WELLINGTON WINE FIELD GUIDE
A Day in Martinborough: Pinot, Pastures and Panoramas an hour from Wellington
A 6.5-hour, easy-paced tour from Wellington that visits three award-winning Martinborough wineries, includes a gourmet lunch option and finishes with a stop at C’est Cheese — a concise guide to what to expect and how to plan.
A Day in Martinborough: Pinot, Pastures and Panoramas an hour from Wellington.
Martinborough sits at the heart of the Wairarapa wine region, roughly an hour’s drive from Wellington, a landscape of rolling fields of sheep, olives and grapes framed by a panoramic mountain backdrop. This easy-paced, full-day outing moves through rural countryside and stops at small, boutique wineries known for Pinot Noir, with time allotted for tastings, conversation with winemakers and a final cheese stop in Featherston.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Wairarapa’s pastoral sweep and mountain backdrop
The route leaves the city and winds through rural farmland — sheep paddocks, olive groves and vineyards — framed by a panoramic mountain backdrop that arrives as you enter the Martinborough area.
Three award‑winning wineries and boutique Pinot Noir
The itinerary takes you to three of the operator’s favourite vineyards in Martinborough, small producers with international reputations, where winemakers present and guide tastings focused on the region’s celebrated Pinot Noir.
Local gourmet lunch and Featherston cheese
Tastings are paired with a gourmet lunch platter (the lunch is not included in the tour price), and the day concludes with a visit to C’est Cheese in Featherston to sample award‑winning local cheeses.
What the day feels like
How the Day Feels
Expect a comfortable, easy‑paced day: guests are picked up in Wellington and whisked out on a fast motorway, then travel through the Hutt Valley with commentary on nearby film sites before crossing the Remutaka Range into the quieter Wairarapa. Once in Martinborough you visit three wineries for guided tastings and enjoy a lunch pairing before the final stop at a renowned cheese shop in Featherston.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The full tour runs approximately 6.5 hours.
Bring anything needed for comfort on a half‑day outing; note that the gourmet lunch platter is not included in the tour price.
Pickups are from a central city hotel or Wellington iSite; cruise passengers are collected from the port 45 minutes after docking.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Full Day Martinborough Wine Tour?
The tour is approximately 6.5 hours long.
Where and how do I get picked up?
Pickups are either from a central Wellington city hotel or the Wellington iSite; cruise passengers are picked up from the port 45 minutes after docking.
How many wineries will we visit?
The tour visits three wineries in the Martinborough area.
Is lunch included in the tour price?
The wine tastings are matched with a gourmet lunch platter, but the lunch is not included in the tour price.
Are there age or accessibility restrictions?
The tour is for ages 12 and over; alcohol may only be consumed by guests aged 18 and older; fold‑up wheelchairs are accommodated.