Wellington Food & Wine Tours

Wellington food and wine
Wellington's reputation for coffee and craft beer runs deep, and Cuba Street's laneways hide most of the good stuff behind unmarked doors. Beyond the city centre, Wairarapa's wine country sits a short drive across the Remutaka Ranges, and a couple of genuinely unusual lodge lunches by helicopter round out the food and wine options here.

Cuba Street walking food tour
The 3.5-hour walking food tour departs Cuba and Manners Streets and works through five to six tastings around Cuba Street's cafes, bakeries and bars, with a local guide filling in the history behind each stop along the way. Groups stay small, capped at ten, which keeps the pace relaxed for both curious travellers and locals looking to fill in the gaps in their own knowledge of the area.

Martinborough wine country
Across the Remutaka Ranges from Wellington, the Martinborough winery tour visits three boutique cellar doors and adds a Wairarapa cheese tasting, with a sightseeing stop at Stuart Macaskill Lakes and the Remutaka Summit for the views on the way through. Small group touring and guided commentary run throughout the roughly five-hour outing, which departs from central Wellington and returns the same day.

Bay of Many Coves heli lunch
The Bay of Many Coves heli lunch flies across Cook Strait to a resort in the Marlborough Sounds, with a three-course meal and a glass of wine looking out over the bay before free time to explore the grounds and the return flight to Wellington. The round trip runs about three hours from the waterfront departure at Shed 6, Queens Wharf.

Wharekauhau heli lunch
The Wharekauhau heli lunch flies over the Rimutaka Range and the Palliser Bay coastline before landing directly on the lawn of Wharekauhau Country Estate for a gourmet degustation lunch, with wine chosen from the estate's own list. It stays on the North Island throughout and also runs about three hours door to door.

Booking practicalities
The walking food tour keeps a minimum group size of two and a maximum of ten, with free cancellation available up to 48 hours beforehand, so it's a low-risk booking to slot into a trip even before the rest of the itinerary is confirmed. The Martinborough winery tour also requires a minimum of two travellers, with pickup from central Wellington or selected hotels ahead of departure, which removes the need to arrange transport to a separate meeting point.

Choosing a Wellington food and wine experience
The walking food tour suits travellers who want a sample of the city's cafe and bar culture without leaving the CBD, and it fits neatly into a morning or afternoon alongside other sightseeing. The Martinborough day trip suits wine drinkers with around five hours to give up for a proper cellar door visit, while the two heli lunch experiences suit those after a genuine occasion: Bay of Many Coves for a longer Cook Strait crossing and a resort setting, or Wharekauhau for a shorter North Island flight that lands directly on a working country estate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wellington known for in terms of food and wine?
Wellington is known for its coffee culture and Cuba Street's dense cluster of cafes and bars, with Martinborough's boutique wineries a short drive away across the Remutaka Ranges.
How long does the Wellington walking food tour take?
The walking food tour runs three and a half hours and includes five to six tastings around Cuba Street, departing at 9.30am.
Is Martinborough a good day trip from Wellington?
Yes. Guided tours cross the Remutaka Ranges and visit three boutique wineries plus a cheese tasting in around five hours, making it an easy half-day trip from the city.
What are the helicopter lunch options near Wellington?
Two options fly out from Wellington's waterfront: the Bay of Many Coves heli lunch crosses Cook Strait to a resort in the Marlborough Sounds, and the Wharekauhau heli lunch flies over the Wairarapa coast to a country estate for a gourmet degustation lunch.
Which Wellington heli lunch is better, Bay of Many Coves or Wharekauhau?
Bay of Many Coves crosses Cook Strait for a longer flight and a resort setting in the Marlborough Sounds, while Wharekauhau stays on the North Island over the Wairarapa coast and lands directly on the country estate's lawn, so the choice comes down to whether a Cook Strait crossing or a shorter flight appeals more.