Experiencing the Best of Matakana

Enjoying delicious local wines, tasting fine cheeses, and discovering pristine white sand beaches are just some of the many popular things to do in Matakana. Situated just a one hour drive north of Auckland, the Matakana Coast region offers some impressive scenery and plenty of interesting places to visit. The local experts Matakana Tours offer some incredible boutique tour options which will ensure that you experience the best these Auckland attractions have to offer.

 

Indulge in some of New Zealand’s best scenery and artisan wines on a tour of Matakana (Photo credit: Matakana Tours)

Matakana Tour’s Food and Wine Tour includes a visit to three very different coastal vineyards where you can actually meet some of the region’s top winemakers. In these exclusive vineyards, the grapes are harvested mostly by hand and the wines are produced in small quantities, and are not generally available on the mass market. So, enjoy the latest vintage of these local boutique wines which are renowned for their diversity, character and passion, while also enjoying some spectacular scenery.  

Visit the best of Auckland vineyards and discover the methods used to produce these exclusive award-winning wines from Dolcetto to Chardonnay. In addition to wines, there are two food stops along the way where you can try other local products at the bustling Matakana market. The tour lasts 4 ½-hours and you are accompanied throughout by a local guide who knows the area well, and if time allows he may include some other fascinating local attractions.

 

Visitors can enjoy the opportunity to meet passionate local wine and food producers (Photo credit: Matakana Tours)

The Hinterland Tour offers a wonderful opportunity to really discover what New Zealand is all about. This all-inclusive tour lasts 5 ¾-hours and offers a day packed full of adventure. There is a visit to Omaha beach, where you can join in a game of rugby, if you like, or marvel at the impressive carved Maori posts called pouwhenua. You can include a tour of a Maori fortified village, or Papakainga, and observe a sheep shearing show. You will also visit a New Zealand wool retail store where you will be sure to find some beautiful products that you will wish to take home as gifts, and some to keep for yourself!  

A wonderful lunch of locally produced lamb and fresh snapper is included, and at the end of the day, you will receive a Matakana Coast goodie bag to take home. This contains samples of everything you experienced on the tour to remind you of a fantastic day out and to remember forever. 

For private groups of at least six people, you can choose to add an extra hour to the Hinterland tour and board a small ferry to visit a working oyster farm.  Here you can learn about oyster production, try your hand at shucking, and enjoy listening to some tall tales of the local history.  

 

The Matakana region is renowned for the local produce available from the popular Matakana Markets (Photo credit: Matakana Tours)

Matakana tours give you the opportunity to meet real people living the Kiwi dream and working hard to produce quality products for the Auckland market. The experienced local guides will give you the chance to get behind the scenes and enjoy a glimpse at many different ways of life. 

Different seasons offer distinct options, but whether it's olive harvest in August, lambing in the spring, or a summer stroll along the beaches you will be sure to enjoy an unforgettable experience.The rolling green hills and the idyllic golden sand beaches make the Matakana coastal area one of the most popular places to visit in Auckland, and with the mild winters, it's a great place to get to know at any time of year, especially as your tour can be tailored to meet your interests and schedule.

After exploring the spectacular scenery of the Matakana, why not hire an Auckland rental car from Omega and continue experiencing everything New Zealand’s most populous region has to offer.

You might also like to read this blog post 'Marvellous Matakana' contributed by Omega customers Garth and Jackie Hallberg, who enjoyed their visit to this region.