About this tour
When Mia from our BugBitten team took the Martinborough tandem Tesla wine tour, she spent a full day gliding through New Zealand's wine country in a pair of electric SUVs—no diesel fumes, no cramped coach seats, just two travellers per vehicle and proper vineyard access. The tour hits the smaller, quieter cellar doors that the big tour groups miss, weaving between the rolling Wairarapa vines south of Wellington. Everything's bundled in: morning tea and scones, a proper lunch at a vineyard restaurant, wine tastings at each stop, and the drive back with Spotify and chilled Antipodes water on tap. It's a relaxed 7–8 hour jaunt, and the small-group feel means guides actually remember your name.
Highlights
- Electric Teslas mean no engine drone between tastings—quiet, smooth drives
- Lunch overlooking the vines at an award-winning vineyard restaurant included
- Small groups access quieter cellar doors big tour buses never reach
- Morning tea and scones at Aston Norwood Gardens sets a civilised tone
- All wine tastings and refreshments rolled into one price, no surprises
- Choice of music and premium water on the return to Wellington
- Flexible itinerary—vineyard stops adjust to actual opening hours, not fixed schedules
What to expect
You'll roll out of Wellington in a Tesla with one other guest and a guide who knows the Martinborough region inside out. First stop is Aston Norwood Gardens for proper morning tea—proper meaning real scones and muffins, not a rush-through. Then it's vineyard hopping: each cellar door is smaller and less hectic than what you'd hit on a standard bus tour, so you're actually tasting and chatting with staff rather than shuffling through crowds.
By midday you'll be sitting down to lunch at a quality vineyard restaurant with views across the vines—this isn't a packed sandwich scenario. The afternoon swings through a couple more tastings depending on what's open and what takes your fancy. The drive back to Wellington is smooth and quiet; you pick the playlist on Spotify and sip cold Antipodes water. The pacing feels natural rather than rushed, and the two-per-vehicle setup means you're not making small talk with eight strangers.
What travellers say
- Tandem Teslas keep groups small, guides actually know your preferences
- All wine tastings, lunch, and refreshments bundled—transparent, fair pricing
- Access to quieter, smaller cellar doors coaches cannot reach
- Award-winning vineyard lunch included, not a side errand
- Electric vehicles mean quiet, smooth rides between stops
- Flexible route adjusts to real vineyard opening hours
- Full day standing and walking, not suited to limited mobility
- Early Wellington pickup; last-minute vineyard closures affect itinerary
- Wairarapa weather unpredictable; layering essential
- Peak-season bookings fill quickly; limited availability weekends
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone who finds big coach tours claustrophobic or tiring. The no-hidden-costs model is genuinely refreshing—everything's included, so you're not nickel-and-dimed for tastings or parking. The electric vehicles handle the winding vineyard roads smoothly and quietly, and the smaller group size means the guide can pivot the itinerary if a vineyard is packed or unexpectedly closed. Perfect for couples or friends wanting a more intimate wine-country experience.
A full day on your feet between vehicle stops can still tire you out, especially if you're unfit or have dodgy knees—bring comfy shoes. Weather in the Wairarapa can swing wildly, so pack layers. Early pickup from Wellington means a fairly prompt departure. Peak season (weekends, October–May) books up, and vineyard opening hours aren't always predictable, so your exact itinerary might shift last-minute. Not really a con, but worth knowing: this is a proper wine tour, not a scenic sightseeing loop—if you don't drink or have zero interest in wine, it's not the vibe.
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.