6 Whisky Tours in New Zealand, from First Dram to Last

1.Waiheke: Scenic Taste and Graze Tour with Wine, Whisky, Beer

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 60 reviews · 5 hours · from $238Our pick

Spend five hours touring Waiheke from Matiatia with guides such as Sylvia, Karen, Kevin, and Shirley. Visit Mudbrick, The Heke, Stonyridge, and Rangihoua Estate for wine, beer, whisky, olive oil, honey, and a generous platter lunch. Expect a small-group ride, island stories, and Hauraki Gulf views.

“We just had such a great day, weather was perfect. Every venue we visited was really nice, very friendly service and great Tastings.”

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2.Waiheke Island: Taste&Graze Whisky Cellar Tour, Food, Olive Oil

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $266Top rated

Meet guide Kaz or Grant at Matiatia Wharf at 9:40 am for a five-hour Waiheke tasting tour. Visit Mudbrick Vineyard, The Heke brewery and distillery, Batch Winery, and Allpress olive groves. Tastings and private island transport are included, while ferry costs and some lunch details should be confirmed before booking.

“What a fabulous day! Tour Guide Grant was such a great guide. My husband and I had the most memorable day learning about wine, beer, olive oil and the Waiheke community. This is the best tour we have had in 5 years and we travel frequeRead more”

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3.Shackleton Glacier Whiskey Endurance – 50mins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $434

Spend 50 minutes flying over Franz Josef, Tasman and Shackleton Glaciers with Glacier Country Helicopters. You’ll see Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, fly through the Southern Alps, and land for 15 minutes on remote Shackleton Glacier. Gus, Poppy, and pilot Dion are part of the family-run team. A whiskey sample with glacial ice is optional.

“Whisked into a chopper and up into the sky before you know it. Our pilot was pretty quiet until we got onto the glacier then he was chatty. The whiskey was a little weak, but it's blended so I guess that's normal. It was a 50th birthday that I won't forget”

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4.Queenstown Gin and Whiskey tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $462

Start at Queenstown’s Station Building at 11:30 am for a private six-hour gin and whiskey outing led by Sarah, a home distiller. Visit Cardrona Distillery, taste local gins at Rifters’ Tasting Room, hear the story behind botanicals, and enjoy countryside views before returning to town.

“A highly enjoyable, relaxing and informative day out. Sarah is a wonderful host and as a keen distiller herself is full of first hand knowledge and passionate about gin. The Cardrona distillery is a wonderful experience.”

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5.Heke Brewery and Distillery Tour in Waiheke Island with samples

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $24Best value

At The Heke on Waiheke Island, your guide takes you through the working brewery and distillery, from milling and mashing to fermentation, distilling, and aging. You’ll taste one beer and one whisky, then can stay for food or order a specialist tasting flight. Tours are small and run most days.

“A new distillery is still finding its “voice.” The whiskey tasting featured some raw and finished products. Neither were particularly tasty, but they are dedicated to launching a quality product.”

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6.Shackleton Glacier Whiskey Endurance Flight – 50mins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 50 min · from $418

From Franz Josef, fly by helicopter over the Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers, Mount Cook, Mount Tasman, and the Southern Alps. Land for 15 minutes on Shackleton Glacier, hear the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, and sample Shackleton Whiskey with glacial ice. English commentary and a safety briefing are included.

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