brewery tour wellington

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Relax, experience and learn more about the brewery scene around Wellington with a craft beer tour

Craft beer afternoon tour.

• We depart Wellington at 9.30am or 1pm and head north up and over Pukerua Bay, enjoying superb coastal views. We slip off the main roads and follow the scenic coastline from Raumati through to Paraparaumu Beach.
• We continue to head north and stop in at the world-famous Southwards Car Museum for morning/afternoon tea and a chance for the car enthusiasts amongst us to marvel at the 20th Century motorcars on display.
• If cars are not your thing we can take you a little further north to Nga Manu Nature Reserve to see the native birds, including kiwi. Set in picturesque coastal lowlands forest of Waikanae, this is an idyllic bird sanctuary.
• Heading back to Wellington we drop in for a coffee stop returning you to the city at 12.30pm or 4pm. 

Craft beer full day tour

• We pick you up from your choice of Wellington location at 9.30am and head north stopping at Pukerua Bay to capture the superb views of Kapiti Island and the coastline. 
• We detour at Raumati to follow the coast up to Paraparaumu Beach where we stop briefly to take in the sea air.
• Then its on to the internationally acclaimed Southwards Car Museum, followed by a delicious lunch at the locally-loved Long Beach Cafe in Waikanae Beach.
• After lunch we visit Nga Manu Reserve which offers you a unique opportunity to have a hands-on experience with nature. See New Zealand’s rare brown kiwi in the nocturnal house and meet native birds in walk-through aviaries. Watch or participate in feeding endangered long-fin eels, spot native geckos and even get up close to the ancient tuatara.
• We continue to drive north when you have a choice of shopping in the sleepy township of Otaki or visit a restored Maori church. We can even head further north to the Deer Museum in Manukau.
• We saunter back to Wellington with a stop off in Paraparaumu, at either the Tuatara Beer factory tasting room or a local coffee shop - the choice is yours.
• We drop you back in Wellington at 4.30pm. 

An afternoon tour to taste Wellington's superb craft beer and meet the brewers

• We pick you up at 1.00pm and take the scenic drive around Oriental Parade to the Lyall Bay and the Parrot Dog Brewery for a tasting and talk with the brewery's knowledgeable staff.
• We continue our tour along the rugged south coast and back into the city to Garage Project Brewery. Recently voted the country's top Craft Beer brewery we taste from their extensive and experimental range.
• Next it's off to Panhead's Tory St brewery to taste amongst other beers, their Supercharger APA, regularly voted NZ's best craft beer.
• Final orders are at The Fork and Brewer who have over 30 of their beers on tap as well as special beers on their two hand pull pumps.
• We drop you back at 5pm at your Wellington location of choice, which may just happen to be another craft beer bar.

Enjoy a full day tour around the hidden craft beer brewery gems of the Wellington region

• To begin your beer tasting experience, we pick you up from your choice of Wellington location at 9.30am and head north to Brewtown in Upper Hutt, the home of Kereru, Boneface and Panhead breweries.
• Take a guided tour of the Kereru brewery with one of their brewers, where we learn how to create the perfect beer and of course we get to sample their product.
• Then it's just a hop skip and a jump to Boneface Brewery for some more fine beer.
• This is followed by tastings at Panhead Brewery, with their showcase beer Panhead Supercharger regularly voted NZ's top craft beer.
• We lunch at either Panhead or Boneface (your choice) then after lunch we head back into the city and around the Bays to Parrot Dog brewery in Lyall Bay with host Dustin taking you through their fine range of craft beers.
• Then finally we follow the rugged southern coast around to Red Rocks and up through Brooklyn for last orders at Garage Project, recently voted NZ's best craft beer brewery.
• We return you to your home base or your craft beer bar of choice in the Wellington CBD at 4.30pm.

MAKE AN ENQUIRY ABOUT OUR TOURS

Tastings at Kereru Brewing with Owner Natasha Dahlberg

Brewery tour at Abandoned Brewing with Tom from Abandoned (not Tom from Kaewa Tours!)

Tastings at Double Vision Brewing

About your guide.

Hi I’m Tom your Guide for your private, dedicated Craft Beer tour of Wellington.

A self confessed fan of Wellington Craft Beer I’m well appointed to show off some of our Capital City’s great Craft Breweries.

Come experience the amazing Craft Beer scene of Wellington with a guide who loves his beer – book now!

• Duration: 6 hours (10:30am-4:30pm)
• Pick Up & Drop Off: Flexible within Wellington
• $357 per adult (2-4)
• $297 per adult (5-11)
• Solo travellers/single booking $557
• Prices are in NZD and includes GST & booking fees
• Up to 11 people per group

Your tour is a strictly private tour. We do not perform mixed group tours therefore your tour is strictly your own tour. Enjoy a fabulous day out with your group & tour guide.

“We booked a wine tour with Tom, who picked us up from our hotel in central Wellington.

From booking the tour Tom was great at communicating.

Tom chose four amazing family run vineyards which offered an amazing selection of wines. We were able to meet the owners and wine makers at all of the vineyards which made for a much more personal tour.”

“Tom was a highly knowledgeable and all-round amazing guide. The level of guest services was exceptional, right from before the tour started, throughout and after the tour ended. Bringing us along family owned wineries, we had the privilege to converse with the owners and wine makers, making the experience extremely special. Must also express the appreciation for sustainability, providing us with water bottles made out of plant matter. The experiences shared throughout the day will definitely be a great memory and one I will be sharing with others. Highly recommend and will book again in a heartbeat. Thank you again to Tom for such an amazing experience, and also Jill for baking beautiful orange muffins to enjoy on the ride back!”

From wineries to Wellington treasures; From Maori culture to Manuka honeybee hives; From Hahei Hot Water Beach to Hobbiton and all points in between… We are sure we experienced  every inch of North Island, New Zealand with Tom’s and Jill’s Kaewa Tours. Cities, villages, farms, forests, islands, breweries, historic places, gardens, waterfalls, lakes, vistas, galleries and even a secret public restroom with the art of a famous Kiwi.  Tom’s sense of humor, his sense of history, his sense of timing and penchant for the perfect itinerary, made for days of fun and no glitches. Every day we ran into someone Tom knew. It was the trip of a lifetime with memories and photos to last a lifetime. Thank you, Kaewa Tours.

I had friends from Barcelona visit New Zealand and Tom very kindly made up a custom package to the Wairarapa. What a fantastic day it was. Tom is very knowledgeable with the area and has a wonderful sense of humour. We visited C’est Cheese in Featherston, lunch at Poppies winery which was certainly a highlight, two other wineries, finishing off with a delightful dinner at the Martinborough Hotel.  I would have no hesitation in recommending Tom’s Kaewa tours.  A first class tour.

If you really want a memorable, fun and informative guide to help you experience New Zealand – use Tom Collier! My wife and I have been on two trips with Tom, and thoroughly enjoyed his expertise, passion and…sense of humour! Tom loves New Zealand, his pride evident as he explains his country’s history, traditions and culture – as only a true Kiwi can! When these Canucks return to New Zealand (and we will) Tom will be the first Kiwi we call. The best.

If you want to cover off Martinborough for value and time look no further than booking a private tour with Tom from Kaewa Tours. He took us to the top wineries and we got to go to an olive tasting as well. He is professional, on time and knowledgeable about the area and happy to accommodate all of our requests. We will be joining him again for another tour, all and all a great day out!! Book him he is great!

Patricia and I have visited New Zealand for five weeks in February 2020 and we were lucky to be referred to Tom for a one day visit of the Martinborough vineyards and Cape Palliser. Our day trip was very well organized, included visits of four reputable vineyards, a drive down to Cape Palliser and excellent lunch and early dinner. We enjoyed very much Tom’s company, his comments about NZ, his safe driving and friendliness and we highly recommend using Tom’s services to visit New Zealand.

Want something more?

We also offer a Wellington Foodie Tour, which you can see the details of here.

Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings

Visit three of the region's best craft breweries with tastings at each location. Enjoy an in-depth brewery tour led by brewery staff and share the producer's passion for their products.

Our Top Experiences and Tours in Wellington:

Martinborough wine and food tour with lunch from wellington, martinborough winery tour, wellington: return cable car ticket, wellington: electric bike hire.

• Enjoy a range of locally made craft beers at each brewery visit
• Learn some of the secrets during a staff led brewery tour
• Share in the passion these producers have for their products

Description

Important information.

• Activity suitable only for adults 18 years and above
• Minimum numbers are required for this tour to operate, in the unlikely event that these are not met you will be offered an alternate date or a refund

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Wellington Craft Beer Tour

Welcome to Wellington - the spiritual home and capital of New Zealand Craft Beer. We combine visits to a mixture of very small to large craft breweries where you will get to meet (on most occasions) the Master Brewers/Owners. Our craft beer tour also includes a scenic drive to our last Craft Brewery of the day located on Wellingtons south coast.

To start with, we head out to Brewtown in Upper Hutt located at the old Dunlop Tyre Factory. Brewtown houses a number of great Craft Breweries. Our first visit is to Kereru Brewing owned by Chris & Natasha Mills where we taste a wide range of beers in their pouring room.

Our next Brewery is Te Aro Brewing Co in Brewtown for a tasting paddle of your choice. We then head back towards the city stopping at the very small brewery Abandoned in Avalon Lower Hutt for tastings and a brewery tour with Owner/Master Brewer Tim Ward or his trusty assistant Sean. After 'abandoning' Abandoned it’s well and truly time for lunch back in the city. Our venue of choice for lunch is the Rogue and Vagabond along with a tasting paddle of your choice.

After lunch we head out of the city and head east to the suburb of Hataitai for tastings at the Waitoa Social Club.

The next part of our craft beer journey takes us on a scenic drive around the Eastern and Southern Bays finishing up at our last Brewery of the day Parrot Dog in Lyall Bay. Parrot Dog is the home of the famous original release ‘Bitter Bitch’ - aptly named for the problematic first brew day which hugely emphasised its hop bitterness. Are you brave enough to take on the ‘Bitter Bitch’?

We finish back in the city to your selected drop off location around 4:30pm.

Inclusions:

Bottled New Zealand spring water, lunch, tastings and entry fees.

Key points to note:

• Itinerary subject to change.

• If you have a specific, alternate Brewery or Bar you wish to go to this can be arranged in advance by completing and submitting the 'Contact Us' form.

• If you have any special dietary requirements please complete and submit the 'Contact Us' form.

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Craft Beer Tours NZ

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• I have been Tour Guiding since 2008. I have also been working & managing bars since 1995. That started my love for beer & then onto home-brewing. My love for food came from running kitchens.
• Portuguese • English
• Professional tour guide

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Craft Beer Tours NZ - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Winners are Grinners at Panhead Brewery

Behind the Scenes tour at Kereru Brewery

Whisky kegs used for Craft Beer storage at Kereru Brewery

Taranaki boys tasting at Boneface Brewery

Parrot Dog tasting with Dustin

Tim the Head Brewer taking a tour at Abandoned Brewery in Lower Hutt

John with Craft Beer tour at Tuatara Third Eye brewery

Wellington Craft Beer Tour

16 Lorna Irene Drive , Paraparaumu , New Zealand .

Join us on our Craft Beer tour which visits local Wellington breweries as well as the breweries at Brewtown in Upper Hutt. We take you "behind the scenes" with the Craft brew masters, learning about their trade and imbibing the product.

Pricing and Conditions

Tours will continue as planned "rain or shine". Every endeavour will be made to keep to the tour schedule, however adjustments may be necessary due to road or weather conditions outside of our control.

If a cancellation is made with more than 2 days notice before the tour commences, a full refund will be given. If the cancellation occurs within 48 hours of the tour date, a 50% refund will be paid.

We pick you up from your Wellington location at 9.30am and head north to Brewtown in Upper Hutt. You take a guided tour of the Kereru brewery where you learn how to create the perfect beer and sample their product. Then it's off to Boneface Brewery for some more fine beer, followed by tastings at Panhead Brewery. We lunch at either Panhead or Boneface (your choice) then after lunch we head back into the city and around the Bays to Parrot Dog brewery in Lyall Bay to taste their fine range of craft beers. Then finally we follow the rugged southern coast around for last orders at Garage Project, recently voted NZ's best craft beer brewery. We return you at 4.30pm to your home base or your craft beer bar of choice in Wellington.

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Brewtown Upper Hutt

27 Blenheim Street, Maidstone, Upper Hutt

The ultimate destination for craft beer, and food, plus 4,500 square metres devoted to entertainment.

Brewtown is a one-stop for lovers of craft beer, hearty food, and entertainment.

Spread across 6,000 square metres of Upper Hutt’s former Dunlop Tyres site, Brewtown brings together some of the region’s top breweries. Known for its incredible water quality, Upper Hutt has become a favourite for brewers looking to manufacture beer in Wellington. Panhead Custom Ales, Boneface Brewing Co., Te Aro Brewing Co., and Wild Kiwi Distillery have set up shop to take advantage of the water source.

There are also excellent restaurant options on site. Don’t just settle for a tasting — sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. Each brewery has a restaurant offering. There’s also another restaurant, Fermented Bar and Eatery, and café, Get Fixed, on offer.

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Events and entertainment

The Brewtown site is set up for public and private events. There are plenty of green spaces to invite visiting brewers and eateries onsite. Its annual BrewDay brings thousands of people to the region to taste the best new brews from some of Wellington’s top breweries. Music and other activities keep everyone entertained.

Completing the package is a 4,500 square metre entertainment complex. There’s mini golf, ice skating, paintball, ten-pin bowling, cart racing, axe-throwing, escape rooms, and a trampoline park. With options for large groups, kids, and individuals it’s easy to see how you could while away a whole day enjoying yourself.

Brewtown is the perfect place to spend an afternoon taste-testing the best the region has to offer. It’s just a short walk away from Upper Hutt train station making it an easy trip to and from Wellington city.

Mark Tantrum

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14 Best Breweries & Craft Beer Bars in Wellington

Nz pocket guide is 10 years old. thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade, wellington breweries and craft beer bars you have to try.

Wellington is the capital of many things, including craft beer! The craft beer revolution is taking New Zealand by storm, and the evidence is clear in Wellington. The city is packed with craft beer bars and breweries with cellar doors open for business. Culture your palette and taste the beers for yourself at the breweries and craft beer bars in Wellington listed below!

From the heart of the city to the cool suburban areas, Wellington has plenty of crafty experiences to offer. To compliment your craft beer bar crawl, check out these 10 Wellington Must-Dos , and find a place to stay with these fantastic 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Wellington City and 10 Best Hotels in Wellington .

1. Fork Brewing

Pick up a pint of the latest creations from Fork Brewing, the in-house brewery at the Fork & Brewer. The brewery is right in the centre of Wellington City, so don’t miss it while you’re city strolling.

Location: 14 Bond Street.

2. Garage Project: 91 Aro

Ideally locates on Aro Street in the heart of Wellington City, this Garage Project brewbar is a unique space to try their ever-changing craft beers on the same street as the beer is brewed! See below to check out their brewery.

Location: 91 Aro Street.

3. Tuatara Brewery

Arguably the most popular craft beer out of Wellington has its headquarters and brewery on the Kapiti Coast. Enjoy a fresh beer and outstanding food at their relaxed cellar door. You can even fill up a bottle to takeaway.

Location: 7 Sheffield Street, Kapiti.

4. Baylands Brewery

Often described as “pushing the boundaries of brewing” Baylands Brewery is a must-visit for the adventurous craft beer drinker. Find the brewery and cellar door in Petone, Lower Hutt.

Location: 22 Victoria Street, Petone.

A blend of European and British-style craft beers with New Zealand-grown ingredients is Kereru’s speciality! Experience the taste of local flavours with New Zealand hops and malt mixed with classic European styles at this cellar door in Upper Hutt. Tours of the brewery are available by appointment.

Location: 415 Maidstone Terrace, Upper Hutt.

6. Garage Project Brewery

Head to the Cellar Door of the Garage Project Brewery to sample the latest flavours of this award-winning craft beer brewery. The team are known to spruce up some creative brews from chocolate beer to mango and grapefruit IPA(?!).

Location: 68 Aro Street.

7. Malthouse

When experiencing the Wellington nightlife , don’t miss this craft beer bar in Wellington! Sample a wide range of craft beer with beer matching to experience true hoppiness!

Location: 48 Courtenay Place.

8. Hashigo Zake

Step into the “Heineken Free Zone” of Hashigo Zake and taste the finest craft beers New Zealand has to offer. The self-described “cult beer bar” mostly serves New Zealand craft beer but is also working on its selection of international imports from Australia, Japan, the US and Europe.

Location: Basement, 25 Taranaki Street.

9. The Hop Garden

On the lower slopes of Mt Victoria, The Hop Garden has a real beer garden vibe (without having to sit outside and brave the Wellington winds). They serve an excellent range of New Zealand craft beer and quality wines, as well as lunches and evening meals.

Location: 13 Pirie Street, Mt Victoria.

10. Little Beer Quarter

Match your craft beer with one of the Little Beer Quarter’s daily food specials, as featured in our Cheap Eats in Wellington . They boast 14 rotating taps, 2 handpulls and over 100 beers in the fridge, as well as serving New Zealand wine and cider.

Location: 6 Edward Street.

11. Rogue & Vagabond

Not only do they serve some amazing craft beer on tap, but Rogue & Vagabond is also a live entertainment venue, making for an awesome night out in Wellington! Check out live music and comedy nights, as well as their super cheap food deals as featured in our Cheap Eats in Wellington .

Location: 18 Garrett Street.

12. Golding’s Free Dive

Wellington’s cool little craft beer bar might be small but it serves some mighty New Zealand beers and wines! Have a pint during their pizza nights every Wednesday to Saturday.

Location: 14 Leeds Street.

13. ParrotDog

Pop into the ParrotDog cellar door straight from the plane and treat yourself to flagon or bottle of locally brewed goodness! This brewery located close to the Wellington Airport.

Location: 60-66 Kingsford Smith Street, Lyall Bay

Choose from two brewbar venues to experience a little “Waitoa” in your life. Waitoa Hātaitai is the original brewery and brewbar of the group, which hosts all sorts of evening events in the suburb of Hātaitai Village. Alternatively, dip into Waitoa Victoria Street to swap the city centre bustle for a relaxed vibe and drink in hand.

Location: Waitoa Hataitai – 32 Waitoa Road, Hātaitai. Waitoa Victoria Street – 175 Victoria Street, Te Aro.

[CLOSED] The Third Eye

Experience the tastes of Tuatara Beer (see brewery information above) in the Tuatara beer bar, The Third Eye. In the rustic setting of exposed brick walls, the bar has a cool vibe to go with your cool beer.

Location: 30 Arthur Street

More About Wellington

• 11 Things to Do in Wellington on a Rainy Day
• 9 Things to Do in Wellington for Foodies
• The Foodie Guide to Wellington
• The 50 Best Accommodations in Wellington

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
• Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
• Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
• NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
• Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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THE 5 BEST Wellington Beer Tastings & Brewery Tours

Beer tastings & tours in wellington.

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 7-Hour Private Scenic Kapiti Coast Tour from Wellington

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Oct 4, 2023 • 8 min read

These are New Zealand's unmissable activities © Nicram Sabod / Shutterstock

Spectacular and diverse, New Zealand (also known as Aotearoa) is one of the world's most memorable destinations.

From its inspirational Indigenous Māori cultural experiences to its epic and otherworldly national parks , it can be hard to narrow down what to do. You can spend your days soaking in the urban energy of Auckland and Wellington, challenging yourself on outdoor adventures around Queenstown, cycling through Central Otago’s historic towns and big-sky landscapes or trying to spot the country’s iconic kiwi bird on Stewart Island/Rakiura.

Craft your own southern hemisphere adventure from this list of the best things to do in New Zealand.

1. Experience vibrant Māori culture

There are countless ways to engage with New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori culture while exploring the country. You can expect to hear greetings in te reo Māori (the Māori language) frequently, but for a deeper dive, the Auckland Museum and Waikato Museum both have displays of centuries-old Māori taonga (treasures). Around Rotorua , families from the local Te Arawa iwi (tribe) entertain and energize visitors with cultural performances and experiences, including the opportunity to take part in a haka (a ceremonial war dance made famous by the country’s All Blacks rugby team) or experience a hāngī (a Māori feast cooked in the ground). 

Detour: From Rotorua, travel 61km (38 miles) southeast to the isolated logging town of Murupara. Stays at the family-owned Kohutapu Lodge include excursions to catch tuna (endemic longfin eels), visits to historic Māori rock art sites and hiking through the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, a spiritually significant site said to be one of the world’s last prehistoric forests.

2. Be immersed in Auckland’s diversity

Framed by two harbors and built on the sprawling remnants of more than 50 long-inactive volcanoes, Auckland is New Zealand's most diverse and cosmopolitan city. Visit the weekly Otara and Avondale markets to taste Pacific and Asian cuisine from communities drawn to Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori name for Auckland). Or time your visit to experience popular cultural events including Pasifika , Diwali and the Lantern Festival. Good beaches, nearby wine regions, and a dynamic dining scene are other reasons why Auckland is consistently rated one of the world's most liveable cities.

Planning tip: Join Auckland’s most passionate fans while taking in a match featuring the New Zealand Warriors (a rugby league team) or the Auckland Blues (a rugby union team).

3. Hike one of New Zealand’s Great Walks

Hiking (known as “tramping”) is one of New Zealand’s most popular pastimes, with well-established wilderness tracks, shelters (called “huts”) and campsites throughout the country. Highlights include the meandering forest trails of the Rakiura Track on compact Stewart Island/Rakiura and the beach-fringed Abel Tasman Coast Track in the Nelson/Tasman region. Anchoring the rugged geothermal heart of the North Island, Tongariro National Park's most popular trail is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing , a single-day wilderness experience skirting two volcanoes and taking in views of craters, iridescent lakes and the sprawling Central Plateau.

Planning tip: All of New Zealand's  10 (soon to be 11) Great Walks are very popular, and New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) caps visitor numbers at a safe and sustainable level. To secure your spot, you’ll need to book in advance when the Great Walks booking system opens , usually from around May. The Great Walks season runs from late October to April, and the most popular experiences like the Milford and Routeburn Tracks often sell out in minutes. If you miss out; don’t worry. There are hundreds of other trails throughout the country to explore. 

4. Negotiate a two-wheeled adventure in Central Otago

New Zealand's first – and arguably best – multi-day cycling experience is the Otago Central Rail Trail . An undulating ride through sunbaked southern landscapes and the heritage streetscapes of former gold-mining towns, it takes four to six days to complete. Along the way, you can feast on locally grown summer stonefruit, visit contemporary vineyards known for world-class pinot noir, and toast the end of each day with a well-earned beer at historic pubs. E-bikes are a convenient option to maximize your enjoyment of this classic South Island experience, with operators throughout the region offering rentals and guided tours.

Detour: Linking the towns of Cromwell and Clyde, the 55km (34-mile)  Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail traverses the spectacular Cromwell Gorge via an 85m-long (279ft) suspension bridge and a spectacular cantilevered wooden biking track.

5. Seek out kiwis on Stewart Island/Rakiura

At the southern tip of the South Island, Stewart Island/Rakiura is New Zealand's third-largest island, home to a rugged community of around 400 hardy souls, where 85% of the land is protected by Rakiura National Park . Birdlife around Stewart Island/Raikura and the adjacent islet of Ulva Island includes rare hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins), raucous kākā (a type of parrot) and mellifluous bellbirds. However, the undoubted avian highlight is viewing tokoeka (Southern brown kiwi) in the wild. Join a twilight expedition with local operators including Beaks & Feathers and Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experiences to see Aotearoa's beloved national bird snuffling about on beaches and in the forest. Visit from March to September to also potentially glimpse the aurora australis (southern lights), the inspiration for Stewart Island's Māori name: Rakiura, which means “glowing skies.”

Planning tip: Ferries take one hour to cross the Foveaux Strait from Bluff on the mainland to Stewart Island/Rakiura. The crossing can sometimes be rough, so an alternative is a 20-minute flight from Invercargill.

6. Commune with marine mammals around Kaikōura 

Attracted by the nutrient-rich waters of the Kaikōura Canyon – a submarine valley just 800m (2624ft) off the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island – the coastal town of Kaikōura is visited by various whale species throughout the year. Join a boat trip with Whale Watch Kaikōura , owned and operated by the local Ngāti Kuri iwi (Māori tribe), to see visiting humpback, orca, southern right and pilot whales. Resident marine mammals include sperm whales, dolphins and kekeno (New Zealand fur seals). The pelagic birdwatching here is also some of the best on the planet.

Planning tip: Kaikōura translates from te reo Māori as "eat crayfish". The spiny crustacean is a popular item on pub menus and roadside food caravans around the region. Try one at Nin’s Bin or Kaikōura Seafood BBQ .

7. Have a capital time in Wellington

Compact and walkable, New Zealand’s harbor capital of Wellington is the ideal urban destination to balance and complement adventures in Aotearoa’s great outdoors. Explore the city’s pioneering craft beer heritage at local breweries including Garage Project, Heyday and Parrotdog, before learning about the movie-making magic of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings franchises at Wētā Workshop . The nation’s capital also boasts a vibrant arts and live music scene, with free events hosted throughout the year.

Planning tip: Visit (and book accommodation well ahead) for the Beervana craft beer festival in August. Also popular is Wellington on a Plate (WOAP), an annual celebration of the city’s dynamic culinary scene.

8. Explore architectural history in Hawke’s Bay

Rocked by an earthquake in 1931, the Hawke’s Bay cities of Napier and Hastings were rebuilt in the popular architectural styles of the day, and now the region boasts some of the world’s best-preserved art deco and Spanish Mission architectural precincts. From Napier’s Norfolk pine-trimmed Marine Parade, join a walking tour of the city’s cavalcade of art deco buildings, some also decorated with the cross-cultural influence of traditional Māori design motifs.

Detour: New Zealand winemaking began in Hawke’s Bay in the 1850s, and the region’s well-established vineyards and excellent winery restaurants are best explored on two wheels. See On Yer Bike online for details of bike hire and recommended wine trails.

9. Get active around Queenstown

Nowhere else in New Zealand reinforces the country’s reputation for adrenaline-fuelled adventure activities like Queenstown . Amid beautiful lake and sub-alpine scenery, definitely sign up for a bungy jump . (It’s almost mandatory – the breathtaking leap of faith was invented in New Zealand, after all.) You can also consider other thrill rides like  Oxbow Adventures ’ exciting combo of jet sprint boats (which can reach up to 100km/h, or 62mph, in just 2.5 seconds) and extreme 4WD offroading. After all the action, adjourn to Altitude Brewing ’s ​lakeside location for great beers and tasty visits from local food trucks.

Detour: Reached via a scenic road over the Crown Range, Wānaka is Queenstown’s less manic Southern Lakes sibling. Catch a boat on Lake Wānaka to explore the island bird sanctuary of Mou Waho .

10. Kayak in pristine Fiordland

Cruising through Milford Sound /Piopiotahi on a day trip is popular, but a better strategy for experiencing the scale, spectacle and stillness of Fiordland ’s most famous sheltered anchorage is to explore it by kayak. Hook up with Roscoe’s Milford Kayaks for the ultimate on-the-water views of the fiord’s cascading quicksilver waterfalls and massive forest-covered cliffs. Sunriser classic tours loop for 10km (6 miles) around Milford Sound and depart well before the inevitable arrival of daytrippers visiting from Te Anau or Queenstown.

Detour: Fiordland’s Doubtful Sound/Patea (meaning "place of silence" in te reo Māori ) is even quieter and less visited than Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. Join a guided kayak tour with Te Anau-based Doubtful Sound Kayak or stay overnight on the MV Fiordland Jewel with Fiordland Discovery .

This article was first published Apr 22, 2021 and updated Oct 4, 2023.

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The full programme for Wellington on a Plate 2024 has been released - here’s what to expect

Adam Pearse

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Garage Project had produced a line of beer-infused soft serves to provide a point of difference at Beervana 2023. Photo / Adam Pearse

The full programme for this year’s Wellington on a Plate has been released today. The annual event will once again take place for the full month of August, showcasing various events and pop-ups. To celebrate, we take a look back at WOAP 2023 and highlight five of our favourite events for 2024, by Adam Pearse.

One of the few drawbacks of sampling various burgers and beers in the morning is coping with a cloudy head and a delicate stomach.

So when I sat down to tuck into Myrtle’s Belly and Jelly burger, made with locally sourced jellyfish, the risk was obvious.

Fortunately, regurgitation was avoided - largely due to the tasty pork belly and prawn patty, which was accompanied by pickled vegetables in a Myrtle milk bun, seaweed salted fries and sriracha mayonnaise.

It was just one of the more than 200 entries in 2023′s Visa Wellington On a Plate that spanned two weeks in August and was aligned with the Beervana Festival at Sky Stadium.

The theme of this edition of Wellington on a Plate was “breaking the mould”. According to event organisers: “It’s about looking to the future, and being at the pointy end of change.”

Myrtle’s creation certainly qualifies. The central Wellington bakery didn’t shy away from highlighting its use of Worser Bay jellyfish in its burger as it played looped footage of the invertebrates on one of its walls.

“The reason we’re doing this burger is not for shock value. I mean, this is the food of the future,” Myrtle co-owner Jacob Brown told the Herald .

“This is what we need to be eating. If we’re going to have a sustainable humanity, we’ve got to stop eating beef or at least a lot less of it. A lot of more jellyfish, more insects.”

Our three days of beers and burgers officially started at Garage Project’s Wild Workshop on Furness Lane in Te Aro - a site with an industrial feel that opened during the pandemic but found a way to survive.

First from the tap is the Yuzu Rising Sun, a colourful 6 per cent drop containing yuzu sour and raspberry.

Regulars of more common beer will likely compare it to an RTD, given its almost overpowering sweetness. But fans of the emerging sour beer trend are odds on to appreciate the flavours.

Despite its simple design, the workshop has a jovial atmosphere, with patrons not afraid to take to the concrete floor and shimmy to the lively tunes echoing through the room.

The party rolls on to Boneface Tavern and its “Something Fishy Going On” burger. Aptly named, the burger has hints of new and old, with a healthy piece of beer-battered Wellington seamarket fish of the day and an excellent mushy pea sauce in a house-made French fry bun, with a side of curry dipping sauce.

It’s a strong start to the several burgers in store for the weekend and requires something to wash it down.

That prompts a trip to cocktail bar Lovebite to assess its ambitious attempt to heal the rift between lovers of craft beer and those who remain faithful to more traditional ales.

Among the offerings was a bold combination of Steinlager and tequila, a gin cocktail topped with Tūī foam and a “Lion Red Negroni” which contained the beer and “REDistilled Campari”.

While the novelty was certainly enjoyed, it’s unclear how big the market is for such products given Wellington’s penchant for a hoppy drop.

The innovation only super-charged upon arrival at Beervana, home to hundreds of unique beers and an array of delicious culinary options.

Its location at Sky Stadium was a relief. Wellington’s notoriously bad weather this winter was again present, so to escape the wind and rain was a blessing.

First to hit the lips was One Drop Brewing’s On The Lam Yellow Lamington Fruited Smoothie Sour.

Akin to drinking an icecream, the drink’s creators were clearly a fan favourite. One staffer from the Australian brewery said they hadn’t brought enough with them over the ditch.

The comparison to an icecream soon turned into a reality, with Garage Project’s Red Dragon soft serve containing dragon fruit and citrus sour beer.

The anticipated blast of cold coupled with a blast of sour provided a delightful alternative to alcohol’s usual liquid form.

The event itself had a great atmosphere during the day session. Many in attendance were genuinely interested in trying new beers and less concerned with excessive consumption.

However, the same may not be true of the evening sessions. Towards the end of the day session, it was clear the high-percentage alcohol was getting the better of some.

Fortunately, there were three more burgers to sample in the evening and into the following day - a tangy chicken burger with fantastic hot sauce at Choice Bros, a classic beef option at Fork and Brewer, and Concord’s buffalo wing and blue cheese creation that was boldly paired with crisps instead of chips.

The European bistro-inspired outfit may have learned some lessons from that pairing, as several people chose to order a side of fries as well.

Five unmissable events for WOAP 2024

1. taco queen of copenhagen.

Taco lovers are in for a treat as WOAP is kicking off with the Taco Queen of Copenhagen coming to Cuba St to give Kiwis a tasty lesson in tacos. Catch ex-Noma chef Rosio Sanchez work her magic as she serves her world-famous Mexican fare at Loretta for two nights as part of the Chef Collaboration Series presented by Singapore Airlines.

Visa Wellington On a Plate Head of Programming, Beth Brash, hypes the event saying, “Rosio’s reputation as the ‘Taco Queen of Copenhagen’ is well known in the food world and many viewers may have seen her appearances on shows such as Ugly Delicious and Somebody Feed Phil, so we’re really excited to give Kiwis the opportunity to try her food - and they’ll only need to head over to Cuba Street to do so.”

Event dates: August 1 and 2, 1pm-5pm

Location: Loretta, free entry

2. Attend a Japanese-inspired party

Garage Project will be hosting Matsuri Madness , a Japanese-inspired party featuring hambāgu, yakitori and other matsuri (festival) food. Aside from great food, you will also be encouraged to engage in fun, themed games while feeling like you’re walking in the streets of Akihabara, Tokyo.

Event dates: August 1, 11am-7pm

Location: Wild Workshop, free entry

3. Hāngi at Government House

Governor-General Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro is hosting Hākari Fusion, a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience for a limited number of guests - an event you should not miss the opportunity to experience. Governor Kiro is hosting a hāngi feast at the Government House where guests will enjoy drinks, canapés, and a fantastic dinner prepared by Hāngi Master Rewi Spraggon and the chefs at Government House. This limited-capacity event is free with tickets to be allocated by ballot.

Event dates: August 10, 12pm-5pm

Location: Government House

Enter the ballot here

4. Enjoy a three-course dinner at the Next Gen Cook Off

The Next Gen Cook Off is back for its thrilling third year, inviting guests to enjoy a pay-as-you-feel three-course dinner each night, crafted by Wellington’s rising culinary stars. With support from Pure South, this event features chefs like Lewis Heath of Graze, a baking maestro; Chandrika Khullar of Floriditas, a zero-waste advocate; Byron Bunny of Neo Cafe, a sustainability champion; and Aoife Gallagher-Forbes of Concord Bistro, a former law student turned culinary artist. These delicious dinners will lead to the crowning of the Next Gen Cook Off champion.

Event dates: August 5, 12, 19, 26, 2pm-4pm

Location: Everybody Eats at LTD, Pay-as-you-feel event

5. Celebrate good beer

Whether you’re a seasoned beer lover, curious about the craft, or just beginning your beer journey, Beervana is the best place to celebrate New Zealand’s finest brews and the people who make them. The event promises an ever-impressive array of brewery displays, mouth-watering culinary delights, live music, and quirky street performances.

Event dates: August 23 and 24, 7am-12pm and 2pm-7pm

Location: Sky Stadium, Wellington Regional Stadium, $55 per person

For the full Wellington on a Plate 2024 programme, see visawoap.com Event tickets for Wellington on a Plate are on sale June 21. The Visa pre-sale is from June 17-19.

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