The 6 Best New Zealand Cheese Tours

1.Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Winery Visits, Cave Tour & Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 207 reviews · from $148Our pick

From Queenstown, join Appellation Wine Tours for an afternoon in Central Otago’s Gibbston wine country. A small group visits three wineries, often including Kinross, Gibbston Valley, and Mt Rosa, with tastings, a cheese board, and New Zealand’s largest underground wine cave. Guides such as Paul, John, Phil, Kate, and Alan add local insight along the way.

“Wonderful. From pickup to drop off and everything in between! The cave was awesome. The vineyards were starting to bloom, and the tastings were superb. Highly recommend!”

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2.Lake Wanaka 1-Hour Cruise Including Wine and Cheese

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 95 reviews · from $42

Spend an hour cruising Lake Wanaka from the waterfront with one complimentary wine, beer, RTD, or soft drink, plus communal cheese and crackers. You’ll pass Ruby Island, Stevensons Peninsula, Eeley Point, and the famous Lone Tree. Crew members including Tim, Cam, and Toby have been praised for friendly service, though commentary can be limited.

“This is a nice little boat tour especially on a sunny day, some cheese and a glass of wine and the booze on board is very reasonably priced if you want more!”

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3.Gibbston Valley Wines – Wine & Cheese Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $29

Meet at Gibbston Valley Winery at 2:00 pm for a 45-minute guided tasting in a private cheese room. You’ll sample four wines with four handmade Oamaru cheeses, with return transport available from Queenstown. The group is limited to eight, and the activity ends back at the winery.

“We did the wine tour. Four wines and cheese pairing. This is new world wine. It is very good but don’t expect the depth and complexity of wines from established wine countries like France and Italy. The cheese is from their cheesery where yRead more”

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4.Hawkes Bay: Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings and Cheeseboard

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 5 hours · from $96

Spend five hours exploring Hawke’s Bay wine country with Prinsy’s Tours, visiting up to four wineries in a luxury vehicle with a maximum of 11 people. Your English-speaking guide, such as Owen or Amanda, explains the wines in plain language. Tastings, a cheeseboard, scenic viewpoint, and hotel pickup are included.

“Well run, well explained, small group, great guide. Great variety of wineries, and lots of samplings!”

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5.Auckland: Scenic Wine and Cheese Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · 1h 30m · from $33

Meet the Red Boats crew at Z Pier, Westhaven Marina, for a 90-minute Auckland Harbour cruise. You’ll enjoy a gourmet cheese and charcuterie box, one glass of New Zealand wine or local beer, live English commentary, gentle music, and views of Rangitoto Island, the Harbour Bridge, Bean Rock Lighthouse, and the city skyline.

“Great value, very informative commentary, good selection of wines and beers and generous serve of cheese & nibbles platter.”

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6.Guided Tour with Cheese & Wine Pairing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $21Best value

At Whitestone Cheese Co in Oamaru, Jim guides a 90-minute tour through a working cheese factory, sharing the company’s story and cheesemaking process. You’ll view production areas from raised platforms, then sample soft, semi-soft, and blue cheeses with three boutique New Zealand wines. The small group is limited to eight people.

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