Product Overview

Experience the best of Marlborough with Hop On Hop Off tours. Make your way through the unique landscape with the greatest of ease with a bus that collects you at your venue and takes you to your next venture. What happens if you miss your wine bus? Don’t worry, there’ll be another one along shortly! We offer you the opportunity to visit Marlborough wine tasting and brewery locations at your own pace. Whether you only have a few hours to spare during your stay, or looking for a leisurely experience, Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours offers memorable moments no matter how much time your visit allows.

 

 

Product Description

Leave the car at home and we'll deliver you to your own choice of 19 venues including 13 wineries, a brewery, an English pub a museum, Omaka Aviation Centre, Omaka Classic Cars and a chocolatier. Our Hop on Hop off bus map ensures that you make the most of your Marlborough trip. Visiting a wine tasting venue is now as convenient as selecting the locations you wish to visit and planning your route to your wine tour. 

Marlborough Full Day Tour Pass

This Marlborough tour option allows you to travel to 7 different venues throughout the day. Travel at your own pace and take your time as you enjoy all the local wine and beer tastings on offer along our bus route. Select your venues and plan your trip while we take care of your traveling needs. Be sure to ask our staff about the great discounts at selected venues.  

Marlborough Afternoon Run / Half Day 

This option allows up to 4 venues with Hop On Hop Off bus tours. Take advantage of the discounts offered at selected venues while you enjoy a wine tasting at any of the local Marlborough wineries along our bus route, or beer tasting experience at the local breweries.

Marlborough Private Wine Tasting Tour

Enjoy this world renowned region by exploring the wonders of Marlborough on a wine & beer bus tour or a private luxury tour in a 6 seat Mercedes van. Speak to one of our Hop On Hop Off friendly representatives to find out more!

Treat yourself or a loved one with a private experience of up to 6 1/2 hours of food and wine. This option is ideal for anyone interested in creating a memorable day that offers the finest Marlborough cuisine.

Private Group Wine Tasting Experiences

This option is perfect for special occasions. Treat your group to an unforgettable wine or beer tour experience with the best that Marlborough has to offer. Whether it’s a Hen party, Work function or Birthday - get the entire bus and driver solely for your group.

 

Departure Times

Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour: 

Pick up from Picton iSite at 10am 

 

Marlborough Afternoon Wine Tour: 

Pick up from Picton iSite at 12.15pm

 

Marlborough Full Day Wine Tour: 

Pick up from Blenheim iSite at 10.25am 

 

Marlborough Afternoon Wine Tour:

Pick up from Blenheim iSite at 12.35pm

 

Duration

Full Day from Picton - 3-8 hours (approx.)

Full Day from Blenheim - 6 hours (approx.) 

Afternoon Tours - 4 hours (approx.)

Private Group Tour - Custom Design

What To Bring

Prior to the day: 

This is a self guided tour – All tastings are the guests responsibility and at the guests expense. Some wineries will waiver the tasting fee when purchasing wine. We recommend booking lunch prior to the day and bringing water with you to stay hydrated. 

All tours have a minimum number of 6 guests for the tours to run. We reserve the right to cancel the tour if this number is not met. A refund or alternative date for the tour will be offered to all guests. 

If you would like to book for more than 8 guests please contact us directly.  More than 8 people cannot travel together on our tours without prior arrangement due to logistical reasons and the intimate nature of our selected wineries. We do not allow parties to merge together. If more than 8 people are in one group you will either a) be asked to leave the bus or b) be driven back at a cost of $200.

Anyone under the age of 18 is welcome, however – to consume alcohol you MUST be over the legal drinking age. You may be asked to produce a Government issued ID to prove your age. A child’s tickets can be purchased for those under 13 years. 

 

On the Day: 

Please be at your pick up stop 5 minutes prior to the departure time. Hop on Hop off does not take any responsibility for lateness. 

We recommend no more than 8 guests hop off at any given winery – this is to ensure a more intimate and enjoyable experience. 

Our buses are not licensed which means alcohol cannot be consumed whilst on the bus. We follow strict duty of care protocols which may result in the stoppage of a guest’s tour when not followed. The removal of the offending passenger in the event of consuming alcohol,  intoxication or disrespectful behaviour may occur. A fine will be charged for any event which causes cleaning such as spillage or soiling the bus ($200). 

You will be provided with a wristband and a map of the stops/the route on the day with the allocated timetable. Use the wristband to unlock Hop on Hop off specials at selected venues (see the website for further information). 

 

Cancellation Policy: 

Cancellations received more than 14 days prior to departure are fully refunded. 

Cancellation received less than 14 days prior to departure will be charged full price. Upon communication with the booking team, we will endeavor to offer a new date for your Hop on Hop off Wine Tour. 

If you cancel within the 14 day period your tickets are non-refundable, if you cancel outside this time frame, you will receive a full refund.

 

COVID Cancellation Policy:

If any part of the country is in an ‘Amber’ Alert level or above, tickets will be non-refundable, and we will put tickets on hold for 48 months.

You can use these tickets, part-use them or gift them to someone else, any time in the 4 year window provided.

If there are no lockdowns anywhere in New Zealand, and we are at the green alert level. Our policy reverts to our 14 day cancellation policy.

Company Info

Juliearna Kavanagh imagined the idea back in 2010 when she wanted to have a wine tour where people made their own choices. Being a wine connoisseur and Executive Chef she has extensive knowledge of the food and wine industry in New Zealand. The initial design was written down on a piece of paper and the idea was born. There was a delayed start, due to earthquakes in Christchurch in 2010 & 2011.  Instead her efforts were put into her hotel, the award winning Escape to Picton.

Then in 2013, Juliearna’s automated map of Marlborough cellar doors was created. This was a very different, up-market tour in Marlborough where clients could pick their own cellar door by making a wish list. The original www.escapetomarlborough.com is still running today. Customers travel in luxury Mercedes with the knowledge they had planned their own day with assistance along the way.

In March 2014, Hop on Hop off Wine Tours was launched. The Queenstown, Bannockburn, Marlborough and Nelson tours are constantly evolving with new operators, specials and improved scheduling.

We look forward to welcoming you on board.