New Zealand · DRINKING TOURS
The 15 best drinking tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
At Steamer Wharf, your Ice Host fits you with a jacket, gloves, and boots before leading you into a room made from more than 18 tonnes of ice. Enjoy two cocktails or mocktails in ice glasses, take photos, and expect lively music and friendly hosts such as Olivia, Dean, Joel, or Aimee.
“We love the experience and the cocktails were amazing”
Walk through Speight’s historic and modern brewery floors in central Dunedin with a guide such as Tom, Thomas, Israel, or Sophia. The 75-minute visit ends with up to 20 minutes of beer tasting, pouring advice, and samples of Speight’s beers and cider.
“This was a great tour, very interesting. Thomas our tour guide was excellent. Beer tasting was great at the end would highly recommend this tour.”
From central Queenstown, you’ll visit the GT Tasting Room, Kinross Cellar Door, and Altitude Brewing. Choose wine or beer tastings at each stop, enjoy antipasti at the final venue, and hear local stories from guides such as Stuart, Do, Shanay, Kevin, and Ash.
“Had a fantastic experience. Great to get to taste test some local wines and beers and hear the history of wine growing. Very friendly tour guides”
Ride from Cardrona into the high country with guides such as Summer, Emily, Kelly, and Marley. Expect mountain tracks, cattle country, river crossings, trotting, cantering, and a drink at the historic Cardrona Hotel. Horses are matched to your riding ability, but this is not a walk-only ride.
“Amazing experience!! Great views all along the way! Kelly was informative on the tour while riding, but we also did a decent amount of trotting and cantering. Would definitely recommend this tour!”
Tour Dunedin’s Speight’s Brewery for 75 minutes with an English-speaking guide, including historic brewing areas, modern production, ingredient and process stories, and a beer tasting. Guides such as Tess, Tom, Annika, and Rosie have helped make the visit lively, though more than 200 stairs require good mobility and covered shoes.
“Fun tour, interesting to hear the history, see the old parts of the brewery—giant tanks and the like. Very nice people and a great scene in the tasting room at the end—they pass out flights/samplers of the various beers, I went back for 2nds and 3rds…everybody was rolling and having a great time!”
Spend two hours in Ōpuke’s adults-only Tranquility Pools in Methven. Your entry includes a robe and towel, solar-powered heated pools, mountain views, and swim-up bar access. You can also use the family-friendly Discovery Pools, except during the 7 and 8pm sessions. Drinks and food cost extra.
“The experience was amazing, staff were helpful and friendly and explained the process, allowing to add a card so could pay for any food or drink at the end! Not too busy so plenty of space in all areas”
Spend one hour inside Queenstown Ice Bar beside the Skyline Gondola, surrounded by nearly 30 tonnes of hand-carved ice. Your ticket includes warm coats, gloves, and boots if needed, plus a drink according to the pass you choose. English-speaking staff, creative cocktails, mocktails, and ice shot luges add to the fun.
“It was amazing such a great experience would 100% recommend no matter the age !!! Thank you so much for a great time !”
Meet your English-speaking guides at The London Bar at 9 PM, then follow the group to five Queenstown bars. You get five welcome shots, free pizza, drink discounts, games, and free night photos. Expect a social, late-night outing for ages 18 and over, with groups that can be large.
“a great way to go out on the town and meet new people.”
Spend 4.5 hours visiting three or four Marlborough wineries, with tasting fees, door-to-door pickup, and a lunch stop included. Your guide may add a brewery or chocolate shop, and guides such as Darlene, Maurice, and Cameron tailor the day to your interests.
“Booked our tour around 11pm the night before the tour, our guide picked us up promptly and then informed us we were to join another tour who had more people (as we were his only customers). This worked out well as we got to go to an eRead more”
Spend 45 minutes at Monteith’s Greymouth brewery with a guide such as Harvey or Austin, exploring old brewing equipment, West Coast beer stories, and tasting notes. You’ll practice pouring, try Monteith’s beers or ciders, receive tap beers, and take home a mixed six-pack.
“Amazing, we got our complementary 6 pack, and lots of time to chat with our guide, which was awesome. My partner got to have my tasters aswell. Because I don't drink beer, this was an amazing way to celebrate purchasing a home, our engagement and our anniversary as well 😀 highly recommend”
Join local guide Darcy at 6:30 pm for a three to four-hour walk through Auckland’s historic bar district. Visit renowned spots around Vulcan Lane, taste local beers, ciders, wines, or non-alcoholic mixes, hear lively stories, and finish at New Zealand’s first self-brewing bar.
“Great bar and beer tour! Darcy is a terrific homegrown guide who shares lots of history and insights into the five bars, Auckland, and other stops along the way. Cheers!”
Spend about 5.5 hours with guides such as John or Tere visiting three Hawke’s Bay wineries and a brewery or ale house. Taste local wines, enjoy three beers, share cheese or nibbles, and learn about Napier, wine-making, and the region without driving.
“Tere, our guide was really friendly and knowledgeable about wine making, the local area and its history. We were given the choice of visiting 3 vineyards and a brewery, or visiting 4 vineyards with the rest of the participants, and were glad to Read more”
Join Hawkes Bay Scenic Tours at 11:30 am for a five-and-a-half-hour tasting tour with hotel or port pickup in Napier. Visit three wineries, including New Zealand’s oldest, enjoy three full glasses of beer or cider, and stop for lunch with pizza or a cheese platter. Guides may include John, Sunny, Kirsty, or Tere.
“Number one would be our tour guide, Kirstey. Very friendly and knowledgeable. The entire tour was very relaxed and we were not pressed for time. The Wineries we visited and the Brewery were informative and we experienced excellent serviRead more”
Start at The London Bar at 9 PM for a four-hour Queenstown night out. An English-speaking guide leads you to five party bars, including the Ice Bar, with five free shots, pizza, games, prizes, and drink discounts. Bring your passport and expect the final stop just after midnight.
“Wonderful! I loved getting to experience multiple bars and pick out my favorites to return to!”
Travel from Paihia or Kerikeri with a guide such as Bill, Derek, or Ken for wine at Marsden Estate, beer at Phat House Brewery, and three New Zealand spirits at Bad Habits. A platter lunch, tastings, transport, and accommodation drop-off are included in this four-hour outing for adults.
“Great trip. Went to three different wineries and they were all lovely. Highly recommend”
Pick a coastline, a crater rim or a cellar door.
