Best Wineries Near Auckland: 12 Top Picks (2026)

Wineries near Auckland deliver some of NZ’s most spectacular vineyard experiences — most famously Waiheke Island’s 30+ boutique wineries (40 minutes by ferry from CBD), the Kumeu wine country (30 mins north of CBD), and the Matakana wine region (1 hour north). From Mudbrick’s iconic Hauraki Gulf views to Stonyridge’s legendary Larose Bordeaux blend, from Kumeu River’s world-renowned Chardonnay to Matakana’s boutique cellar doors, Auckland is one of the world’s best big-city wine destinations. This complete 2026 guide covers the best wineries near Auckland with cellar door details, restaurant info, and how to visit, as part of the wider Auckland food and drink guide.

One warning before the list. Cellar doors change their hours constantly, several Waiheke wineries shut for weeks in mid-winter, and tasting prices move every season, so ring or check the winery’s own site the week you go. I have used current 2026 prices where the winery publishes them and stayed vague where it does not.

Detail	What to know
Three regions	Waiheke Island (ferry), Kumeu and Waimauku in the north-west (30 minutes by car), Matakana and Snells Beach in the north (about an hour)
Waiheke ferry	Fullers360 from Piers 11 and 12 at the Downtown Ferry Terminal; adult returns start from around NZ$46.50 off-peak; crossing 40 to 45 minutes
Tasting fees	Roughly NZ$16 to NZ$35 for a standard flight
Lunch	NZ$45 to NZ$80 a main at the big winery restaurants
Getting around Waiheke	Fullers360 Explorer buses, public buses on AT HOP at NZ$3, e-bikes, taxis or a guided tour
Best months	March to May for settled weather and harvest
Winter caution	Some Waiheke wineries close entirely for several weeks in July and August

Auckland’s Three Wine Regions

1. Waiheke Island

Auckland’s premier wine destination. More than 30 wineries sit on an island of about 92 square kilometres, reached by a 40 to 45 minute Fullers360 ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal. Famous for Bordeaux-style reds, Syrah and rose. Most have cellar doors; the larger ones have restaurants that need booking.

The geography is simpler than it looks. Ferries land at Matiatia at the western end, Oneroa village is a ten-minute bus ride away with Mudbrick and Cable Bay on the ridges either side, and the Onetangi Road cluster of Stonyridge, Tantalus, Te Motu and Casita Miro sits in the middle of the island about 20 minutes from the wharf. Our Waiheke Island day trip guide covers the rest of the island.

2. Kumeu Wine Country

About 30 minutes north-west of the CBD, straight out State Highway 16. The region is renowned for Chardonnay, and Kumeu River has an international reputation that outstrips anything else grown near the city. The vineyards are older and mostly family-owned, several founded by Croatian families who arrived a century ago, and the area combines well with the Muriwai gannet colony on the coast about 15 to 20 minutes further west.

Kumeu is the cheapest of the three regions and the least polished. Tasting fees are lower, several cellar doors will waive them if you buy a bottle, and you can do three in an afternoon without booking. The catch is that you need a car — our guide to renting a car in Auckland covers the pick-up options — and a designated driver.

3. Matakana

About an hour north of the CBD up State Highway 1, more with Warkworth traffic. A boutique wine region with small cellar doors, the Saturday morning Matakana Farmers’ Market, and the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail at nearby Snells Beach. It pairs wine with art, food and beaches better than the other two regions, which makes it the pick if not everybody in the car is there for the wine.

The 12 Best Wineries Near Auckland 2026

1. Mudbrick Vineyard (Waiheke Island)

Waiheke’s best-known winery and probably New Zealand’s most photographed. Mudbrick is at 126 Church Bay Road, Oneroa, and the cellar door runs seven days a year-round, though opening hours change week to week in winter — the winery’s own advice is to phone ahead on +64 9 372 9050 before you make the trip.

Tastings take 20 to 40 minutes. As of 2026 the Icon Tasting is NZ$31 a head for three flagship wines, the Mudbrick Tasting is also NZ$31 for five wines, and there are cheaper sweet and South Island flights at NZ$16 to NZ$23. Groups of fewer than seven can walk up; seven or more need to book. Two restaurants and a rooftop bar share the view back across the gulf to the city.

2. Stonyridge Vineyard (Waiheke Island)

Home to New Zealand’s most famous Bordeaux-style red, Larose. Stonyridge is at 80 Onetangi Road and the restaurant and cellar door are open every day from 11am, with bookings recommended for lunch and walk-ins welcome for drinks. It is the most relaxed of the big Waiheke names: olive trees, long tables, a lot of people staying longer than they planned.

Tastings in 2026 come in two forms. The Signature Tasting is NZ$35 a head for three 30ml pours, available as a walk-in when there is space. The Larose Vertical Tasting is NZ$80 and compares several vintages of the flagship wine side by side, which is the only sensible way to understand why the bottle costs what it does. Groups of nine or more get a private sitting with a sommelier.

3. Cable Bay Vineyards (Waiheke Island)

Modern, polished cellar door at 12 Nick Johnstone Drive just above Oneroa, with one of Waiheke’s best restaurants. Strong on Syrah, Chardonnay and rose, with fruit from both Waiheke and Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, so a tasting here covers more ground than at the single-vineyard estates. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

There are two eating options rather than one: the relaxed all-day Verandah, open from midday most days and from 11am at the weekend, and a smarter bistro. That makes it one of the few places on the island where you can turn up mid-afternoon and still be fed.

4. Tantalus Estate (Waiheke Island)

Premium boutique winery at 70-72 Onetangi Road with a brewery on site and a serious restaurant. Bordeaux-style reds, Syrah and craft beer under the Alibi Brewing label, which makes it the obvious stop when half your group has had enough wine by 3pm. Onetangi Beach is a short walk downhill.

Check the dates before you plan around it. Tantalus takes a winter closure — in 2026 the estate shut from 13 July to 2 September, with only the cellar door open inside the Alibi Brewing space. Several other Waiheke wineries do the same in July and August.

5. Te Motu Vineyard (Waiheke Island)

One of Waiheke’s most awarded boutique wineries, at 76 Onetangi Road overlooking the Onetangi Valley. The Te Motu Bordeaux blend is the wine that rivals Stonyridge’s Larose, and the cellar door is one of the few places on the island where you can taste older vintages. The Shed is the on-site restaurant, and a second label called Dunleavy lets you take something home without spending three figures.

6. Wild on Waiheke (Waiheke Island)

Historically the casual, family-friendly option on Onetangi Road, pairing tastings with archery, axe-throwing and clay-bird shooting. I could not confirm it was still trading at the time of writing, so check before you build a day around it. The same stretch has alternatives within a few hundred metres: Casita Miro at 3 Brown Road does Spanish shared plates with lunch from 11am Friday to Tuesday, and Obsidian and Peacock Sky run small cellar doors nearby.

7. Kumeu River Wines (Kumeu)

New Zealand’s most internationally celebrated Chardonnay producer, and the reason serious wine people bother with the Auckland region at all. The Brajkovich family’s Croatian heritage runs through the whole operation, and the wines are made in a Burgundian style that has beaten far more famous French bottles in blind tastings. Check current cellar door hours and tasting fees on the winery’s site before you drive out. If you buy one bottle in Auckland, make it the single-vineyard Chardonnay.

8. Soljans Estate Winery (Kumeu)

Family owned and operated since 1937 and now into its fifth generation. There is a cellar door and a bistro on the same site just off State Highway 16, the range is broad rather than boutique, and the place is genuinely relaxed about children, which is not true of every winery here. Sunday lunch is the busy service.

9. The Hunting Lodge (Kumeu)

Boutique winery and restaurant at Waimauku, just past Kumeu, on the site of New Zealand’s original commercial Sauvignon Blanc plantings. There is a lawn bar and cellar door as well as the restaurant. It is roughly 30 minutes from the CBD and around 15 minutes from Muriwai Beach and its gannet colony — not five, as it is often listed — which still makes it the natural lunch stop on a west coast day.

10. Coopers Creek Vineyard (Kumeu)

Long-established Kumeu producer, making wine since 1980 and known for unusual varieties as much as the classics — its Albarino has won national trophies. The wines are among the best value in the region, usually NZ$20 to NZ$35 a bottle, which makes this the place to fill a case rather than buy one trophy bottle.

11. Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail (Matakana)

Boutique winery at 17 Arabella Lane, Snells Beach, about a 50-minute drive north of the city, with the best vineyard sculpture trail in the country attached. The trail is a 2km walk through bush and wetland past more than 70 works by New Zealand artists, and it is ticketed rather than free.

Trail entry in 2026 is NZ$18 for an adult, dropping to NZ$15 if you are also dining, with children aged 5 to 17 at NZ$12 or NZ$9 and a family pass at NZ$52 or NZ$44. Brick Bay opens seven days from 10am, closing at 4pm on weekdays, 9pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday, with last trail entry an hour before closing. The Glass House restaurant needs booking well ahead. The trail is not wheelchair accessible; the restaurant is, and dogs are welcome on both.

12. The Matakana Cinema & Wine Bar (Matakana)

Not a winery, but the most enjoyable place in Matakana to drink the local stuff. The cinema in Matakana Village pours regional wines, runs film festivals through the year, and sits a short walk from the Saturday morning farmers’ market. It is the right way to end a wine day up north when the weather turns.

How to Visit Waiheke Wineries

Ferry from Auckland

• Fullers360 from Piers 11 and 12, Downtown Ferry Terminal — adult returns start from around NZ$46.50 off-peak, with walk-up peak fares higher
• Crossing time: 40 to 45 minutes to Matiatia wharf
• Frequency: sailings from about 6am to midnight, up to 22 services a day at peak times
• Contactless and AT HOP — not accepted on the Fullers360 Waiheke service, so buy a ticket or book online
• SeaLink vehicle ferry — from Half Moon Bay if you must take a car; book ahead and expect a fuel surcharge on top

Getting around Waiheke

• Fullers360 Western Explorer hop-on hop-off bus — the simplest way to string together the Oneroa and Onetangi cellar doors; buy it with your ferry ticket and check the current day-pass price when you book
• Fullers360 Eastern Explorer — a guided run out to the far end of the island, including Man O’ War, which you cannot sensibly reach on the public bus
• Guided wine tours — several operators run half and full-day trips; expect a few hundred dollars a head once ferry, transport, tastings and lunch are bundled
• Public buses — run by Waiheke Bus Company and timed to meet each ferry; a one-zone adult AT HOP fare is NZ$3 in 2026
• E-bikes — good fun and genuinely hilly; several operators rent from Matiatia and Oneroa
• Taxis and rideshare — available but thin on the ground late in the day, so pre-book your last leg

Designate a driver if you are self-driving, and take that seriously. New Zealand’s breath alcohol limit for drivers over 20 is 250 micrograms per litre, which two generous tasting pours will get you close to, and Waiheke is small enough that police know where people come down the hill from. Most visitors take a tour or use the Explorer bus.

Sample Waiheke Wine Day

• 9am — Ferry from Auckland Downtown Ferry Terminal
• 9:40am — Arrive Waiheke, board hop-on hop-off bus
• 10:30am — Mudbrick — Icon Tasting
• 12pm — Cable Bay — lunch
• 2:30pm — Stonyridge — Icon Tasting with Larose
• 4pm — Tantalus Estate — beer flight
• 5:30pm — Onetangi Beach for sunset
• 7pm — Return ferry to Auckland

That itinerary is deliberately three tastings and one long lunch rather than five tastings, because five is where a wine day stops being fun, and it assumes you have eaten before the 9am sailing rather than after it, which is what our guide to Auckland’s best brunch spots is for. The last ferries back fill up on summer weekends, so if you miss the 7pm you may be waiting for the 8pm with several hundred other people at Matiatia. If you would rather not plan it, the ferry operator’s packages bundle the crossing, a tour and two or three cellar doors into one booking.

Sample Kumeu Wine Day

• 10am — Drive from Auckland CBD (30 mins via SH16)
• 10:30am — Kumeu River Wines — Chardonnay tasting
• 12pm — Soljans Estate — lunch and tasting
• 2pm — The Hunting Lodge — afternoon tasting
• 3:30pm — Continue 20 mins to Muriwai gannet colony
• 5pm — Drive back to Auckland

Wine Pricing & Tastings

• Standard cellar door tastings: NZ$16-35 a head for three to five pours; Mudbrick is NZ$31, Stonyridge NZ$35
• Premium and vertical tastings: NZ$80 a head for the Larose vertical at Stonyridge; private guided tastings from around NZ$50 a head with a minimum group spend
• Tasting fees are sometimes credited against a bottle in Kumeu, less often on Waiheke — ask rather than assume
• Bottle prices: NZ$20-35 for good Kumeu drinking wine, NZ$45-90 for most Waiheke estate reds, and several hundred for the icon bottles
• Restaurant lunches at the big wineries: NZ$45-80 a main, more for a set menu
• Realistic day total on Waiheke: about NZ$180-260 a head all in

Buying Wine to Take Home

• Cellar door prices are usually the same as retail, so buy for the wines you cannot get at home rather than for a discount
• Most wineries ship internationally for NZ$50-150 per case
• Domestic NZ shipping NZ$20-30 per case
• Bring back duty-free at the airport (allowance varies by destination)
• Travel-friendly cardboard cases provided by most wineries

Wineries by Wine Style

• Bordeaux-style red blends: Stonyridge (Larose), Te Motu, Mudbrick (Velvet)
• Syrah: Cable Bay, Mudbrick, Te Whau, Tantalus
• Chardonnay: Kumeu River (international standout), Tantalus, Cable Bay
• Rosé: Mudbrick, Cable Bay, Wild on Waiheke
• Pinot Gris: Tantalus, Coopers Creek, Soljans
• Sparkling: Mudbrick, Soljans

Family-Friendly Wineries

• Soljans Estate — long-running family winery, kids welcome
• Wild on Waiheke — archery, axe-throwing and clay-bird shooting alongside wine, if it is still trading; ring first
• The Hunting Lodge — outdoor lawn space, family-friendly Sunday lunches
• Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail — kids enjoy the sculpture walk

Booking Tips

• Restaurant bookings essential in summer and on weekends — book 2+ weeks ahead
• Cellar door tastings usually walk-in; book ahead for premium flights
• Hop-on Hop-off Wine Bus — book online for guaranteed seats
• Private wine tours — book 1-2 weeks ahead via Tripadvisor or directly
• Off-peak shoulder season (April-October) — quieter, easier bookings

The booking that actually matters is lunch. Cellar doors will nearly always find room for two on a weekday; a table at Mudbrick, Cable Bay or the Glass House on a Saturday in February will not exist unless you booked a month ago, because these kitchens fill up the way the city’s fine dining restaurants do. Book the restaurant first, build the day around that slot, then book the ferry. If you are six or more, ring rather than book online.

Best Time to Visit Auckland Wineries

• Summer (Dec-Feb) — peak season, busy, hot, sunset wine experiences
• Autumn (Mar-May) — perfect — settled weather, harvest season, fewer crowds
• Winter (Jun-Aug) — quieter cellar doors, intimate restaurant experiences, full ferry runs continue
• Spring (Sep-Nov) — blooming vineyards, mild weather, return of crowds

Winter needs one caveat most guides skip. Several Waiheke wineries close completely for a few weeks in July and August — Tantalus shut from 13 July to 2 September in 2026 — and others cut back to weekend trading or change hours week by week. The ferries keep running, so a winter day trip still works, but build it around whoever is open rather than around the famous names.

Autumn is the pick for most people: settled weather, harvest through March and April, and enough warmth to sit outside, with our March events calendar showing what else is on in the city while the harvest runs. Our Auckland food and drink guide covers what else is worth eating in the same season.

Where to Stay for Wine Tours

• Auckland CBD waterfront hotels — for ferry-based Waiheke day trips
• Waiheke Island accommodations — for multi-day wine focused stays. The Boatshed, Onetangi Beach Apartments, multiple Airbnbs
• Kumeu B&Bs — for Kumeu wine country focused stays
• Matakana cottages — for Matakana region focused stays

Staying on Waiheke overnight changes the day completely: late ferry over, a proper dinner, cellar doors the next morning while they are empty. Island accommodation is expensive in summer and books out months ahead over New Year, so between December and February the practical choice is usually a city hotel and a day trip. Our guide to Auckland’s waterfront hotels covers the hotels within walking distance of the ferry terminal.

Wine Events Near Auckland

• Summer festival season (January to March) — Waiheke hosts several wine, food and music events; dates change every year, so check what is on for your dates rather than planning around a name
• Harvest (February to April) — the vineyards are working, and some wineries run pick-and-taste days
• Winter series dinners — Brick Bay and several Waiheke restaurants run one-off winter menus
• Auckland Restaurant Month (August) — city-wide set menus across the CBD restaurants and beyond, with some winery restaurants taking part

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best winery near Auckland?

Mudbrick (Waiheke) is Auckland’s most photographed; Stonyridge (Waiheke) has the most prestigious red wine; Kumeu River produces NZ’s best Chardonnay.

How do I get to Waiheke wineries from Auckland?

40-minute Fullers360 ferry from Downtown Ferry Terminal, with sailing times in our Auckland ferry routes and schedules guide. Then Hop-on Hop-off Wine Bus, organised tour, public bus, e-bike, or rental car on the island.

How much does a Waiheke wine tour cost?

Expect a few hundred dollars a head for a guided tour bundling the ferry, island transport, two or three cellar doors and lunch, and considerably less if you buy the Explorer bus with your ferry ticket and pay for tastings as you go. Independently, with the public bus, two tastings and a good lunch, budget NZ$180 to NZ$260 a head.

Can I drive to Auckland wineries?

Yes for Kumeu, about 30 minutes north-west, and Matakana, about an hour north. For Waiheke you would need the SeaLink vehicle ferry, which costs several times the passenger fare, has a fuel surcharge on top and needs booking ahead. Almost nobody should do this for a day trip.

Are Auckland wineries open year-round?

Most are. Some smaller Waiheke wineries close 1-2 days per week in winter — check before visiting.

What’s special about Waiheke wines?

Maritime climate (warm summers, mild winters) plus volcanic soil produces concentrated Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah of international quality. Most wineries are small, boutique, family-owned.

Can I bring my own food to Auckland wineries?

Generally no. Almost every winery here has a restaurant and does not allow outside food on the grounds, which is normal for licensed premises in New Zealand. The beaches are the answer: Onetangi and Oneroa both have public reserves a short walk from the cellar doors.

Do I need to book a Waiheke wine tasting?

Not usually, for two or three people at a standard cellar door tasting. Mudbrick, for example, takes walk-ups for groups of fewer than seven. Book if you are six or more, if you want a premium or vertical flight, or if you are visiting on a summer weekend. Restaurant tables are a different matter and should be booked weeks ahead in season.

How many wineries can I visit in a day on Waiheke?

Three, plus lunch. Each tasting takes 20 to 45 minutes, the bus between clusters takes 10 to 20 minutes, and lunch at a winery restaurant runs to two hours. Four is possible if you skip lunch, and five is a day you will not remember. Build in 45 minutes of slack for the ferry.

Can I take wine home on the plane?

Yes, in checked baggage, and most wineries sell moulded travel cases for the purpose. Duty-free allowances at your destination are the limiting factor rather than anything New Zealand does at departure. If you are buying more than a case, ask about shipping; most of the bigger wineries handle international freight and it usually beats excess baggage.

Final Take: Auckland Is a Wine Destination

Auckland’s wine scene punches well above its weight — Waiheke Island’s 30+ wineries deliver world-class Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah just 40 minutes from CBD. Kumeu produces NZ’s most internationally celebrated Chardonnay. Matakana adds boutique wines plus art and food festivals.

For a single Auckland day trip, take the Waiheke ferry, ride the Hop-on Hop-off Wine Bus, visit Mudbrick (sunset), Stonyridge (Larose), and Cable Bay (lunch) — and you’ll have one of the world’s most rewarding urban wine days.