Meet your knowledgeable guide upon hotel pickup by comfortable minivan, and settle in for your morning tour of Auckland, followed by lunch and wine tasting in the afternoon.
First, explore the heritage architecture of Queen Street and view landmarks in the central business district (CBD). Then take a drive past Auckland University and the Auckland Domain, the city’s oldest park. Your guide points out historical buildings in the bustling district of Ponsonby before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the North Shore.
Make a stop in the charming seaside enclave of Devonport for a meander along Narrow Neck Beach, and motor up to the nearby Mt Victoria lookout for panoramic views over the city and harbor. Returning across the bridge, your guide escorts you to Westhaven Marina for a glimpse of fishmongers and other vendors at the bustling Auckland Fish Market.
After your city tour, it’s an approximate 30-minute journey to the Kumeu wine region, known for its fine New Zealand varietals. Savor wine paired with a Mediterranean-style lunch of fresh regional dishes at the award-winning Soljans Estate Winery.
After lunch, follow your guide on a short bird-watching expedition in search of breeding gannets (large seabirds) at Muriwai Beach — one of the few mainland gannet-nesting sites in the world.
Follow up with a tasting at Matua Valley Wines before you sip more varietals and take in the scenic vineyards at West Brook Winery. Finally, relax on the picturesque drive back to your Auckland hotel.
