Picture this: It’s summer and you’re thirsty. What better way to spend a day or two than with an unforgettable New Zealand wine tour! We’ve listed the 5 best regions to head to and what each one of them uniquely offers for a day of luxury tastes in the hot summer sun. Simply head to your chosen region, hire a car from a trusted provider and ride on through the region stopping at the best vineyards on offer.   

Martinborough 

With incredible views as you drive from Wellington over the stunning Remutaka Ranges, you’ll quickly hit Martinborough on the other side. This charming village of vineyards is as good as it gets. With saliva-inducing menus of locally sourced food to the locally crafted wines, Martinborough is a sanctuary of tranquillity in the southern vineyards of the North Island. 

Waiheke Island 

A small Auckland island, Waiheke boasts vast vineyards right across the sun-soaked land. Cool down on a hot summer’s day by driving from one winery to the next, hitting some of the classiest restaurants and cellar doors in New Zealand. Most of Waiheke’s frequenters dress to impress for a day out of luxury before getting the ferry back to the mainland. Waiheke is small enough to explore in a day but vast enough to never visit the same place twice.

Marlborough 

With more award-winning wines than you can pop a cork at, the Marlborough region is famed for its beautiful vineyards. From famous internationally branded cellar doors to boutique family-run wineries, it’s hard to argue Marlborough has it all. Stroll through vineyards in the sun and learn about the region’s unique conditions and challenges its winemakers must overcome. It’s easy to tour the region but hard to leave as you’ll likely want to remain there forever.

Otago 

Known for some of the finest wine in New Zealand, Otago boasts breathtaking scenery to perfectly compliment the tastes of the region. If your wine isn’t enough, the food will more than make up the rest, and the region also boasts the country’s largest underground wine cave. No trip to Queenstown is complete without an Otago wine tour. So hop in the car and get tasting!

Hawkes Bay

Step back into history in Napier and the surrounding Hawkes Bay area, New Zealand’s oldest wine-making region. There’s much to learn from a wine tour, from the first seeds of the winemaking industry to the modern-day. With expansive landscapes and a relaxed vibe, Hawkes Bay is a real contender for the best place for a wine tour.

Now you know the best, the rest is up to you. Summer is just getting started – it’s not too late to book a flight and a car for a weekend to remember.