Wine Tours
6–7 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 93% of travellers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$195
per adult
Tauranga Tasting Tours
Tauranga Tasting Tours
Tauranga Tasting Tours
5
Full view
About
We are a small transport company that specialises in food & wine venues. However, we can be chartered to go to venues that are not food/liquor related e.g. Shows, sports events etc. During the cruise-ship season, we travel to Rotorua's thermal delights & the Waitomo Caves. We are frequently chartered for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, Hens’ Parties etc., so that people can fit the celebration to their venue type /budget, date & number constraints. Our tours are door-to-door from within the Tauranga/Mt Maunganui/early Papamoa area. We travel out of town to Sunday Lunches approximately once a month, and provide mid-week tours. We often visit gardens & garden festivals. Our Local Tasting Tour is our most popular tour. It visits Karangahake Winery (wine presentation & shared platters)The Wine Portfolio for a wine presentation & tasting (Leveret & Mills Reef wines). We then return to Tauranga's CBD for a cocktail & dessert at Takara Restaurant.
Tours and Tickets by Tauranga Tasting Tours
Eco Tours
6–7 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$195
per adult
Full-day Tours
6–7 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$1,590
per group
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5.0
98 reviews
Excellent
87
Very good
8
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
bernadette320
Tauranga, New Zealand9 contributions
Dec 2021
The. Company is owner operated by Lyn and Paul, both of whom were a pleasure to deal with. The tour was 10 people which made if feel more like a group of friends rather than just a number on bigger tours. We were picked up from and returned to our home and because there were two of us we got a discount.
First part of call was Elspeths Bakery where we sat under a pohutokowa tree and sampled cream and jam scones and Danish pastry. Then it was off to the Crossing to visit Pepper and me and Tauranga Hemp Farm at both venue we had samples and a talk - very enjoyable.
Then it was off to lunch decorated with edible flowers at Bloom Cafe in Decor Garden Centre, Bethlehem - lunch was delicious and afterwards we had a tour of the garden and a talk about growing veg and herbs which produced edible flowers.
Next stop Cider O in Te Puna where we sampled the different varieties of cider, fortunately Paul knows about wine tasting so was able to tell us how to taste them so we got full benefit.
Then it was off to Vetro on 3rd Ave for more tasting of interesting, unusual foods.
The tour lasted roughly 8 hours from pick up to drop off and it was an extremely nice way to spend my birthday on the first day of summer.
So thank you Paul for a wonderful day and maybe on the next tour we take we will meet your wife Lyn.
Thank you for checking vaccination status I really appreciated that.
I have posted some photos and we will definitely be back for other tours. Highly recommend this company.
First part of call was Elspeths Bakery where we sat under a pohutokowa tree and sampled cream and jam scones and Danish pastry. Then it was off to the Crossing to visit Pepper and me and Tauranga Hemp Farm at both venue we had samples and a talk - very enjoyable.
Then it was off to lunch decorated with edible flowers at Bloom Cafe in Decor Garden Centre, Bethlehem - lunch was delicious and afterwards we had a tour of the garden and a talk about growing veg and herbs which produced edible flowers.
Next stop Cider O in Te Puna where we sampled the different varieties of cider, fortunately Paul knows about wine tasting so was able to tell us how to taste them so we got full benefit.
Then it was off to Vetro on 3rd Ave for more tasting of interesting, unusual foods.
The tour lasted roughly 8 hours from pick up to drop off and it was an extremely nice way to spend my birthday on the first day of summer.
So thank you Paul for a wonderful day and maybe on the next tour we take we will meet your wife Lyn.
Thank you for checking vaccination status I really appreciated that.
I have posted some photos and we will definitely be back for other tours. Highly recommend this company.
Written 1 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this comprehensive & complimentary review. It's always a challenge, with a new tour, to get things correct, so reviews help to keep us on the right track! We're pleased you enjoyed your special day & look forward to seeing you again.
Written 2 January 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
succeed_2
Toronto336 contributions
Jan 2011
We had pre-booked a tour with Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters before our trip to New Zealand. I really appreciated how easy it was to communicate with them - they always responded promptly to e-mails.
When we arrived, they picked us up at our cruise ship, and we had a full day tour, with spoken commentary throughout. Because we got off to a late start (we were not allowed to disembark our ship right away) we didn’t do everything that they have listed on their website. But we did the most important items.
We headed first to the Te Puia Indigenous Cultural Centre, which was the main “happening” for the day. Our guide showed us around, starting with the reconstructed Maori village. We also saw the large Pohutu geyser, the bubbling mud pools, and the Kiwi bird (house). Then we headed over to the marae for traditional welcome ceremony and a lively concert.
From there, we had a short drive to our lunch by the water (beautiful location), after which our guide explained the significance of the Government Gardens & historic Bath House as we drove by. We made a stop to take pictures and admire the forest and native bush at Okere Falls (stunningly beautiful). And finally, we capped off our day by stopping at Kiwi 360, where we got to go up to the kiwifruit vines, have the industry explained to us, and then tasted an assortment of kiwifruit products - yummy. We brought home with kiwi wine and kiwi jam.
Our guide really knew his stuff and was patient and informative all day. I’d highly recommend Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters.
When we arrived, they picked us up at our cruise ship, and we had a full day tour, with spoken commentary throughout. Because we got off to a late start (we were not allowed to disembark our ship right away) we didn’t do everything that they have listed on their website. But we did the most important items.
We headed first to the Te Puia Indigenous Cultural Centre, which was the main “happening” for the day. Our guide showed us around, starting with the reconstructed Maori village. We also saw the large Pohutu geyser, the bubbling mud pools, and the Kiwi bird (house). Then we headed over to the marae for traditional welcome ceremony and a lively concert.
From there, we had a short drive to our lunch by the water (beautiful location), after which our guide explained the significance of the Government Gardens & historic Bath House as we drove by. We made a stop to take pictures and admire the forest and native bush at Okere Falls (stunningly beautiful). And finally, we capped off our day by stopping at Kiwi 360, where we got to go up to the kiwifruit vines, have the industry explained to us, and then tasted an assortment of kiwifruit products - yummy. We brought home with kiwi wine and kiwi jam.
Our guide really knew his stuff and was patient and informative all day. I’d highly recommend Tauranga Tasting Tours & Charters.
Written 28 February 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the great review and taking time out of your day to write it. It's great to have people give us such a vivid recap of what they did and how they enjoyed it, to ensure that we keep offering tours that suit our clients' requirements.
Written 22 March 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Suenndazz
Perth7 contributions
Jan 2012 • Friends
Having found Tauranga Tasting Tours on the net and booking a days excursion prior to arriving at Tauranga by cruise ship, we found Paul waiting as promised with his sturdy name board right out the front of the port exit. We brought along another two fellow Aussie (pretend Taffies) friends in the hope there was enough room on the bus and off we all went with six new best Pommy mates on what was a fantastic and memorable day. It is obvious Paul loves his job and his commentary and local knowledge was second to none. The tour was tailored for the amount of time we had in port but Paul ensured every available minute was used seeing the magnificent sights of the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua. It is a not to be missed tour by cruise ship travellers into the town and Paul will certainly make sure you leave with fond memories and perhaps a little bit of fine Kiwi fruit wine to boot. Thanks for one of the best day tours we have done Paul.
Written 9 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Three of the things Paul likes doing most are meeting people, showing them around our lovely region and driving. It's always a pleasure to have interested, empathetic clients with a great sense of humour! Thanks for taking the time to write this review. We really appreciate it.
Written 22 March 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GKimb
Saint John, Canada203 contributions
Mar 2020
We had a wonderful day exploring the Waitomo glow worm caves, kiwi sanctuary and the countryside of the Tauranga area.
Our guide Bron was great. She is very informative and makes sure you get to see everything you want....including Hokey Pokey ice cream!
Our tour was almost 7 hours long but the time flew as we enjoyed every minute of it.
We would highly recommend this tour and company!
Our guide Bron was great. She is very informative and makes sure you get to see everything you want....including Hokey Pokey ice cream!
Our tour was almost 7 hours long but the time flew as we enjoyed every minute of it.
We would highly recommend this tour and company!
Written 11 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bron always makes sure clients enjoy their day, ncluding the hokey pokey experience! We're so glad everything went well & that the day went as you would have wished it to. We appreciate your supportive review.
Written 4 April 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
william f
158 contributions
The concert was entertaining and explained some of the Maori culture. The performers seemed to enjoy what they were doing especially when the guests performed the haka under their direction. A truly enjoyable hour.
The thermal springs were interesting but was crowded as a large tour bus unloaded at about the same time as we arrived.
Kiwis were hiding and we failed to see any.
Over all worth the $.
The thermal springs were interesting but was crowded as a large tour bus unloaded at about the same time as we arrived.
Kiwis were hiding and we failed to see any.
Over all worth the $.
Written 23 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Wiliam. We're glad you felt that your experience was worth what you paid, as we hate visitors to our country being "ripped off' with substandard activities. Unforunately we can't control the vagaries of the kiwi bird! Sometimes it is a bit anti-social!
Written 15 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mokuluadrive
Honolulu9 contributions
Nov 2018
Our tour guide was excellent and we loved the geothermal and Maori visits. There was one issue with this tour, and hope that you do not experience it. We ended up on a full bus with many people that had a large wheel protrusion/box inside the bus, taking up most of the leg room for me. I had to put my legs either very high, or in my husband's floor area, and this lasted for the entire day with much driving. I would not wish this on anyone. They should not book that seat. One woman kindly traded with us for the last hour of our tour.
Written 12 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
coley52
Florida107 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Paul was a great guide on our March 11 tour to Rotorua! We went to the Te Paui cultural center to attend a Maori ceremony; saw bubbling mud pools; a geyser; the Kiwi bird room; stopped for lunch (we ate at Atticus Finch); then toured a Chinese gooseberry (kiwi fruit) farm. We appreciated Paul's extensive local knowledge of history, horticulture and agriculture! I will always remember the fern trees and towering pines in this area of NZ. Highly recommend Tauranga Tasting Tours for a small group tour...
Written 31 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your review. Paul thinks he's very lucky to be able to share his love for the region with lovely clients! We're very pleased the tour was to your liking.
Written 1 April 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daryl C
Wichita, KS54 contributions
Feb 2018
We were on a cruise, but booked this tour independently. It was interesting with demonstrations of dance and culture of these native peoples.
Written 19 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rik H
Cairns77 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
A personalised tour by this company saw just my wife and I and this extremely affable tour guide back after an illness.
If this guy was ill then it didn’t show ,he was a great hoste and showed us a great time through breweries epwineries ,great lunch out to mention but a few.
We couldn’t have asked for a better day out visiting the spots of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.
If this guy was ill then it didn’t show ,he was a great hoste and showed us a great time through breweries epwineries ,great lunch out to mention but a few.
We couldn’t have asked for a better day out visiting the spots of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.
Written 13 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for your review. We really appreciate your positive comments & are pleased the day was one you enjoyed. Paul loves sharing his enthusiasm for our local venues & products with interested & interesting clients whose company he appreciates!
Written 14 December 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
D J
San Antonio, TX12 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
From my first contact with Lyn and Paul, I knew I would be taken care of. Paul and I were both an hour early and off we went. Good news for me, was I had Paul all to myself. I can't believe Paul wasn't turning people away. We headed across Tauranga to Kiwi 360, learned a few things about the Chinese Gooseberry, tasted some fruit wine and liquor, bought some souvenirs. The first stop was to the Brewery. I'm not a big beer drinker, but Paul was able to explain the process and had me tasting some pretty good beers. The wineries (I think we went to 5) we visited were top notch. Paul was welcomed warmly by all the vineyards. Lunch was at Mills Reef Winery in a beautiful garden setting. I swore my suitcase couldn't hold any more wine, but I splurged on a couple of bottles of reserve Chardonnay. The last stop of the day was at a restaurant by the marina for dessert and a special cocktail. Paul couldn't have been more gracious. His knowledge of the area and his passion for wine is what made this trip a highlight of my whole vacation abroad.
Written 3 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul always enjoys having a client who is as passionate about the wine industry as he is himself. We're so glad you had an enjoyable day & know you will have enjoyed your purchases of the Elspeth One from Mills Reef & the Coniglio chardonnay from the Wine Portfolio - both stunning wines. Thanks so much for your comments & for taking the time to write a review.
Written 14 May 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi 👋 I have booked for 6 people for the Wine tasting tour & need to cancel this booking please? I cant find any info on how to cancel. Can you pls help?
Written 4 March 2024
julzau
Melbourne, Australia
Hi There,
I am in the process of booking this tour & just have a question regarding the "DROP OFF LOCATION" please?
We will be arriving on the Emerald Princess cruise ship and I am not sure of where the drop off or pick up location is, I only have details of arrival time being 0700 and departure 1800 (6pm)
Can you advise of what I should put in the drop off location please so that I can complete the booking?
Thanks
Written 30 March 2017
The pick-up/drop-off location is the Port of Tauranga, where we meet you at the port gate. We hold your name up on a placard.
Written 30 March 2017
Hi Mark.
If the client is able to be helped into the vehicle, we have a luggage compartment that will store a wheelchair. The venues we visit are wheel-chair accessible. Some venues we visit e.g. Te Puia, supply wheel-chairs. Please don't hesitate to get back to us with any further queries about this.
Written 14 May 2015
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