THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a private day from Auckland exploring Matakana’s sculpture trails, boutique vineyards, artisan chocolate and lakeside dining. This guided loop blends short walks through native bush with relaxed wine tastings and local flavours.
Spend a private day from Auckland exploring Matakana’s sculpture trails, boutique vineyards, artisan chocolate and lakeside dining. This guided loop blends short walks through native bush with relaxed wine tastings and local flavours.
You step off the air-conditioned minibus into cool shade, the smell of damp earth and cut grass moving like a hand across the valley. Rolling vineyards open ahead, ponds mirror sculpted forms and native trees rustle as if nudging you along the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The light here has a crispness that makes details—stone textures, wine labels, the ripple on water—suddenly important.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by ExperienceKart · Matakana, Auckland
You step off the air-conditioned minibus into cool shade, the smell of damp earth and cut grass moving like a hand across the valley. Rolling vineyards open ahead, ponds mirror sculpted forms and native trees rustle as if nudging you along the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The light here has a crispness that makes details—stone textures, wine labels, the ripple on water—suddenly important.
This full-day private loop from Auckland threads together Matakana’s creative and culinary identity: boutique vineyards that make cool-climate wines, a working sculpture trail sited in native bush, artisan chocolate born from small-batch recipes, and a lakeside lunch in a glass-fronted restaurant. Geologically the area is coastal plain and gentle hills, carved by river systems and shaped for pasture and vineyards; culturally it’s a network of family-run producers and galleries that grew as Aucklanders sought space for small-scale farming and creative projects.
Expect short, optional walks—Brick Bay’s trail is a couple of kilometres with gentle grades—and longer, slower museum-like browsing at Sculptureum’s galleries and outdoor pieces. Tastings are measured and paired; lunch is a plated platter with matched wines at The Glass House. Practical advice: wear sensible walking shoes, bring sun protection and a light rain layer, and keep a camera handy for low-angle light on sculptures and vines.
The tour’s rhythm is relaxed but full: chocolate in Matakana Village, three-hour sculpture and vineyard stop, cellar-door tastings at two boutique wineries, gelato to finish, and a return drop-off in Auckland. It’s an easy, sensory day that moves between art and terroir with minimal fuss.
The tour is approximately 9 hours; pickups are offered from central Auckland locations—confirm your pickup window when booking.
Yes—wine tastings at two vineyards and a plated lunch with matching wines at The Glass House are included.
The Brick Bay Sculpture Trail is self-guided and family-friendly; short walks are optional but children should be supervised near ponds and uneven terrain.
Special dietary requests can be arranged if advised at booking, though not all requests can be guaranteed.
ExperienceKart operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the air-conditioned minibus into cool shade, the smell of damp earth and cut grass moving like a hand across the valley. Rolling vineyards open ahead, ponds mirror sculpted forms and native trees rustle as if nudging you along the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The light here has a crispness that makes details—stone textures, wine labels, the ripple on water—suddenly important.
You step off the air-conditioned minibus into cool shade, the smell of damp earth and cut grass moving like a hand across the valley. Rolling vineyards open ahead, ponds mirror sculpted forms and native trees rustle as if nudging you along the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. The light here has a crispness that makes details—stone textures, wine labels, the ripple on water—suddenly important.
This full-day private loop from Auckland threads together Matakana’s creative and culinary identity: boutique vineyards that make cool-climate wines, a working sculpture trail sited in native bush, artisan chocolate born from small-batch recipes, and a lakeside lunch in a glass-fronted restaurant. Geologically the area is coastal plain and gentle hills, carved by river systems and shaped for pasture and vineyards; culturally it’s a network of family-run producers and galleries that grew as Aucklanders sought space for small-scale farming and creative projects.
Expect short, optional walks—Brick Bay’s trail is a couple of kilometres with gentle grades—and longer, slower museum-like browsing at Sculptureum’s galleries and outdoor pieces. Tastings are measured and paired; lunch is a plated platter with matched wines at The Glass House. Practical advice: wear sensible walking shoes, bring sun protection and a light rain layer, and keep a camera handy for low-angle light on sculptures and vines.
The tour’s rhythm is relaxed but full: chocolate in Matakana Village, three-hour sculpture and vineyard stop, cellar-door tastings at two boutique wineries, gelato to finish, and a return drop-off in Auckland. It’s an easy, sensory day that moves between art and terroir with minimal fuss.