Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Want to keep your afternoon free, or have a flight to catch , this shorter morning edition of our full day Piha Waitakere Ranges Wine Tour takes you to see Piha black sand beach settlement and then the tranquil and serene Karekare Waterfalls.
Before you are delivered back to the Auckland Sky Tower you will be able to taste wine at Soljans Vineyard in Kumeu.
The Soljans Family can boast 5 generations of wine production in Auckland and are still family owned. They produce Methode Traditionelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürtztraminer, Pinot Noir, sparkling Muscat, Pinotage and Merlot Cabernet Malbec blends – They also produce a 10 year aged Tawny Port that you will try.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
The total time spent driving in the vehicle for this scenic tour is approximately 3 hours
Not recommended for clients with knee or hip disabilty
What To Expect
Piha Beach
Piha is a seaside coastal settlement, one of several around a 50 minute drive from the Auckland Central Business District. We drive up through the Henderson Valley the historic pioneering heartland of the New Zealand Wine industry where many Croation winemakers settled and started out by harvesting the ancient Kauri Trees for timber and gum, an early export. Piha is famous for its volcanic magnetic black iron sand and is a very popular outpost to visit for locals and tourists alike. Travellers will stop at the Piha Lookout for magnificent views of the Settlement below before driving down and walking on the beach. The coastal Tasman Sea is very dramatic to look at, but also dangerous with rips and large waves and stormy weather conditions in winter. In summer it is a surfers paradise and has held host to the world under 16 surf championships. Enjoy time on both South and North Piha beaches and see the iconic Lion Rock.
Karekare Falls
Karekare is another settlement close to Piha in the Waitakere ranges. The waterfall is one of several beautiful natural falls a 15 minute walk into the rainforest. Within this protected forest, you will see a 500 year old Pohutukawa Tree, a species that New Zealanders colloquially call the native New Zealand Christmas tree, because it only flowers for one month in December. You will will see a broad range of other different native plants and trees including the native flax and unique "Silver Fern" New Zealand's most famous icon. At the foot of the falls there are several Nikau Palms, the world's most southerly growing Antipodean Palm Tree. Most of the pathway leading to the waterfall has been gravelled for safety. Occasionally in the fall you will see ducks and native eels that curiously come to the surface to look at people. The drive in the forest from Piha to Karekare is 20 minutes and the walk from the car park to the falls is 10 mins We spend around 20 mins by the Karekare falls.
Options
Piha Waterfalls and Wine
4 .5 hour Scenic Wine Tour visiting Piha and Karekare Waterfall and visiting Soljans Vineyard to taste Wine Duration: 4 hours MINI BUS Pickup included
What‘s Included
Transport
Professional guide
Bottled water
National Park fees
All Fees and Taxes
There is NO food included on this tour
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
9 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great combo tour
Donald Z,Apr 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Driver/ owner / tour guide was amazing. Knew all about the wines as well as the countryside. He managed to provide interesting dialog all the way to the various locations. Has half day 1 winery and full day 2 wineries. Both had excellent wines.
Do not book with this tour operator
pink31174,Apr 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We booked this activity through Viator several weeks in advance. We received confirmation and tickets. We arrived at the pickup location early and messaged the operator to ensure we were in the right location. We did not receive a response. Contacted Viator directly who spoke with the operator wan advised that we had not been out on their calendar. We had one day in Auckland and were left with no tour as everything else was booked. So unprofessional and they didn’t even respond to us. I would give them zero stars if I could. Nothing was offered to compensate for this oversight.
Do not Book with this tour operator
Tommi N,Apr 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00Booked this activity several weeks in advance. We received our confirmation and tickets. We arrived early at the pickup location and messaged the operator to make sure we were in the right location. We received no response. We contacted Viator and were told the operator didn’t put our booking on his calendar! We had one day in Auckland and we were left with no tour as everything else was booked. Very disappointing and so unprofessional that the operator did not even respond. Nothing was offered to compensate for this oversight. I would give zero stars if I could.
Considerable Commute Time
Carlota425,Mar 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We took the half-day Waterfalls and Wine option and while there were nice moments on the tour the majority of the outing was spent traveling in a somewhat cramped van. The pick-ups of participants began at 9-ish, not the tour itself. Then, after 50 minutes of driving there were two stops at nearly identical beaches (20 minutes each), and one 5-minute hike to an attractive waterfall. As a result there was only time to enjoy a single wine tasting. Perhaps we didn't read the fine print closely enough but we anticipated more hiking and wine tasting and less motoring. The all-day tour might have been more satisfying, as Piha IS a beautiful location and it simply takes time to get there and back.
Great guide
Teresa N,Mar 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a great experience, largely because our guide, Jon, was so knowledgeable! This area of the country is magnificent.
Book it!
Valerie P,Jan 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Perfect day! We just wanted a half day tour as we had a lot of things planned and this fit the mold perfectly. John was an incredible guide and was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. It was awesome to see a waterfall and piha- and the vineyard was the perfect way to end the day. Would highly recommend!
Great excursion
Monika T,Dec 14, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We did a similar excursion with the same company a few years ago. Enjoyed then and enjoyed it again this time. We were lucky the wet weather held off while we visited Piha Beach and waterfall.
Piha beach was beautiful and so were the falls.
JayNeil,Dec 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had already toured the city and Waiheke island, but we hadn't seen the beaches or rain-forest of the nearby west side. I'm glad we took this tour. It gave us a chance to view more of the unspoiled beauty of New Zealand. Added plus was that this tour finished by 2pm enabling us to catch our evening flight home without needing to rush.
Amazing sights especially if you have limited time!
Schwegels,Nov 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a wonderful tour! John was our guide and was so clear and communicative from the very start. His insights into New Zealand history and culture was fasinating and vast. Piha beach and the waterfall were beautiful and we stopped at several locations for breathaking photos. Boy does John know about wines! We had a great stop at a winery to taste test and learn about how wines came to be grown in NZ. Also got to sample some local manuka honey which was an added bonus! They have a full day version of this tour, with lunch but this shorter one was perfect for us as we made it back to Auckland by early afternoon to rest, shop and meet friends for dinner! In fact, John gave us a leaflet with various recommendations that did not dissappoint! We had a fabulois meal of green lipped mussels and frites at The Occidental and visted several other recommendations - all A+++! This is a must do tour!
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Operated by NZWINEPRO - Auckland Wine Tours