With lunchFerry in the price
Waiheke Wine & Dine — Batch
Return walk-up ferry, lunch with a glass at Batch Winery and a one-day Western Explorer bus pass. One winery, no other tastings.
NZ$176≈US$100 per person
BookWaiheke Wine Tour with Ferry
Only 4 of 23 Waiheke wine tours include the ferry. The rest meet you at Matiatia wharf, so you book the crossing yourself: about 40 minutes from Downtown Auckland, NZ$65 return (≈US$37).
Updated Oct 2026 · Fares and sailings checked Oct 2026 · Sources: Fullers360, GetYourGuide
a family laughing on the ferry deck seats, blue seats, daylight
The crossing
AucklandDowntown Ferry TerminalWaihekeMatiatia wharf
≈40mineach way, 35–45
NZ$65walk-up return
4of 23tours include it
Quick answer
Book the tour, then a Fullers360 return from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia for NZ$65 (≈US$37) that lands before your start time. Only four tours bundle the ferry: Wine & Dine — Batch at NZ$176 and three private or evening tours.
- Only 4 of 23 tours put the ferry in the price; the other 19 start at Matiatia wharf.
- A walk-up return costs NZ$65, valid for a year from purchase; off-peak return is NZ$48.50 if you leave Auckland after 13:00.
- Morning tours name their sailing: 9:00 or 10:00 from Downtown. Sailings run every 30–60 minutes.
- Fullers360 lands at Matiatia, where tour guides meet the ferry. SeaLink car ferries land at Kennedy Point, on the south side.
- Return when you like: the last boat leaves Waiheke at 00:30 on weekdays and Saturdays, 23:00 on Sundays.
Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry Included: the Four Tours
Usually not: only 4 of the 23 Waiheke wine tours we track include the ferry. The other 19 meet you on the island, most at Matiatia wharf, and the Wineries’ Tour lists the ferry pass as not included. Of the four that bundle it, only Wine & Dine — Batch is a shared day under NZ$200; the rest are private or evening tours with five reviews or fewer.
EveningFerry in the price
Magical Evening Wine Tour & Sunset Dining
Return ferry, evening tastings and a two-course dinner as the sun goes down.
NZ$365≈US$207 per person
BookPrivateFerry in the price
Private Sommelier Tour + Lunch
Ferry, three vineyards with premium tastings and a two-course lunch with wine pairing.
NZ$1,500≈US$853 per group of up to 2
BookPrivateNewFerry in the price
Private Wine & Art Tour
Round-trip ferry, pickup in Auckland, a Stonyridge tasting and lunch at Mudbrick.
NZ$1,500≈US$853 per tourNew · no reviews yet
BookSwipe for all 4
19
tours start at Matiatia without the ferryAdd a NZ$65 return to the tour price: the Wineries’ Tour becomes a NZ$250 day, the Beach Front Lunch tour NZ$355.
Ferry ticketsSource: GetYourGuide listings, Oct 2026
Getting to a Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry from Auckland
Most people take the Fullers360 ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia wharf. It is the passenger route the tours are built around: guides wait at Matiatia, and the crossing takes about 40 minutes. SeaLink’s car ferries leave from Half Moon Bay or Wynyard Quarter and land at Kennedy Point on the south side, which suits a self-drive stay rather than a guided tasting day.
- Downtown Ferry Terminal99 Quay Street, Auckland CBDFullers360 walk-up · passengerssome sailings call at Devonport≈40 minNZ$65 returnMatiatia wharfWest end, by Oneroa village
Where tour guides meet the ferry. Every 30–60 minutes, 6:00 until late.
- Half Moon Bay36 Ara Tai Road, East AucklandSeaLink · cars and passengersCar ferryBooking essentialKennedy PointDonald Bruce Road, south side
Crossing time not stated by the operator. Tours rarely start here.
- Wynyard Quarter56 Hamer Street, Auckland CitySeaLink · cars and passengersCar ferryBooking essentialKennedy PointDonald Bruce Road, south side
Runs every day of the year; on-board café. Crossing time not stated.
- 1Downtown Ferry Terminal · 99 Quay St
- 2Devonport wharf · some sailings
- 3Matiatia wharf · tours meet here
- 4Half Moon Bay terminal · 36 Ara Tai Rd
- 5SeaLink Central · 56 Hamer St
- 6Kennedy Point · Donald Bruce Rd
Source: Tourism Waiheke ferry pages; Waiheke Winegrowers Association; GetYourGuide ferry listings, Oct 2026
Which Sailing to Catch for a Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry
Take the sailing the tour names, usually 9:00 or 10:00 from Downtown Auckland. Five listings say which boat to catch, and the guide meets that ferry at Matiatia. For the others, pick your start time when you book, then a Fullers360 sailing that lands before it. Leave a margin: the next boat can be up to an hour later.
SailingTour and what to expectPrice per person
- 9:00Ferry & Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer BusWalk-up, Pier 11 or 12 · ferry in the ticketBus leaves Matiatia at 10:00NZ$104≈US$59Book
- 9:00Sip and Savor 3 Vineyards with LunchFullers360, recommended on the listingGuide meets the ferry at MatiatiaNZ$299≈US$170Book
- 9:00Wine Tasting Tour with LunchFerry suggested on the listingTastings and a guide; the listing leaves lunch out
- 10:00Waiheke Island Wineries’ TourFullers360 from Downtown · 40-minute crossingGuide waits with a sign as you walk offNZ$185≈US$105Book
- FullersScenic Wine Tour: 3 Best VineyardsA September guest: Fullers leaves Auckland on the hour; Island Direct at 10:15 is too lateGuide waits at the dock at MatiatiaNZ$190≈US$108Book
Source: GetYourGuide tour listings and a guest review of the Scenic Wine Tour (Sep 2026), Oct 2026
Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry: Sailings by Day
Ferries run all day, every day: first boat at 6:00, last one home after midnight. On weekdays the first Fullers360 sailing leaves Auckland at 6:00 and boats run every 30–60 minutes until 23:45; the last one back from Waiheke leaves at 00:30. Sundays start an hour later and finish earlier, so a Sunday tour leaves less room for a long dinner on the island.
From AucklandFrom WaihekeA sailing every 30–60 minutes inside these hours
Monday – Friday
From Auckland
From Waiheke
Saturday
From Auckland
From Waiheke
Sunday & public holidays
From Auckland
From Waiheke
Source: GetYourGuide listing for the Fullers360 return ferry (first and last sailings), Oct 2026
Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry Tickets and Fares
A walk-up return costs NZ$65 and is all most wine-tour days need. Buy it on the day or ahead; it is valid for a year and works on any sailing. Leaving Auckland after 13:00 drops the fare to NZ$48.50, which only helps afternoon and evening tours. A Reserve seat costs NZ$104 return and ties you to one sailing.
- Cheapest
Off-peak return
NZ$48.50returnno one-way fareLeave Auckland from 13:00, or Waiheke from 19:00
Fits an afternoon or evening tour, not a 9:00 start.
- Most used
Walk-up Standard
NZ$65returnNZ$32.50 one wayAny sailing, any day
The usual add-on to a morning wine tour.
- Upgrade
Walk-up Priority
NZ$75returnNZ$37.50 one wayAny sailing, any day
Upgrade a Standard ticket on the day for NZ$10, if there is space.
- Set seat
Reserve
NZ$104returnNZ$60 one wayYour chosen sailing only
A seasonal service; missed it? The ticket works on walk-up boats.
Children 5–15: NZ$29 return walk-up · under 5 freeWalk-up and off-peak tickets are valid for a year from purchase
Source: Fullers360 Waiheke ferry fares, Oct 2026
Ferry tickets you can book with your tour
Return ferry, pre-booked
NZ$65≈US$37 returnWhat it buysDowntown ↔ Matiatia for your date, every 30–60 minutes.
Ferry + Explorer bus
NZ$104≈US$59 per personWhat it buysReturn ferry and a day on the 16-stop hop-on hop-off bus.
Reserve one-way ferry
NZ$60≈US$34 one wayWhat it buysA set seat on a 40-minute direct sailing; return within 3 weeks.
Man O’ War vineyard ferry
NZ$55≈US$31 per personWhat it buysA boat to the Man O’ War vineyard at the island’s eastern end.
Swipe for more
Source: GetYourGuide ferry listings, prices checked Oct 2026
On the Day of a Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry
Arrive 15 minutes early, sail about 40 minutes, and look for your guide at Matiatia. Walk-up boats leave from Piers 11 and 12 at the Downtown Ferry Terminal, Reserve sailings from Piers 13 and 14. On the island the guide meets the ferry, and after the tour you choose your own boat home: a return ticket is not tied to a sailing.
Before you board
Buy the ferry once the tour is booked, so the sailing matches the start time. Reserve passengers board 15 minutes before departure with the voucher on a phone or printed. Walk-up tickets need no sailing choice at all: you queue at Pier 11 or 12 and take the next boat. The catamarans carry luggage racks, a licensed café, Wi-Fi and power points, and there is limited room for a bike if you bring one.
Meeting the tour at Matiatia
Most tours start the moment you step off. On the Wineries’ Tour the guide stands at the end of the wharf holding a sign and leaves once the whole group is there; Scenic Wine Tour guests describe their guide waiting at the dock. Tours that start later in the day, such as the afternoon seafront lunch, still meet at Matiatia, so the same ferry advice applies.
Getting back
Tours end at Matiatia or in Oneroa village, a 15-minute walk from the wharf. Because the return half of a walk-up ticket works on any sailing, you can stay for dinner or the sunset: boats leave Waiheke until 00:30 on weekdays and Saturdays, 23:00 on Sundays. The ferry runs in most weather, so dress for an open deck rather than for the forecast.
Source: GetYourGuide listings for the Wineries’ Tour, the Reserve ferry and the Explorer bus; guest reviews, Oct 2026
Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry FAQ
Want the ferry in the price? Four tours bundle it. See them.
Is there a Fullers Waiheke wine tour?
Yes: Fullers360 runs its own Waiheke tours — Taste of Waiheke, Wine on Waiheke and the Waiheke Explorer — but we don’t list the first two, so we can’t compare their prices or inclusions here. What we do list from Fullers is the ferry and the Explorer hop-on hop-off bus at NZ$104 with the return crossing, which you can pair with cellar-door tastings paid on the day. Ferry tickets.
Can I take my car to Waiheke for a wine tour?
You can, on a SeaLink car ferry from Half Moon Bay or Wynyard Quarter to Kennedy Point, and booking is essential. For a tasting day it rarely helps: tours collect you at Matiatia, not Kennedy Point, and drive you between wineries, so nobody in your group has to stay sober. Compare the routes.
What happens if I miss my ferry before the tour?
Take the next sailing and call the tour operator from the booking confirmation; none of the listings we track states a policy for late arrivals. A missed Reserve sailing is not lost: the ticket then works on walk-up boats for a year, subject to space. The safest plan is a boat one sailing earlier than the tour needs. Which sailing to catch.
Is the off-peak ferry fare worth it for a wine tour?
Only if your tour starts in the afternoon or evening. The NZ$48.50 off-peak return applies to boats leaving Auckland from 13:00, so it fits the afternoon seafront lunch tour at NZ$300 or an evening tour, and saves NZ$16.50 per person against the walk-up fare. Morning tours need a 9:00 or 10:00 boat at the full NZ$65. All fares.
Do children pay for the Waiheke ferry?
Children aged 5 to 15 pay NZ$29 for a walk-up return and under-5s travel free. Wine tours themselves are another matter: tastings are for over-18s, and the Gourmet Food & Wine tour says so on its listing. For a family day, the Explorer bus ticket at NZ$104 per adult keeps the beaches and the ferry together. Ferry tickets.
Can I bring luggage or a bike on the ferry?
Yes, within limits. The catamarans have luggage racks and room for a small number of bikes, but bike space is limited, so arrive early with one. On a wine tour the van has no stated luggage space, so leave large bags at your accommodation or travel light if you stay on the island. On the day.
Does the Waiheke ferry run in bad weather?
The return ferry listing says it operates in most weather conditions, and tours run in rain too: one Beach Front Lunch group toured through a September downpour. Fullers360 posts travel alerts on its website on rough days, and it pays to check them before you leave. Bring a layer for the open deck. Sailings by day.
Book a Waiheke Wine Tour with Ferry Tickets
Cancellation terms are shown on each ticket and tour before you pay.