About this tour
When Sarah from our team ran this Martinborough Wine Tour, we found a solid half-day escape from Wellington that ticks several boxes at once. You're bundled into an air-conditioned minivan, driven across the Remutaka ranges with a few Lord of the Rings filming spot callouts, then dropped into Martinborough's wine country for tastings at three award-winning wineries, a craft brewery, and a cheese shop. The gourmet lunch platter pairs nicely with the wines (though you'll pay extra for it). It's a neat fit for wine-curious travellers who want the driving sorted and some local know-how without too much faffing about. Around 6 to 6.5 hours door-to-door.
Highlights
- Remutaka Mountain pass drive with commentary on LOTR filming locations.
- Three separate winery tastings at established Martinborough producers.
- Craft brewery stop adds variety if wine-only sounds dull.
- Gourmet lunch platter matched to wines at a boutique winery venue.
- C'est Cheese tasting wraps up the tasting run nicely.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off saves parking stress in Wellington.
- Live guide commentary throughout journey and at each stop.
What to expect
The day kicks off with pickup from your Wellington hotel (or the iSite if you're still sorting accommodation). You'll head northeast through the Hutt Valley, spotting a few Lord of the Rings filming patches along the way — nothing massive, but pleasant backdrop chat. The real drive is the 20-minute climb over Remutaka, which drops you into rural Wairarapa and the pocket-sized town of Martinborough itself.
Once there, you're shuttled between three wineries for tastings. Each tasting is unhurried rather than rushed, and the guide knows the wines and producers well enough to point out what's distinctive about each region. At one of the boutique spots, you'll eat a gourmet platter lunch (you pay for this separately). The craft brewery sits somewhere in the loop — or if wine's your only game, you can request a fourth winery instead. The cheese shop is the final stop before the drive back to Wellington. It's a genteel pace: no hiking, no surprises, just tasting and chatting.
What travellers say
- Hotel pickup included; no navigating Remutaka passes yourself.
- Three award-winning wineries plus brewery or fourth winery option.
- Tasting fees built into price; lunch is separate and clear.
- Guide knows producers and local wine stories genuinely well.
- Scenic drive with Lord of the Rings trivia throughout.
- Cheese shop finale is a nice tasting-tour bookend.
- Lunch platter costs extra — budget separately for meals.
- Six-plus hours is a hefty commitment for half a day.
- Heavy tasting schedule may exhaust non-wine enthusiasts quickly.
- Brewery swap requires advance request; not guaranteed on the day.
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works beautifully if you're a wine drinker who'd rather not white-knuckle a hire car over mountain passes. The three wineries are award-winning producers, so you're not visiting tourist traps. Tasting fees are bundled in, which keeps surprises to a minimum. The guide is knowledgeable and the minivan is comfortable. The route hits that sweet spot between scenery (mountain drive, rural countryside) and actual wine education. Small-group feel means the guide remembers your preferences and can tailor chat accordingly.
Lunch costs extra on top of the tour price — budget for that. The day's quite tasting-heavy, so if you're not wine-curious or get tipsy easily, the repetition might wear thin. It's a 6-plus-hour commitment, so not ideal if you've got other Wellington plans. The brewery swap is by request only, so confirm early. Minimum age is 18 (for obvious reasons). Public transport isn't far, but you're reliant on hotel pickup being accurate. Peak times (weekends, summer) may bunch groups together at wineries.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.