Driven Food Tour, Light Lunch

The Tastebud Tour

★ 4.9 154 reviews

from NZ$265 per adult

Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: About 4 hours, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Group: Minimum 2, maximum 10
Meeting point: 35 Hobson Street or hotel pickup
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meals: Driven food tour: farmers market at weekends or a coffee roaster on weekdays, tastings, light lunch
Minimum age: 16+
Alcohol: Tastings included, 18+ only
Run by: The Big Foody

Overview

This half-day food crawl, run by The Big Foody Food Tours, starts at 9:30 am on Hobson Street in the Auckland CBD and finishes around 1:30 pm in the city centre, with an air-conditioned minivan carrying the group between stops. The route opens at a farmers' market, where morning tea comes with samples of jams, sauces and baked goods from local purveyors. From there the tour moves on to the Auckland Fish Market to meet vendors and restauranteurs, before a light lunch paired with a wine tasting.

The eating is only half of it. The minivan also doubles as a city tour, rolling down Ponsonby Road with its boutiques and cafes, up to the summit of Mt. Eden for panoramic views, and past the Auckland Domain, home to formal gardens, the Wintergarden Pavilion and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Guides talk through the city's food culture and diverse neighbourhoods along the way, and reviewers repeatedly praise their local knowledge. One traveller noted that the commentary on the area was appreciated as much as the food. The tour caps numbers at 10, and one reviewer described leaving comfortably full but not stuffed. It suits first-time visitors who want to eat well and get oriented in one morning, especially those keen to go beyond the business district. Travellers can request to be dropped at the Domain or return to the start point.

DurationAbout 4 hours, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Rating4.9 from 154 reviews

What's Included

Included

Mornng Tea
Food and wine tastings
Lunch
Local guide
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Not Included

Gratuities

Run byThe Big Foody

Itinerary

Meet on Hobson StreetThe tour starts at 9:30 am at 35 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD.
Farmers' market and morning teaSample jams, sauces and baked goods from local purveyors and specialty stores, with morning tea included.
Auckland Fish MarketMeet vendors and restauranteurs at the busy fish market and hear how seafood fits into the city's food scene.
Light lunch and wine tastingSit down to a light lunch with a wine tasting of distinctive wines.
City drive via Ponsonby RoadRide down Ponsonby Road while the guide shares commentary on Auckland's cultures and current food and wine trends.
Mt. Eden and the DomainTake in panoramic city views from the summit of Mt. Eden, then drive past the Auckland Domain, its gardens, the Wintergarden Pavilion and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. You can request to be dropped off at the Domain.
Finish in the city centreThe tour ends at Reign and Pour, Shop 51/7 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, around 1:30 pm.

Town ShuttleIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back.

Pace and mobility. The tour runs about four hours, and the listing notes it is not wheelchair accessible. Most travellers can participate.
How much food. Morning tea, tastings, wine and a light lunch are all included. One reviewer described being full at the end but not stuffed, and another called the meat and cheese pie a standout.
Group feel. The maximum is 10 travellers, per the listing. Reviews often describe guides who are knowledgeable and happy to answer questions along the way.
Dietary needs. The listing asks travellers to advise any specific dietary requirements at booking.
Weather and timing. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can mean a different date or a full refund. It starts at 9:30 am, so many travellers use it as a first-morning orientation, with one calling it the perfect way to start a New Zealand holiday.
Getting oriented. Beyond the food, the drive covers Ponsonby Road, Mt. Eden and the Domain. One reviewer said the tour took them to parts of the city they would never have found on their own, so it works well as a city introduction.

Rating4.9 from 154 reviews

AvailabilityCheck availability →

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps. Gratuities are not included. Cancellation is free only up to 24 hours before the 9:30 am start, and the operator requires a minimum number of travellers, so a departure can be called off, in which case a different date, a different experience or a full refund is offered. Weather can also force a change.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Morning tea, food and wine tastings, lunch, a local guide, and transport in an air-conditioned minivan are all included. Gratuities are the listed exclusion. Dietary requirements should be advised at the time of booking.

Where Does The Tour Start And Finish?

The meeting point is 35 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, with a 9:30 am start. The tour ends around 1:30 pm at Reign and Pour on Queen Street in the city centre, though you can request a drop-off at the Auckland Domain instead. The listing's inclusions mention hotel pickup and drop-off, but pickup arrangements are not stated clearly, so check the live booking page before you go.

How Long Does The Tour Take?

About four hours, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. That covers the market stop, the fish market, lunch and wine, and the driving loop past Ponsonby Road, Mt. Eden and the Domain.

Is The Tour Suitable For Children Or People With Limited Mobility?

The listing says most travellers can participate but the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and infants must sit on laps.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:30 am start for a full refund. Inside that window no refund is given and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels for weather or because the minimum traveller number is not met, you are offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.

How Many People Are On The Tour?

The listing caps the group at a maximum of 10 travellers. Confirmation is received at the time of booking unless you book within 12 hours of travel, in which case it follows as soon as possible, subject to availability.