Jade Carving, Honey & Wine Tasting Private Tour

Art, wine, and jade share one fine day. This private outing takes you from Auckland to Matakana, about 45 minutes north, for a polished mix of outdoor sculpture, local food, hands-on craft, and native bush. I especially like the quiet walk through Brick Bay Sculpture Trail and the chance to make a Pounamu necklace rather than simply buy a souvenir.

I also like the private vehicle, flexible feel, and thoughtful food stops, including lunch in a suspended glass restaurant. The main consideration is the price: at $868.80 per person, this is a premium day out, and wine tasting is limited to adults aged 18 and over.

Key points to know before booking

• Over 60 sculptures line a 2-kilometre bush trail at Brick Bay, giving you art and fresh air in the same stop.
• Your Pounamu necklace is made by you, with help from a local artist, so the souvenir has a personal story.
• Lunch takes place in a suspended glass restaurant, with views toward the vineyards, gardens, and lake.
• Andy may be your driver and guide, and his thoughtful local stops have included Matakana hot chocolate and craft breweries.
• Honey tasting comes with a native bush walk, linking New Zealand plants with the work of bees.
• The day lasts about nine hours, with pickup, private transport, WiFi, water, snacks, and admission included.

Leaving Auckland for Brick Bay

The day begins at 9:00 am with pickup and a drive north toward Matakana. The trip is private, so you are not sharing the vehicle with a large coach group or following a fixed public schedule. That matters on a long day, since the vehicle becomes your base between stops.

You receive bottled water, snacks, air conditioning, and WiFi on board. Those are modest comforts, but useful ones when the day includes several activities and a fair amount of driving. A professional driver-guide handles the route, so you can focus on the countryside rather than Auckland traffic.

The tour is designed for two or more people and only your group takes part. That makes it a good fit for couples, families with adult children, or friends who want a private day without arranging several separate bookings.

One driver named in the experience information is Andy. He has been praised for warm service, good timing, and adding pleasant local stops when conditions allow. His extra suggestions have included Matakana hot chocolate and craft breweries, though you should treat these as possible additions rather than guaranteed parts of the day.

Walking the 2-kilometre Brick Bay Sculpture Trail

Brick Bay Sculpture Trail is the artistic opener, and it gives the day more character than a simple tasting tour. The 2-kilometre route runs through native bush and vineyards near Snells Beach, with more than 60 contemporary sculptures by New Zealand artists placed along the way.

I like this format because the art is not confined to a white-walled gallery. You encounter each work outdoors, with trees, paths, open spaces, and changing views around it. Some pieces may catch your eye immediately, while others ask you to pause and look twice. The setting lets you enjoy the art at an easy walking pace.

About an hour is set aside here, and admission is included. That is enough time for an introduction to the trail, though not necessarily a slow look at every sculpture. If you are passionate about contemporary art, you may wish for longer. If you are mainly here for a pleasant walk and a taste of local creativity, the timing should feel comfortable.

Brick Bay also has The Glass House restaurant, overlooking a tranquil lake. On this tour, the main lunch experience later takes place in a suspended glass restaurant in the Matakana area, so confirm the exact dining venue with the operator if the setting matters to you. Either way, the day gives you a chance to eat with views instead of sitting in an anonymous roadside café.

The walking portion deserves a small practical note. The route is outdoors, and the tour requires good weather. Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably and bring a light layer, since conditions can change during a New Zealand day. The provided information does not specify the trail’s accessibility details, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask before booking.

Wine and lunch above the gardens

The Matakana portion takes up most of the day, around six hours, and combines several very different activities. Wine tasting is one of the gentler parts. You can sample wines from the area, then settle in for lunch in a suspended glass restaurant with views over vineyards and gardens.

That meal is more than a convenient pause. It gives the day a proper centre, with time to sit down and enjoy the setting rather than rush from one short stop to another. If you prefer a tour that treats lunch as part of the experience, this is a strong point.

Vegetarian food is available, but you need to advise the operator when booking. Specific dietary requirements should also be shared ahead of time. The supplied details do not list a menu, wine varieties, or the length of the tasting, so do not book this expecting a formal wine course. Think of it as a relaxed introduction to regional wine paired with lunch.

Wine tasting is only for adults aged 18 and over. Children may join the private tour if accompanied by an adult, but the wine portion will not suit them in the same way. Families should consider whether the art, shops, carving, and bush walk provide enough interest for younger members during that stop.

The $868.80 price becomes easier to assess when you count what is bundled in: private transport, driver-guide service, entry tickets, wine tasting, lunch, water, snacks, and the jade and honey activities. It is still an expensive excursion, especially for a single person, but you are paying for a full private day rather than a short tasting visit. The value is strongest when two or more people share the vehicle and care about personal service.

Matakana Village and its small shops

Matakana Village adds a less structured part to the day. You can browse boutique shops selling artisan crafts and local goods, and the private format may give you a little freedom to look around at your own pace.

This stop is useful if you want a break from scheduled activities. It also gives you a chance to see the area’s creative side before making something yourself during the jade session. You might find a gift, local food item, or small craft, but purchases are not included in the tour price.

Do not expect a large city shopping district. The appeal here is the chance to browse local-style shops in a regional village setting. If shopping is not your interest, you may find this stop less memorable than Brick Bay or the carving class. Your guide can help keep the pace sensible, especially on a day already packed with activities.

Making a Pounamu necklace with an artist

The Pounamu carving session is the most personal part of the tour. Rather than simply hearing about New Zealand jade or buying a finished piece, you join a local artist and craft your own necklace to take home.

Pounamu is the Māori name for New Zealand jade, and the hands-on format gives the material a practical meaning. You leave with an object connected to the time, place, and work of the day. That is a better souvenir than another item picked up quickly in a shop.

The description does not specify the pendant shape, carving method, or how much time the session takes. You should ask the operator if you have a particular design in mind or concerns about the physical work involved. The important point is that the activity is guided, and the finished necklace is included.

I would place this experience near the top of the reasons to book. Wine and lunch can be found on many regional day trips. A guided chance to make your own Pounamu necklace gives this outing a clear New Zealand identity.

It also works well for people who enjoy learning by doing. If you prefer to observe rather than create, the session may feel less appealing, but you can still appreciate the artist’s guidance and the cultural value of the material.

Honey tasting and the native bush walk

The final Matakana activity links food with the local environment. You taste honey, then walk through native bush while learning about New Zealand plants and the important work bees do.

This is a good change of pace after lunch, shopping, and carving. Honey tasting gives you something to sample, while the walk adds context. Instead of treating honey as just a sweet product, the activity connects it with flowers, plants, and the wider natural setting.

The details do not specify how many honey varieties you will try or how long the walk lasts. You can expect a guided introduction rather than a specialist beekeeping course. The native bush walk should appeal to you if you like short nature experiences with interpretation, but it may feel light if you are looking for a serious hike.

The outdoor parts of the tour also explain the weather policy. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. Good weather is not a minor extra here, since Brick Bay and the native bush walk are central to the day.

How the private format changes the day

A private tour gives you more control than a standard group excursion. Only your party participates, and your driver-guide can manage the timing between the major stops. That is especially useful when a day combines a walk, tastings, lunch, shopping, and a craft activity.

The tradeoff is cost. At $868.80 per person, you should compare this with the price of booking transport, meals, tastings, workshop fees, and entry tickets separately. The tour includes all of those listed elements, along with taxes and handling charges, so there should be fewer surprise costs during the day.

The total duration is about nine hours, beginning at 9:00 am. Around an hour is assigned to Brick Bay, and about six hours covers the Matakana activities. The remaining time allows for transport and transitions. You should not expect every minute to be filled with formal commentary. Some of the pleasure comes from moving between places in a comfortable private vehicle.

Cruise ship passengers need to provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking. That information helps the operator judge whether the full day fits your port schedule. Do not leave those details until the morning of the tour.

A multilingual guide may operate the experience. If you need a particular language, ask before confirming rather than assuming it will be available.

Who will enjoy this Matakana day?

I would recommend this tour most strongly if you want several kinds of experience in one outing. You get contemporary art, wine, lunch, small-town shopping, a craft workshop, honey, and native bush. The variety keeps the day from feeling repetitive.

It suits couples and friends who value private transport and a planned day. It also works for visitors who want a special souvenir but prefer making one themselves. The Pounamu necklace gives the experience a personal finish.

This may not be your best choice if you want a serious wine tour, a long hike, or a low-cost excursion. The wine tasting is one part of a broad program, not the sole focus. The nature walks are scenic and educational, but the available information does not suggest a demanding trek.

Children can join when accompanied by an adult, but the minimum age of 18 for wine tasting matters. Families should also consider whether the boutique shopping and jade workshop match their children’s interests.

Booking, food, and cancellation details

A minimum of two people is required for the tour to operate. Pickup is offered, and confirmation is provided when you book. All entry tickets and guided tours listed in the experience are included.

Tell the operator about vegetarian needs or other dietary requirements at booking time. That is especially important because lunch is included and there is no published menu to check in advance.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time, so keep that in mind if you are booking from overseas.

Should you book the Jade Carving, Honey & Wine Tasting Private Tour?

Book it if you want a comfortable, private day that combines Matakana’s creative side with food and nature. The hands-on Pounamu necklace, the Brick Bay sculpture walk, and the suspended glass restaurant give the experience more substance than a basic countryside tasting trip.

Skip it if $868.80 per person feels too steep, or if you want to focus on wine alone. The strongest value comes when you share the private outing with someone who enjoys art, craft, local food, and gentle outdoor stops. If that sounds like your kind of Auckland day trip, this is a thoughtful choice, especially when Andy is behind the wheel and the weather cooperates.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The tour begins in Auckland and travels to Matakana, about 45 minutes north of the city. It also includes Brick Bay Sculpture Trail near Snells Beach.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included.

What is included in the price?

The price includes bottled water, snacks, private transport, WiFi on board, entry tickets, guided tours, taxes and fees, a professional driver-guide, wine tasting, honey tasting, the native bush walk, lunch, and the Pounamu carving session with the necklace you make.

Is wine tasting available for children?

No. The minimum age for wine tasting is 18. Children may join the tour when accompanied by an adult.

Can I request vegetarian food?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, and you should advise the operator when booking. You should also provide any other dietary requirements at that time.

How many people are needed for the tour to operate?

A minimum of two people is required. The activity is private, so only your group participates.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. For other cancellations, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.