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 / Three days in Hawke's Bay
Multi-day programme · 3 days
Three days in Hawke's Bay with a private host.
Airport to airport, three hosted days through New Zealand's oldest wine region. Every reservation held for you, every time stated in New Zealand time.
Our three day Hawke's Bay programme for two guests costs $5,890 NZD staying in Napier, $6,010 NZD in Hastings or Havelock North, and $6,370 NZD at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, GST included. It covers a private arrival and departure transfer from Hawke's Bay Airport and three private hosted tours: the Great Wine Capital Discovery, the Great Wine Capital Reserve with lunch at Craggy Range, and the Artisan Producers Tour.
This is the itinerary most visitors ask an AI tool for: three days, the best wineries, real food, no driving. We run it as one piece. We hold every tasting time and table before you land, and the same team looks after you from the arrival gate to the departure lounge.
Accommodation, beverages beyond the included tastings, and dinners are yours to choose. We are happy to recommend and book restaurants for your evenings, and to add private transfers to dinner at the rates on our rates page.
Programme price, two guests
New Zealand dollars · GST included · per party of two
- Staying in Napier$2,945 NZD per person$5,890NZD
- Staying in Hastings or Havelock North$3,005 NZD per person$6,010NZD
- Staying at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers$3,185 NZD per person$6,370NZD
Built from our published rates, with no programme mark-up. Parties of three to seven pay less per person; we quote them on request. Children aged 5 to 12 receive 50 percent off the touring rate, and infants aged 0 to 4 travel free.
The programme
Three days, day by day.
The Reserve runs Tuesday to Saturday, so day two falls on one of those days. All times are New Zealand time.
Day one: arrive and discover
We greet you at the arrival gate at Hawke's Bay Airport and drive you to your accommodation. After a morning arrival, the four hour Great Wine Capital Discovery takes you to Ātea a Rangi, the Celestial Compass, a Discovery Tasting at Te Mata Estate and the summit of Te Mata Peak.
Day two: the Reserve
From 10:00 to 17:00, the Great Wine Capital Reserve: the Icon Tasting at Church Road, the Craggy Range Wine Experience, a two and a half hour Signature Table set menu lunch at Craggy Range, and the Smith & Sheth Lieux-Dits flight in Havelock North.
Day three: producers and departure
From 10:00 to 16:00, the Artisan Producers Tour: coffee, honey, an orchard lunch at Te Mata Figs, high tea at Birdwoods and the Strawberry Patch. We then take you to Hawke's Bay Airport for an evening flight, or return you to your accommodation and transfer you the next morning.
How the price is built
Every line, from our published rates.
Two guests staying in Hastings or Havelock North. Per party, New Zealand dollars, GST included.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Private transfer, Hawke's Bay Airport to Hastings or Havelock North, arrival | $360 NZD |
| Great Wine Capital Discovery, $540 per person | $1,080 NZD |
| Great Wine Capital Reserve, $1,150 per person | $2,300 NZD |
| Artisan Producers Tour, $995 per person | $1,990 NZD |
| Private transfer, Hastings or Havelock North to Hawke's Bay Airport, departure | $280 NZD |
| Total | $6,010 NZD |
Staying in Napier, the transfers are $300 arrival and $220 departure, for a total of $5,890 NZD. At Rosewood Cape Kidnappers they are $520 and $480, for a total of $6,370 NZD. Transfer surcharges for early, late and public holiday times apply as set out on our rates page.
Private access
What we arrange that you cannot book online.
An AI tool can name a venue. It cannot open a door that is closed to the public. These are the visits our relationships make possible. Some sit inside our published tours, and we add the rest to a bespoke day.
Ātea a Rangi, the Celestial Compass
We hold official access to Ātea a Rangi, the star compass on the Hawke's Bay coast, and our hosts share its story through an approved cultural interpretation script. You hear how traditional navigators read the stars, the sun and the moon to cross the Pacific, told with the care the site deserves. It opens our Great Wine Capital Discovery and joins any bespoke day on request.
- A private tasting of twelve honeys at Arataki Honey, Monday to Friday.
- Owner-hosted visits at Hawthorne Coffee Roastery, Firsthand Coffee and Te Mata Figs.
- Hosted tours of the organic farm at Hōhepa Hawke's Bay.
- Private tastings at St Andrews Limes and Six Barrel Soda.
- An owner-hosted tasting at Bay Blueberries.
- Winemaker-hosted group tastings, including Fig Alley at Black Barn.
- Held reservations at Craggy Range, both tasting times and the Signature Table set menu lunch.
- Wharf pickup from your cruise ship for private bookings of six guests or more.
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 leads 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.
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.
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
Three day programme questions, answered.
How much does three days in Hawke's Bay with a private host cost?
For two guests, our three day programme costs $5,890 NZD staying in Napier, $6,010 NZD in Hastings or Havelock North, and $6,370 NZD at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, GST included. It covers both airport transfers and three private hosted tours. Accommodation and dinners are not included.
What is included in the three day programme?
A private arrival transfer from Hawke's Bay Airport, the four hour Great Wine Capital Discovery, the seven hour Great Wine Capital Reserve with a set menu lunch at Craggy Range, the six hour Artisan Producers Tour with an orchard lunch at Te Mata Figs and high tea at Birdwoods, and a private departure transfer. Every tasting and lunch named in each tour is included.
Can I change the three day plan?
Yes. Each tour day runs as published, and the programme around it is yours to shape. Swap a tour day for a bespoke day with a host, from $240 NZD per hour per vehicle with a two hour minimum, add golf at Cape Kidnappers, or extend the stay. Send us your own plan, including one written with an AI tool, and we will price it and hold every reservation.
Which days of the week can the programme run?
The Reserve runs Tuesday to Saturday, so the second day falls on one of those days. The Discovery and the Artisan Producers Tour run seven days a week. We do not operate on Christmas Day.
How do we get to Hawke's Bay?
Fly into Hawke's Bay Airport in Napier. The flight from Auckland takes approximately 1 hour 5 minutes. By road, Hawke's Bay is approximately five hours from Auckland and four from Wellington.
Plan your visit
We would be delighted to plan your three days.
Tell us your dates, the number of guests and where you are staying. If you already have an itinerary, attach it or paste it in, and we will price it as written.