Matakana Art & Vineyard Experience incl. Lunch & Wine Tasting Tour From Auckland

Matakana serves up an unusually good mix of wine, food, and outdoor art in one long day. This private tour takes you from Auckland to chocolate shops, boutique vineyards, sculpture trails, and a lakeside lunch, with a comfortable minibus handling the driving.

I like the pairing of Brick Bay’s forest sculpture walk with classical music, an unexpected touch praised by one guest after visiting 155 countries. I also like the easy rhythm of the day: chocolate first, a substantial wine and lunch stop, more art, then gelato. The main drawback is the price, $588.92 per person, and the non-refundable booking policy, so this suits a special day more than a casual outing.

Key points to know

• Classical music among the sculptures: Brick Bay combines contemporary art, native bush, ponds, and music in a setting that feels far removed from Auckland.
• A proper food-and-wine day: The price includes chocolate tasting, wine at two local vineyards, and a lunch platter with matching wines.
• Private Auckland transport: Pickup and return are offered from central Auckland, with a temperature-controlled minibus, Wi-Fi, and onboard refreshments.
• Two different art experiences: Brick Bay focuses on a sculpture trail through natural surroundings, while Sculptureum offers galleries, gardens, and art in a more structured setting.
• A sweet finish: Charlies Gelato closes the tasting trail with gelato, sorbetto, or Italian-style ice cream.
• Plan for walking: The walks are optional and described as suitable for people with average fitness, but comfortable shoes and sun protection still matter.

Why this Matakana day trip works

This is not a quick vineyard stop with a token tasting attached. You spend roughly nine hours moving through several sides of the Matakana Coast: small-scale food production, boutique wine, contemporary sculpture, gardens, and countryside views.

I like the private format because it gives the day a calmer feel than a large coach outing. Your group travels together, and pickup is offered from most Auckland central locations. The air-conditioned minibus includes Wi-Fi, water, and refreshments, which matters on a full day with several stops.

The tour is also thoughtfully built around contrasts. You begin with sweets, shift to wine and lunch, spend time among sculpture and gardens, and finish with cold gelato. That keeps the day from feeling like one long tasting room visit.

There is one thing to weigh carefully: the listed price is $588.92 per person. That is a serious spend, but it includes private return transport, a local English-speaking escort, admissions, tastings, lunch, and gelato. If you would otherwise hire a car, pay for separate attractions, and arrange several tastings, the package becomes easier to justify. If you mainly want one winery and a scenic drive, it may be more than you need.

Leaving Auckland for the Matakana Coast

Pickup begins at 9:00 am from the Mövenpick Hotel Auckland at 8 Customs Street East, with pickup available from most Auckland CBD locations by arrangement. The return is to the same meeting point area after the day ends.

The drive is part of the appeal. You leave the city behind for greener countryside and open views, with photo opportunities along the way. Since the tour is private, you are not sharing the vehicle with a large group, and the escort remains with you throughout the day.

The minibus is air-conditioned and temperature controlled. Complimentary water and refreshments are included, along with high-speed internet. Those details are easy to overlook when booking, but they make a difference during a nine-hour outing.

Ask about your pickup location before booking if you are staying outside the listed central Auckland area. The operator says it will try to accommodate requests, but an exact pickup should not be assumed until confirmed.

Chocolate Brown starts the day sweetly

The first tasting stop is Chocolate Brown in Matakana. Allow about 30 minutes to browse the shop and sample handmade chocolates, artisan pieces, fudge, and classic sweets made with quality ingredients.

This is more than a quick box-of-chocolates purchase. The shop is presented as a vintage sweet shop, so you can expect a visual treat as well as samples. It is a good opening stop because it gives you a taste of Matakana’s small-producer food culture before lunch and wine take over.

The practical point is restraint. You will have wine, a lunch platter, and gelato still ahead, so this stop is best treated as a sampling and browsing opportunity rather than a chance to fill up.

Chocolate also makes an easy souvenir. If you buy something, remember that the day continues outdoors, and the vehicle may not be the ideal place for delicate sweets in warm conditions. The tour includes temperature-controlled transport, but keeping chocolate protected is still sensible.

Brick Bay combines wine and sculpture

Brick Bay Sculpture Trail is the longest stop, at about three hours, and it is the heart of the day for anyone who likes art with fresh air. The self-guided trail winds through native bush and natural surroundings, with large-scale contemporary New Zealand sculpture placed along the route.

The setting gives the art room to breathe. Instead of moving from one white gallery wall to another, you see sculpture beside ponds, trees, and open areas. The trail also includes views toward the horizon, making it a strong photo stop even if contemporary art is not your usual priority.

One particularly memorable detail is the classical music playing in the forest. It is an unusual choice, but it adds a gentle sense of occasion to the walk. I would not expect a silent nature stroll here. The combination of sculpture, bush, and music is one of the tour’s most distinctive features.

Wine and food are part of the Brick Bay visit. The package includes wine tasting at locally owned vineyards and lunch at the Glass House, overlooking a lake. The lunch is a platter served with matching wines, so this is not simply a tasting flight with a few crackers. It is the main meal of the day.

The Glass House setting gives lunch a relaxed pace. You can sit down, look over the water, and enjoy handcrafted wines without worrying about driving afterward. That is a real benefit of the private transfer.

The three-hour allocation is generous. It allows time for lunch and the sculpture walk, but you should still wear shoes that can handle an uneven outdoor path. The walk is self-guided, not a formal art lecture, so you have freedom to move at your own speed.

What to expect from the wine tasting

Wine is woven through the day rather than saved for one final stop. The experience includes tastings at two locally owned vineyards, with the lunch platter paired with wine at the Glass House.

That format suits you if you enjoy trying several boutique wines without turning the day into a technical wine course. You can sample the range, ask questions through the escort, and decide what you actually like. The small-producer focus also fits Matakana’s food-and-wine identity.

A note from the experience is worth keeping in mind: one visitor enjoyed the wine enough to buy two bottles of Pinot Gris for a birthday party. That suggests the tastings are not merely decorative additions to the art stops. Still, wine preferences are personal, and the tour does not promise that every bottle will suit every palate.

You must be at least 18 and show valid photo identification to drink alcohol. The private vehicle means you can taste responsibly without needing to drive, but you should still pace yourself across the day.

Sculptureum offers a different kind of art stop

After Brick Bay, the tour continues to Sculptureum for about two hours. This is another self-guided art experience, but the mood differs from Brick Bay.

Brick Bay is a trail through native bush with sculpture integrated into the surroundings. Sculptureum is described as a blend of galleries, gardens, art, and nature, with ponds and water lilies adding a calmer, more designed setting. You get a second chance to see large-scale work, but in a place with more structure and variety.

The contrast helps justify including both attractions. If you visited only one sculpture site, the day might feel more limited. Together, they show two ways art can work outdoors: one along a forest trail, the other within gardens and gallery spaces.

Two hours should give you enough time to explore without rushing. The walking is optional, and the tour is intended for people of average fitness. You should still bring comfortable footwear, sun protection, and a jacket or warm layer because conditions can change during an outdoor day.

A camera or phone is worthwhile here. The ponds, gardens, and sculpture provide plenty of visual interest, and the tour specifically recommends bringing a camera.

Charlies Gelato is the right final stop

The last tasting stop is Charlies Gelato in Matakana. You can finish with Italian-style ice cream, artisan gelato, or sorbetto, with seasonal fresh produce also part of the shop’s appeal.

Ending with gelato is a smart bit of planning. After wine, lunch, and several hours of art, a cold dessert gives the afternoon a clean break before the drive back to Auckland. Sorbetto also provides a lighter choice if you have had enough dairy or sweets.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. That is enough time to choose a flavor and enjoy it, but not enough for a long visit. Think of Charlies as a pleasant finale rather than another major attraction.

The price and what it really covers

At $588.92 per person, this is one of those experiences where the inclusions matter. You are paying for a full private day, not just admission to a sculpture park.

The package includes:

• Return private transport from Auckland
• Pickup and drop-off in central Auckland
• An English-speaking local escort
• Air-conditioned, temperature-controlled minibus transport
• Wi-Fi, water, and refreshments onboard
• Admission to Brick Bay’s self-guided sculpture trail
• Admission to Sculptureum
• Chocolate tasting
• Wine tasting at two local vineyards
• Lunch platter with matching wines
• Gelato, sorbetto, or ice cream
• All listed fees and taxes

Breakfast and dinner are not included. Lunch is covered, so you do not need to arrange another meal during the main part of the day, but eat breakfast before pickup.

The value is strongest for a couple or small private group that wants convenience and a polished day without driving. The price is harder to defend if you would prefer to choose only one attraction or if you are happy navigating Matakana independently.

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason once booked. I would only reserve it when your plans are firm.

Who should book this experience

This day suits you if you want several Matakana highlights handled in one package. It is especially appealing if you enjoy:

• Boutique wine more than large commercial tasting rooms
• Contemporary sculpture and outdoor art
• Small-producer chocolate and gelato
• A scenic drive without renting a car
• Private transport and a relaxed timetable
• A full day with lunch included

It also works well for a birthday, anniversary, or special holiday outing. The food and wine give the day a celebratory feel, while the art walks keep it from becoming a series of tastings.

Families can participate, and children aged 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The alcohol component means the day will naturally appeal more to adults, although the chocolate, sculpture, countryside, and gelato provide non-wine interest too.

You do not need a high fitness level, but this is not a fully seated sightseeing tour. The scenic walks are short and optional, yet sensible walking shoes are recommended. Tell the escort at check-in if you have fitness concerns.

Special dietary needs can be requested when booking. They are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed, so give notice early rather than relying on a last-minute arrangement.

Should you book the Matakana Art and Vineyard Experience?

Book it if you want a private, all-in-one Matakana day with serious time for both food and art. The combination of a forest sculpture trail, classical music, lakeside lunch, boutique wine, chocolate, and gelato is unusually varied.

Think twice if the $588.92 price is outside your comfort zone, if you prefer to travel independently, or if you want a focused wine tour rather than a mixed experience. The long day and multiple stops reward people who enjoy variety.

For the right person, the strongest reason to book is not one single tasting. It is the way the day links Matakana’s food culture with its art and natural surroundings, while private transport removes the hassle of getting between them.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at the Mövenpick Hotel Auckland, 8 Customs Street East, Auckland Central. Pickup is at 9:00 am.

Does the tour offer hotel pickup?

Pickup and drop-off are offered from most locations in Auckland CBD. If your location is not listed, you can contact the operator to ask whether it can be accommodated.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours and returns to the Auckland meeting point at the end of the day.

Is transport included?

Yes. The experience includes private return transfers in an air-conditioned, temperature-controlled minibus. Wi-Fi, water, and refreshments are also provided onboard.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a platter served with matching wines at the Glass House overlooking a lake.

How many wine tastings are included?

Wine tasting at two locally owned vineyards is included.

Are the art walks guided?

The walks at Brick Bay Sculpture Trail and Sculptureum are self-guided. An English-speaking local escort accompanies the tour overall.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. The activity is suitable for all ages, but children aged 10 and under must always be accompanied by an adult. Anyone drinking alcohol must be at least 18 and show valid photo identification.