Duncan Darroch
Founder. A trained winemaker, with a University of Auckland Postgraduate Diploma in Wine Science with Distinction, the 2007 vintage at Kumeu River and four years at Villa Maria, then a decade teaching science.
Home / Great Wine Capital Discovery
Hosted tour · 4 hours
Great Wine Capital Discovery, four hours.
Wine, Māori navigation and the landscape that shaped both. Private, hosted, and collected from your Hawke's Bay accommodation.
The Great Wine Capital Discovery is a four hour private hosted tour of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, priced from $225 NZD per person for a party of seven and $540 NZD per person for two, GST included. It takes in a Discovery Tasting at Te Mata Estate, the Ātea a Rangi Celestial Compass on the coast, and the summit of Te Mata Peak.
This is the tour for a first day in the region, or for guests who want the shape of Hawke's Bay in an afternoon. We collect you from your accommodation and travel out to the coast at Ātea a Rangi, where the Celestial Compass tells the story of how traditional navigators read the stars, the sun and the moon to cross the Pacific.
From the coast we turn inland to Te Mata Estate for a Discovery Tasting. Te Mata was founded in 1896 and is New Zealand's oldest continuously operating winery, still independent and family owned. Its original vineyards on the north-facing hills behind Havelock North were given legal protection as the Te Mata Special Character Zone in 1996, and its Coleraine, first released in 1982, is one of the country's most celebrated red wines.
We finish at the summit of Te Mata Peak, 399 metres up, with 360 degree views over the Tukituki Valley, the Heretaunga Plains and the Pacific. On a clear morning you can see the vineyards you have just tasted from, laid out below you.
The Discovery does not include food. For three wineries and light platters, see the Signature. For a full day with lunch at Craggy Range, see the Reserve.
Guest price, per person
New Zealand dollars · GST included · minimum 2 guests
2 guests$540
3 guests$425
4 guests$330
5 guests$300
6 guests$255
7 guests$225
The vehicle is private to your party for the duration. Infants aged 0 to 4 travel free. Children aged 5 to 12 receive 50 percent off the per-person rate. Groups of eight or more are arranged by quotation.
What the four hours include
- Te Mata Estate Discovery Tasting
- Ātea a Rangi Celestial Compass, with commentary
- Te Mata Peak summit, 399 metres
- Private vehicle and local host for the duration
- Pickup and return to your accommodation in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North or Cape Kidnappers
- Chilled glass-bottled water, refreshments, Wi-Fi and device charging in the vehicle
What it does not include
- Food. The Discovery is a tasting tour, not a lunch tour
- Additional tasting fees beyond the Discovery Tasting
- Wine purchases, which travel securely in the vehicle and come home with you
The Discovery is sold as a complete tour and its inclusions are fixed. For a bespoke itinerary, see private hire.
The shape of the day
Four hours, three places.
Tours run by arrangement rather than to a timetable. Tell us the start time that suits your day and we build the tour around it, in New Zealand time.
The coast
We collect you from your accommodation and drive to Ātea a Rangi at Waitangi Regional Park, where the carved pou of the Celestial Compass mark the star paths Polynesian navigators used to cross the Pacific. Your host tells the story of how the compass was built and why it stands here.
The winery
Inland to Te Mata Estate, founded 1896, for the Discovery Tasting among the oldest vineyards in the region.
The peak
Up Te Mata Peak for the view over the Tukituki Valley, the Heretaunga Plains and out to the Pacific, then back to your accommodation.
The four hours, in order
- 0:00Pickup from your accommodation in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North or Cape Kidnappers
- 0:30Ātea a Rangi Celestial Compass, Waitangi Regional Park, with commentary
- 1:30Te Mata Estate, Discovery Tasting
- 2:45Te Mata Peak summit, 399 metres
- 4:00Return to your accommodation
Times are elapsed hours from pickup, not clock times. You choose the start time and we confirm it in New Zealand time when we confirm the booking.
★★★★★
"Excellent service, beautiful clean vehicles, on time and great communication. They have different sized vehicles that can cater to your group size."
Your host
A named host, not a driver.
Every tour runs with one host for the whole day. We tell you who it is when we confirm your booking.
Heather Clinton
Formerly of Zest Food Tours Wellington, Heather curates and hosts our Artisan Producers tours, leading with food, people and what makes Hawke's Bay tick.
Niki Willis
Decades of professional driving and wine tour hosting across Hawke's Bay wine country.
Philip Shambrook
A former Royal Air Force officer and community leader who hosts our Te Mata Peak excursions.
Louise Shambrook
A former Royal Air Force officer and business manager, Louise has called Hawke's Bay home for more than 20 years and loves sharing the lifestyle of the Bay.
Leo Olsen
Born in South Africa and a New Zealander for 20 years, Leo is a keen tennis player and former county cricketer who loves sharing the journey with every guest.
Ginny Williams
Originally from England and a Hawke's Bay local for more than 30 years, Ginny is a former tour guide and winery and distillery cellar door manager who loves sharing the region with guests from around the world.
Bronnie Coory
A foundation of Electric Executive and a former charity general manager, Bronnie brings warmth and meticulous organisation to every guest she welcomes aboard.
Trevor Morrison
Formerly Chief Pilot at Napier Port, Trevor brings calm precision and quiet professionalism to every journey.
When the day changes
What happens when a day goes sideways.
An itinerary is only a plan. A good day depends on what happens when that plan meets a delayed flight, a closed cellar door or a vehicle that cannot run. We plan for each of those before you arrive.
- A backup vehicle, always. We hold a backup vehicle on every operating day. If a vehicle cannot run, another one collects you.
- Your flight, monitored. We track your flight and start complimentary waiting from actual landing: 30 minutes for a domestic flight and 90 minutes for an international flight.
- A closed venue, replaced. If a venue on a published tour closes on your day, we substitute an equivalent award-winning estate: Black Barn for Craggy Range, Mission Estate for Church Road, and Te Mata Estate or Black Barn for Smith & Sheth, choosing one not already on your route.
- A person on the phone. Our duty number, +64 21 025 87832, answers by call or WhatsApp on the day.
- Vetted, trained hosts. Every host is Police vetted, passes driver safety testing and holds a comprehensive first aid certificate.
- Licensed and insured. Small Passenger Service Licence 0332519, $10 million NZD public liability cover, and Qualmark Silver.
Questions
Discovery questions, answered.
How much does the Great Wine Capital Discovery cost?
From $225 NZD per person for a party of seven, rising to $540 NZD per person for two guests. All prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST. The tour is private to your party.
How long is the Discovery tour?
Four hours, beginning and ending at your own accommodation in Napier, Hastings, Havelock North or Cape Kidnappers.
What time does the Discovery start?
You choose. We run tours by arrangement, seven days a week year round, and we confirm your pickup time in New Zealand time when we confirm the booking. We do not operate on Christmas Day.
Does the Discovery include lunch?
No. The Discovery is a four hour tasting tour and does not include food. For a seated lunch, choose the Reserve, which is built around a two and a half hour Signature Table set menu lunch at Craggy Range.
How many wineries does the Discovery visit?
One, Te Mata Estate, for the Discovery Tasting. The tour is built around three places rather than three cellar doors. For three wineries in a day, choose the Signature or the Reserve.
Can children come on the Discovery?
Yes. Infants aged 0 to 4 travel free of charge and children aged 5 to 12 receive 50 percent off the per-person rate. Tell us their ages when you book and we will fit the right child seats.
What happens if a venue is closed?
Wineries and producers set their own hours and holiday closures. We confirm every stop at the time of booking and substitute a venue of the same standard where one is closed.
Enquire
We would be delighted to host your day.
Tell us your dates, your party size and where you are staying. We reply by email, usually within a few hours between 04:00 and 23:00 New Zealand time.