About Waiheke Wine Tours™

Kia Ora! I’m Sharon Killen, and I’m thrilled to share a bit about my journey and the fantastic tours we offer on Waiheke Island!

I started Waiheke Wine Tours just at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, driven by a passion to create the best tour company in New Zealand. The first four years were very challenging, and there were times when it felt like my dream was shattered. However, my enduring love for Waiheke Island kept me motivated to strive for my goal.

My business model has always been to hire local guides, ensuring you get an authentic experience filled with incredible stories about our beautiful island, and integral relationships with other Vineyards and businesses on the Island for a holistic approach to touring.

My background is in transport and sales, coming from a long line of bus tour drivers. My dad worked for New Zealand Rail and Newlands Coach Service, and he even took the legendary Billy T. James around New Zealand for his comedy shows on several occasions, which were a lot of fun. I used to accompany my dad on local bus tours on Saturdays when I was a kid, and I loved every moment of it. My Grandad used to drive trams and buses in Glasgow, and my Great-Grandad used to take people around on a horse-drawn tram before buses were a thing. Engaging with tourists and working in the transportation industry is in the blood, as they say.

Waiheke Wine Tours is committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

We are proud to share that we have partnered with EKOS to offset our carbon footprint and have taken steps to become a carbon-friendly business. We kindly request that our customers join us in our efforts to further reduce our carbon footprint by bringing their reusable water bottles during our tours. We have designated refill stations to help you refill your water bottles. We provide stainless steel reusable branded bottles for sale in the vans for your convenience at $20 each.

Comfort

Travel in comfort; our vans are modern, air-conditioned, and fully wrapped with our brand, so you can’t miss us! We stick out! vehicles equipped with Bluetooth speakers. We also provide a karaoke mic and speaker,  perfect for those who want to take their private tour to the next level.

• Your safety is our first priority.
• Customer satisfaction is our goal.
• Gold Qualmark Certified. (The New Zealand Tourism’s official highest quality assurance organisation)
• We have more than thirteen years of experience in the Travel and hospitality industry locally
• We like creating authentic experiences, lasting memories, and uncorked tours

New Tours:

Waiheke Wine Tours Ltd has opened its Auckland arm of the business, Auckland Wine Tours Ltd, and we are currently offering two tours that showcase the beauty of Tamaki Makaurau. Our Uncorked City Tour features a twist, so check it out here. We also offer a range of bespoke corporate party options. With the same high-quality service and excellent reviews already.

https://aucklandwinetours.kiwi

Our team of guides are not only fun and fabulous, but they are also highly knowledgeable and have all the relevant licenses to ensure your safety. We are proud to have Paora on our team as our Cultural Ambassador, so you will always get a good sprinkling of Maori history on all of our tours. We guarantee you will have a blast with us while taking in all the breathtaking sights and sounds, and of course, the wine and food of Waiheke Island. Thank you for considering us as your tour provider!

Our TEAM

Let me introduce Paora, our Cultural Maori Ambassador. Having lived predominantly on Waiheke for over 35 years, Paora is deeply rooted in the rich cultural and elemental landscape of Waiheke Island. His knowledge of a Māori world view will leave you feeling intimately connected to the beauty of Aotearoa and one of the crowning jewels of Hauraki.

Sharon Killen, Owner/Operator, has spent a lifetime in transportation and sales, combining these two areas to create Waiheke Wine Tours Ltd and Auckland Wine Tours Ltd.

Gilda is the glue that keeps us all together. She hails from Italy and has extensive experience as a sommelier in the wine and hospitality industries on Waiheke. Bonnie is our official “in-house” greeter. She gets lots of pats!

Debbie is our wonderful, long-time resident on the Island and has a passion for creating Korowai, as seen below. Wairua te Rongoā is a creative expression of Māori identity and healing, born on the shores of Waiheke Island. She can also be seen at the Waiheke Markets selling these beautiful Korowai. (traditional feather cloaks)

Clare is our Financial Guru: Clare has lived on Waiheke for several years and comes from a corporate leadership background. She has experience in strategic consulting and governance, and she is well-versed in financial matters. Clare heads our financial department, but she also enjoys interacting with our customers and coordinating vineyard tours. She has a wicked sense of humour, and sometimes you will see her at the Ferry Terminal greeting our larger groups. And that’s Mable, her treasured pup.

Caleb is one of the most highly reviewed Tour Guides on Waiheke.  He has a great all-around personality and is very knowledgeable. In his spare time, he is very interested in crafting beer and spirits, as well as working out at the gym.

Nooroa, originally from the Cook Islands and a long-time resident of Waiheke, is a Tour guide who loves to go the extra mile. He enjoys decorating the bus and himself, especially if you have a special theme for the day. In his other life, he is a Karaoke Master and Cartoonist. If you have a theme, he is keen as a bean to be involved.

Karen is an incredibly friendly and approachable person! With her gentle nature and delightful sense of humour, she creates a positive atmosphere on every tour. She has extensive knowledge in the tourism industry, having previously worked for a large travel company. Furthermore, having been a Waiheke local for many years, she has plenty of insider tips to share. We are truly fortunate to have someone like her on our team!

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Mate Vlasic, a proud Croatian bloke with 40 years of experience in the Transport and Hospitality game. When he’s not working, you can find him reeling in the big ones on a fishing trip, sipping on a glass of red wine, or surrounded by his lovely large family. Mate is our Auckland Tour Guide. ( Mate at the end of pic with a cap on)

Introducing Sylvia, our resident Italian and Spanish-speaking Guide, who has lived on Waiheke for many years now, wowing her guests with her extensive knowledge of the Island. She has a very giving and empathetic personality, a true gem.

Kevin is the coolest, loveliest guy. He loves showing people around the Island and has worked in Wine and hospitality for a long time on the Island. However, shhhh, he does love a good hen’s party; he cranks the tunes out for the girls to ensure they have a great time.