Top Vineyards You Must Visit on Waiheke
Stay & Eat - New Zealand | 4 minutes
TOP VINEYARDS YOU MUST VISIT ON WAIHEKE ISLAND
Cable Bay Vineyard, Waiheke Island
Gorgeous Cable Bay Vineyard on Waiheke Island.
Read all about the vineyards I feel in love with during my trip to Waiheke.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to visit Napa, Sonoma, the Yarra Valley and some other gorgeous wine regions. Something about wandering around vineyards is so enjoyable and I also love sampling a glass or two. What makes Waiheke so unique and interesting is that the vineyards have stunning views of the crystal-clear blue waters that surround Waiheke Island. One of the vineyards is actually right on the beach, and another has views of Auckland in the distance. They all have something unique and stunning to offer, and this is my list of the best vineyards I visited during my trip.
“Man O’ War is my favourite vineyard on Waiheke not only because of its unique location on the beach, but also because of the ambiance it offers with the food truck and the free tastings.”
- Lindsey Farrah
1. Man O’ War
This stunning vineyard is located off the beaten path, as it’s the furthest location possible from the ferry on the island. However, I highly recommend you rent a car and head here. (Read my post about renting a car on Waiheke here). The drive was about 40 minutes through rolling green hills of cattle and sheep. Once we arrived we found the tasting room was located on a grassy, beach-front property. They offer free tastings which was a plus, and they also have lovely food you could order either from their kitchen or from the food truck on site. They have gorgeous tables spread across the lawn, all with stunning waterfront views. I had a glass of rose her which was wonderful, and my partner had their cab. We got the charcuterie and relaxed on the lawn and very much enjoyed ourselves. All in all, this was a gorgeous property with the perfect vibe for a relaxing Saturday.
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2. Cable Bay Vineyards
This property is located on a hill, overlooking the gorgeous water with Auckland seen in the distance. They have bean bag chairs and tables with comfy seats spread all over the lawn for everyone to have a seat and take in the views. The wine here was lovely and I recommend grabbing a glass of rose. We were not able to check out the tasting room as it was closed for the Easter holiday.
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3. Mudbrick Vineyard
We went here for the sunset and it was spectacular! The property is located very high up with 180 degree views of the water. They have tons of stunning gardens that you can wander through. We decided to have dinner here since we read rave reviews online. Our meal was absolutely spectacular! Read my post about our dinner here.
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4. Stonyridge Vineyard
This property is large and lovely, however it was much more crowded and touristy than some of the other vineyards we went to. It is still definitely worth checking out as it’s a very large property with tons of vineyards and olive trees that you can wander through. This property doesn't have a view of the water, but rather a view of the rolling green hills which is gorgeous in a completely different way.
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Stunning Views at Stonyridge Vineyard
We loved taking in the views of the rolling green hills at Stonyridge.
5. Casita Miro
We enjoyed this vineyard because the vibe and decor was so unique and different than the others we visited during our time on Waiheke. Rather than traditional decor, Casita Miro is decorated with Spanish accents; the walls are covered in playful tile art and the entire place is bright and bustling. The menu here features tapas, and we decided to grab a quick snack here. Based on the bartender's recommendation we got the Baked Goat Cheese Croquetas served with honey and toasted almonds. O-M-G they were amazing! I would definitely go back here for a proper lunch or dinner. We didn’t try any of their wines here although it's nice to note that they also make their own spirits which is unique for a vineyard.
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6. Kennedy Point Vineyard
This lovely little vineyard is the only organic vineyard on Waiheke and had some of the best wines we tried during our trip. Their wines are award winning and have a higher price tag, so it was well worth paying $3 USD per sample. While this vineyard is a little less scenic than some of the others, it still has a lovely view of the water in the distance. This is a place you come to for the wine, as that really is the highlight of Kennedy Point. We even got the chance to chat with the winemaker, which was lovely.
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7. Passage Rock
This vineyard is also a bit off the beaten path but it’s worth stopping at either to or from Man O War. It’s a gorgeous property with a few yard games and tasty food.
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8. Tantalus Estate
This is one of the newer vineyards on Waiheke and it shows. The tasting room and restaurant are gorgeous and decorated with a modern flair. The property features a boardwalk that you can walk around to enjoy the property. While the property was stunning, this is lower on my list of favorites because we found that staff here to be a bit pretentious and the wine to only be so-so. Every other vineyard we visited during our time on Waiheke we found the staff to be overly warm and welcoming, so it was a bit off-putting to find the staff here to be so cold and uninterested in conversation. With that being said, I would recommend stopping here to check out the property but if you want relaxed vibes, head to one of the previous properties I mentioned.
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