve tasted on Waiheke.
GETTING THERE
Awaroa is off the beaten track, or at least off the public bus routes. The Eastern Hop On Hop Off Bus stops here, or you’ll need a taxi.
Another option is a rental car — see what’s available on Discover Cars.
Man O War — the only beachfront winery on Waiheke (and in New Zealand)
the valhalla chardonnay
Man O’ War is one of Waiheke’s most picturesque vineyards, as it’s the only one right by a beach. In fact, it’s the only vineyard in all of New Zealand to be right on the beach.
By dint of its location on the remote western edge of the island, it’s also one of the most exclusive. Ideally you need a car — or a boat — to get there, but it’s worth the additional effort to be able to savour the excellent rose in the breezy garden setting right by the water.
the tasting room at Man O War
Man O’War is also an ideal lunch spot, as they have plenty of outdoor seating, very efficient service, and food that comes out fast (at some wineries, you could be in for a one hour wait — not at Man O’War. The food isn’t exactly knock your socks off exceptional, but you can’t fault the speed and ease with which they get it to you.)
Make sure you book in advance to secure your lunch spot if you plan on eating there.
GETTING THERE
The Eastern Explorer Hop On Hop Off bus goes out to Man O’War (but it only runs hourly)
You can also get a ferry directly to Man O’War from Auckland, with Explore.
Kiwi Connect also have a ‘Far End’ tour which will take you there: Book direct / through Viator
Casita Miro — a Spanish inspired vineyard and restaurant
the entrance to casita miro’s restaurant
in summer, Casita Miro lays out blankets and bean bags under their olive trees in the garden, where you can lounge around with a glass of wine and some goats cheese croquettes. Chef’s kiss.
At Casita Miro you’ll see Gaudi-esque mosaics and olive trees scattered around the Spanish-inspired grounds.
This is an ideal spot for lunch as well as wine tasting, as they have a full menu available. In summer, you can order shared plates and sit in the garden on blankets strewn under the olive trees.
If you’re also visiting Obsidian Wines, you can take a sneaky shortcut past the vines to get from one vineyard to another. Together, these two make for a lovely and laid-back vineyard experience on Waiheke.
GETTING THERE
You can take the public bus to the last stop at Onetangi beach, then walk to Casita Miro in less than 10 minutes (but be warned, it is uphill).
Te Motu — Bordeaux style wines and a zero waste kitchen
Family run Te Motu Estate is found on the Onetangi straight, which is where some of the most visited wineries are clustered.
Of the options there, Te Motu is one of the most relaxed, and has the added bonus of an exceptional restaurant. The Shed offers an elevated take on rural dining, using produce from the surrounding gardens.
The wine produced at Te Motu all comes from estate grown grapes. Te Motu specialises in Cabernet Sauvignon blends, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Obsidian Winery — laid-back tasting in a rustic setting
Obsidian is a vineyard found near Onetangi, surrounded by amphitheatre-like hills laced with rows of vines.
The environment at Obsidian is rustic and relaxed, so it’s perfect if you want to taste wines in a quieter setting than the larger vineyards. It’s less flashy than larger vineyards, which places the focus squarely on the quality of the wines.
The staff here are very knowledgeable and passionate, which makes the experience lovely.
This winery is known for its Montepulciano and Syrah reds.
It’s close to Casita Miro, so you can duck between the two vineyards easily, and visit both using the public bus.
Mudbrick Winery — terrace dining in romantic gardens
Mudbrick is one of the most stunning wineries on Waiheke.
Set in beautiful gardens with sweeping sea views, Mudbrick’s vineyard and restaurant are pure class. It’s also conveniently located closer to Oneroa — you could walk there in 30 minutes if you’re up for it, and it’s 40 minutes walking or a 5 minute drive to the Matiatia Ferry Terminal.
Mudbrick produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, along with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Viognier.
This is the best Waiheke vineyard for enjoying a sunset, so it’s a great place to visit in the evening.
FEATURED STAY
Mudbrick Cottages
As well as the winery and restaurant, Mudbrick also offers some unique places to stay.
Poderi Crisci Vineyard and Restaurant — home of the weekend long lunch
Poderi Crisci is a little more off the beaten track, but it’s well worth the trek to the east of the island.
The estate grows Syrah and Merlot vines, alongside olive trees and a garden with a bounty of fresh herbs and produce that supply the restaurant.
Poderi Crisci is famous for its decadent long lunches. Each Saturday and Sunday, this winery recreates the Italian tradition of a long lunch, which lasts for four hours and many courses.
Poderi Crisci is further away from the rest of Waiheke’s vineyards, but it’s well worth the trip for an indulgent afternoon of food and wine.
You’ll need your own transport to get here, or take a taxi (around $100 one way).
Passage Rock Winery
Passage Rock produce Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, but they are best known for their much awarded Syrah.
This winery is located on the east of the island, around a 30-minute drive from Oneroa or Matiatia ferry terminal. This is another one you’ll need a taxi or a tour for — I visited this vineyard on a wine tour for my sister’s bachelorette party.
If you can’t remember the Waiheke wineries you visited, they must have been good, right?
My memories of Passage Rock are somewhat hazy, as this was the last stop on our tour, but I enjoyed the beautiful setting of the vineyard and appreciate that it’s a little off the beaten track.
Getting to Waiheke
Getting to Waiheke is easy on the passenger ferry from Auckland.
Fullers passenger ferries run at least every hour between 6am and midnight, and you don’t need to book in advance. This does mean you might have to wait at the terminal if there are long queues, though.
Another great option, which I highly recommend, is booking a seat on Island Direct. There are fewer ferries each day, but you’re guaranteed a place so you don’t need to queue — just turn up 10 minutes before departure.
Read more about getting to Waiheke here.
Explore more of Waiheke Island
Waiheke is one of the best things to do in Auckland, with some of the best beaches and walking trails as well as vineyards.
There is so much to enjoy on Waiheke, you won’t regret spending a few days here.
Some of my favourite ways to spend time in Waiheke (when I’m not at a vineyard) is enjoying Oneroa Beach and exploring the shops in Oneroa Village. I also love stopping by Island Gelato for a scoop or two.
Another great thing to do is to take a picnic down to Little Oneroa Beach, or another coastal spot and enjoy. If you’d rather stop by a cafe, I really like Arcadia, next to Little Palm Beach.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you found some vineyards to add to your list of places to visit on Waiheke.
If you’re interested in cxploring more of Auckland, you might be interested in these articles as well:
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.
I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my recommendations for the best places to visit in New Zealand.
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