Kumeu Wine and Food Pairing Tour
Description
Our Kumeu Wine Tour is more than just wine tasting — it’s a relaxed, full‑day experience built around exceptional wine, thoughtfully paired food, and great company. From the moment you step aboard, you’ll be welcomed by friendly, knowledgeable hosts who are passionate about showcasing West Auckland. You’ll visit carefully selected local wineries where wines are enjoyed with complementary food pairings, along with a leisurely lunch stop that lets you savour each flavour without feeling rushed. What truly sets this tour apart is the journey beyond the vineyards. Before returning to the city, we travel through the rolling countryside of Muriwai. When in season, guests can visit the world‑famous Gannet Bird Colony and walk along Muriwai’s dramatic black‑sand beach — a uniquely wild West Auckland experience not found on other wine tours. Book your Kumeu Wine Tour today and experience Auckland’s wine country and wild west coast.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Soljan’s Winery This is a family operated vineyard started by Tony Soljan. There is a long history associated with the Soljans in West Auckland and their original vineyard was in the suburb of Henderson which is coincidently also in West Auckland. In the Kumeu vineyard we grow Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinotage, all varieties which excel in the Kumeu region. The wine makers and staff endeavour to make the best possible wines for you to enjoy so they get their grapes from where they grow best. Soljans employs modern wine making technology, but they never compromise on quality, so they still retain some traditional methods. In addition to the French Oak Barrique Barrels they have for ageing wine, they still have and use the hand-made, 65-year-old, 2,250 litre, magnificent totara barrels for aging their exquisite Founders Tawny Port. At Soljans Estate Winery, they produce a wide range of still and sparkling wines, and have been doing so for over 80 years.
At The Hunting Lodge, guests can enjoy a relaxed yet generous wine experience at one of Kumeu’s most loved casual dining destinations. Tastings highlight a selection of estate‑grown wines, with a focus on elegant Chardonnays, vibrant Pinot Gris, refreshing Rosé, and smooth, approachable reds — reflecting the region’s long and respected winemaking heritage. There’s something here to delight both seasoned wine enthusiasts and those new to wine tasting. Lunch is served at the Lawn Bar, a laid‑back outdoor space ideal for unwinding between tastings. The share‑style menu features generous charcuterie boards with cheeses, cured meats, and accompaniments, alongside freshly made pizzas with a variety of toppings. Guests can also enjoy casual sides and snacks, all perfectly suited to enjoy with a glass of wine. With its welcoming atmosphere, quality wines, and crowd‑pleasing food, The Hunting Lodge is a fun, social, and memorable stop on your wine tour.
The Muriwai Gannet Colony is a spectacular sight to behold! From August to March, around 1,200 pairs of gannets nest on the rugged cliffs and two vertical-sided islands 1. Watching these magnificent birds with their impressive two-meter wingspans master the onshore updrafts is truly mesmerizing 1. Plus, the views of the black-sand Muriwai Beach stretching 60 kilometers are simply breathtaking.
Kumeu River Winery is world‑renowned for producing some of New Zealand’s finest Chardonnay, often compared to top white Burgundies for its elegance, balance, and depth. During your visit, you can expect to taste beautifully crafted Chardonnays ranging from fresh and vibrant estate styles to more complex, single‑vineyard expressions that highlight the region’s unique terroir and clay soils. Guests may also have the opportunity to sample Kumeu River’s exceptional sparkling wines, made in a traditional méthode with extended ageing for fine bubbles and refined complexity. These sparkling wines reflect the same precision and craftsmanship that has built the winery’s international reputation. NB.THIS WINERY IS ONLY OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK WHICH EXCLUDES SUNDAYS.
Hallertau Brewery: Where the beer is so good, even your taste buds will do a happy dance! We have added this as an option for our last stop. This is an optional tasting and at your own expense should you like to extend your tour. Please tell your give at lunchtime.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You can indicate the hotel you are staying at so we know where you'd liked to be picked up from. But only inner city pick ups allowed.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(74)
This was a wonderful tour! Loved the wineries selected! The lunch was amazing: charcuterie board, pizzas, French fries. So good!
Dear Jaleen, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5‑star review! We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed the wine tour and the wineries selected. It’s great to know the lunch was a highlight too — that charcuterie, pizza, and fries combination is definitely a crowd favorite! Jennine will be delighted to hear your kind words, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Thank you again for choosing to tour with us, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable day soon. Warm regards, Coast To Coast Team
Our guide, Jeannine, did a good job of keeping the tour on time and providing interesting commentary, and the lunch was amazing! Our driver also provided interesting information about the Maori culture, and communication with the tour provider through Viator was prompt and clear. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Dear Karen, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a lovely 5‑star review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your day with us! Jeannine will be thrilled to know you appreciated her commentary and timekeeping, and we’re so glad the lunch was a highlight of your tour. It’s also wonderful to hear that our driver’s insights into Māori culture added to your experience, and that our communication through Viator was clear and prompt. Your recommendation truly means a lot to our team. We hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future! Warm regards, Coast to Coast team
Although we were initially asked to change our booking to another day which we were unable to do, we did the tour as the only couple on our chosen day. Maura? was excellent and very friendly as a tour guide and we had a grand day tasting wines and viewing the NZ countryside in a very relaxed atmosphere. It was great to visit small local wineries. Lunch as a pizza proved to be better than I thought. The whole day was very enjoyable.
Hi Thank you very much for your thoughtful 5‑star review. We really appreciate your flexibility and are delighted to hear that, despite the initial booking challenge, you had such an enjoyable day. It’s wonderful to know that Maura made the experience special with her friendly and attentive guiding style, and that you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, beautiful New Zealand countryside, and visits to the smaller local wineries. We’re also glad to hear the pizza lunch exceeded expectations and that the day as a whole was such a positive and memorable experience. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback and we hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future. Warm regards, The Coast to Coast Tours Team
Exceptional tour with a wonderful, knowledgeable and professional guide(Jose). She was superb in every measure of excellence!
Hi Geoff, Thank you very much for your outstanding 5‑star review. We’re delighted to hear that you had such an exceptional tour and that Jose made the experience truly memorable. Her knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to excellence are something we’re extremely proud of, and your kind words will mean a great deal to her. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback. We hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future. Warm regards, The Coast to Coast Tours Team
Four of us had a wonderful experience with our tour guide Jose. She was very passionate and informative, providing not only information about the wineries but also the city of Auckland and the surrounding area. Lots of time for sipping excellent wines, having good food , seeing the gannets and sharing stories. Highly, highly recommend.
Hi Karen, Thank you so much for your fantastic 5‑star review and for choosing Coast to Coast Tours. We’re delighted to hear that you and your group had such a wonderful experience, and that Jose helped make the day so memorable. Her passion, knowledge, and storytelling , from the wineries to Auckland and the surrounding areas, are something we’re very proud of. It’s great to know you enjoyed the wine, food, gannet spotting, and the time to relax and share stories along the way. Your high recommendation truly means a lot to our team. We hope to welcome you back again for another adventure in the future! Warm regards, The Coast to Coast Tours Team
Let me start by saying our driver was friendly and kept us on schedule. If you are looking to escape the typical "tourist trail", this tour of Auckland’s smaller, Croatian-founded wineries offers a quiet, friendly alternative. The highlights were a delicious lunch and a standout host who shared a genuine perspective on the challenges of winemaking in a growing urban region—expertise we didn't find at every stop. However, the wine itself was average, making the high price point difficult to justify. You are essentially paying a significant premium for the lack of crowds rather than the quality of the tastings. Unless you place a very high value on a quiet atmosphere, this experience feels overpriced for what is ultimately delivered.
Small group is the way to go. Tasted some great wines and met some lovely travelers and locals! Tasted a few wines that could not ship internationally - so that was a shame.
Kia Ora Brenda Hi Brenda, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the small group experience — it really does make the day more personal and relaxed. It’s wonderful to hear you tasted some great wines and connected with both fellow travellers and locals along the way. That’s exactly the kind of atmosphere we love creating. Just to clarify regarding the shipping — all of the wineries we visit do export their wines internationally. In some cases, they may not ship directly from the cellar door on the day, but their wines are available overseas through their official websites and international distributors. We’ve attached the winery website links for you so you can explore and purchase online at your convenience. It’s great value for money, and the best part is having your favourite New Zealand wines delivered straight to your front door — a lovely reminder of your time with us. Thanks again for choosing Coast to Coast Tours, Brenda. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back again one day! 🍷 https://storage.googleapis.com/mailerlite-uploads-prod/658364/Fd63l2BmKAkufzETZa2k1YZheaJ2J7wYqcFJzSVe.pdf Regards Coast to Coast Team
These were not the best wineries that NZ has to offer, but it was a pleasant day out and the visit to Muriwai and the gannet colony was spectacular!
Kia Ora Sharon Thank you very much for your thoughtful review — we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We’re pleased to hear you had a pleasant day out and that your visit to Muriwai Beach and the spectacular gannet colony was a highlight. The views along that rugged coastline and seeing the gannets in their natural habitat really is something special. We also value your honest feedback regarding the wineries. New Zealand has an incredible range of world-class producers, and part of what we aim to showcase is a mix of boutique estates, unique varietals, and relaxed vineyard experiences that reflect the character of the region. That said, we genuinely appreciate hearing different perspectives — it helps us continually refine what we offer. Thank you again for joining us. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another day exploring more of what this beautiful region has to offer. Warm regards, Peter Coast to Coast Tours
I wish i could have given this tour the 4 or 5 stars it deserved. Here are all of the positives: The wine tastings were all very good. At the Soljan winery we met Tony Soljan, age 81, who brought the vines from Croatia to start this winery. The wines were interesting varietals and very tasty. On the way to the Hunting Lodge vineyard, we stopped to take photos of the picturesque Muriwai Beach along the Tasman Sea. The wines at the Hunting Lodge were again different varietals and very good. At our last stop, we tasted wines at the Westbrook winery where we were also served pizza. The wines were amazing. At each winery, the staff was friendly and very knowledgeable. One of the reasons that we had selected this tour so that we could see some of the countryside. The scenery did not dissapoint. Now for the reason for the 3 star rating...the van that we were in was DISGUSTING. The seats were stained and the curtains were mildewed. I just hope that no one gets ill from breathing in mold spores! The PA system didnt work very well and for the first part of the tour we could hardly here the driver. I heard that it was a rental van..not sure why a rental was needed, but they should never rent from this place again if they want to keep customers. I would recommend this tour if they get a better van!
Kia Ora Patricia Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed review. We truly appreciate the generous comments about the wineries, the scenery, and the overall experience. We’re so pleased you enjoyed your visits to Soljans Estate Winery, meeting Tony Soljan, stopping at Muriwai Beach along the Tasman Sea, and your tastings at The Hunting Lodge and Westbrook Winery. It means a great deal to us that you found the wines interesting, the staff knowledgeable, and the countryside as beautiful as you’d hoped. However, we are genuinely sorry and disappointed to read your comments regarding the vehicle. That is absolutely not the standard we hold ourselves to. Due to an unusually high level of demand on that particular day for our most popular tour, we temporarily hired an additional vehicle so we wouldn’t have to turn guests away. This is something we rarely do, and your feedback has made it very clear that the condition of that rental vehicle fell well below expectations — and below our own standards. Please rest assured: • All of our own Coast to Coast Tours vehicles are meticulously maintained and presented in pristine condition. • We have formally raised a complaint with the rental provider regarding cleanliness, presentation, and the PA system issues you experienced. • We will be reviewing our procedures to ensure this situation does not happen again. There is no excuse for you feeling uncomfortable in the vehicle, and we sincerely apologise for that part of your experience. Guest comfort and safety are extremely important to us. We truly appreciate your honesty, and we’re grateful that you would still recommend the tour itself. We hope that if your travels bring you back to Auckland, you’ll allow us the opportunity to host you again — this time in one of our own vans, exactly as our tours are intended to be experienced. Warm regards, Coast to Coast Tours
Excellent wines and tour guide. Lovely weather. Visited ocean and bird sanctuary. Saw interesting parts of island we had not seen before.
Hi Phillip, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review — we truly appreciate it! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the excellent wines, the lovely weather, and exploring parts of the island you hadn’t seen before. Visiting the ocean and bird sanctuary is always a special highlight, and we’re so pleased it added something new and memorable to your experience. It was an absolute pleasure having you on tour with us, and we hope to welcome you back again soon for another adventure. Warm regards, Peter Coast to Coast Tours
