FAQ

During peak times, please allow around 90 minutes from Auckland CBD. If your reservation with us is affected by travel delays, please contact us by telephone at +64 9 372 2625. Please appreciate that we cannot guarantee to hold your reservation if you are more than twenty minutes late cancellation fees will be charged. (Please see our reservations Terms and Conditions for details.)

The Island Direct passenger ferry provides direct travel between the Downtown Ferry Terminal (pier 13) downtown Auckland and Matiatia Wharf (pier 3) Waiheke Island. The Island Direct ferry takes around 40 minutes one way. Ferry tickets can be purchased online or in person. The Island Direct ferry can be booked in advance at no added cost, giving customers the certainty to plan their journey. Passengers can also ‘walk up’ and purchase a ticket at either Matiatia Wharf (pier 3) or the Downtown Auckland Ferry Terminal (pier 13) on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note – all ticket sales are cashless.

Fullers360 is the main passenger ferry operator to Waiheke Island. They are experiencing high demand and staffing challenges. This is resulting in last-minute timetable disruptions, so always check ahead and allow plenty of extra time for your travel.

The Fullers360 passenger ferry takes around 35 – 40 minutes and arrives at Matiatia, Waiheke. It has departures from the Downtown Ferry Terminal and the Devonport Ferry Terminal. We recommend arriving ONE HOUR prior to your intended sailing. On weekends there are long queues on the Auckland side. When you are planning your departure, please also be aware there are often long queues at peak times at Matiatia Wharf, Waiheke.

The SeaLink ferry takes around 60 minutes and arrives at Kennedy Point, Waiheke. It departs from Half Moon Bay and Hamer Street, Wynyard Quarter. This company also transports vehicles, so if you are bringing your car over for a few days, this is a great option. They have passenger seating, and you can book your ticket, so there is more assurance of avoiding queues and getting on the ferry you have planned. There is no direct public transport from Kennedy Point to Tantalus Estate, so we recommend booking a taxi.

Looking for a Private transfer to and from Waiheke Island?
Here are links to local charter operators:
Helicopter Me
HeleTranz
Inflite
Waiheke Wings
Auckland Sea Shuttles

It is around 20 minutes drive from Matiatia Wharf to Tantalus Estate, so we suggest allowing around that amount of time for your transfer to us if you are staying anywhere between Oneroa and Onetangi.

We highly recommend booking your transport before you arrive on the island (when you start planning your trip), then you can rest easy when you are here.

There is an extensive public bus service on Waiheke. Check Auckland Transport for more details. You will need a pre-purchased HOP card as the buses do not accept cash or card payments. There is a local bus stop located at the start of our driveway.

There is no UBER or share ride service on Waiheke.
There are many taxi operators and shuttles if you have a larger group.
You can hire a car for your stay if you prefer.
There are many Tour Companies if you are looking for a guide during your stay.

All of the above are easily located by Google search.

There are a number of great transport options on the island, they all have websites so we recommend you search online to make your booking. There is a taxi stand at the car park at Matiatia (passenger ferry arrivals).

Yes, please send us an email at info@tantalus.co.nz and we will be happy to recommend some of our preferred local accommodation providers.

Yes, we take limited bookings for helicopters on our helipad on the property.

Landing Fees: $200 per helicopter landing.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust looks after our island community, so we choose to donate all landing fees to them to help keep them in the air. Bookings are essential, please email us to find out more info@tantalus.co.nz

Yes, we have a number of car parks at the top of the driveway. When there is high demand, we can’t always guarantee parking will be available.

Yes, we have easy access parking, and an elevator. Please let us know in the comments of your booking, or email us ahead of your visit info@tantalus.co.nz

We have private events that sometimes cause the closure of the entire Estate. We use SevenRooms, a reputable booking system for hospitality businesses. If you can’t see an available date, that means we are either closed for a private event, or the day you are choosing is outside our opening hours. Please check our home page for regular hours and special closures.

Bookings are suggested to ensure a seamless experience, but we also accept walk-ins on the day subject to availability. You can book a table HERE.

If you have any questions regarding travel to and from the island, we invite you to email us at info@tantalus.co.nz.
We look forward to hosting you.

Yes, for our lunch service, we offer the choice of á la carte or ‘Trust the Chef’ which must be chosen when making a reservation.

If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know in the comments of your booking, or email us ahead of your visit info@tantalus.co.nz. Menu items with an asterisk* can be removed to modify the dish for no added gluten, no added dairy, no added nuts, vegetarian & vegan options. Although we do take allergies very seriously, we are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens. 

 We understand that transport to the island can cause delays, if you’re running late please phone us. We can’t always guarantee that we can hold your table beyond twenty minutes, but we will do our best to accommodate you if you let us know you’re on your way. Please telephone us on 09 372 2625.

 $50 per person for lunch, $20 per person for cellar door tastings, and $175 per person for Trust the Chef Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Please give us a call if your guests numbers have changed. If more guests arrive than booked for, we may not be able to allocate seating. If less guests arrive than booked for, without at least 24 hours advance notice of a change, late cancellation fees of $50 per person for lunch, $20 per person for cellar door tastings, and $175 per person for Trust the Chef Friday and Saturday evenings will apply.

 With our multi course offerings, we suggest you allow up to two and a half hours for your reservation with us, or three hours for our ‘Trust the Chef’ menu. If you need extra time, please let us know when you make your booking, as your table may be reserved for other guests after your allocated reservation time. 

We are currently open on Friday and Saturday nights for our Trust The Chef Dinner – $175 per person with the option of adding the wine pairing for $110. Click here to make a reservation.

Yes, you are welcome to visit us for a drink. No reservation needed to enjoy a beverage at our Alibi Brewer’s Lounge. While we accept dining or Cellar Door Tasting reservations, we also accommodate guests who wish to experience our drinks. You can get in touch with us to confirm your visit. Phone us at 09 372 26 25 or email info@tantalus.co.nz

Yes, we have a limited number of high chairs available. To ensure one is available for your booking, please let us know in the comments of your booking, or email us ahead of your visit info@tantalus.co.nz

Yes, we offer a children’s menu for lunch at $38 per person. This includes a beverage, main course selection and ice cream for dessert.

 If children are joining you for the Degustation Dinner Menu, we kindly ask that you include their ages in your booking comments and if they will be dining. We offer an elegant and relaxed dining experience – screens with headphones are welcome.

Yes! Alibi Brewer’s Lounge is open. Please check the hours on our website HERE.

Our knowledgeable Cellar Door team offers a professional and informed Cellar Door Tasting of our Estate Wines and Alibi Brewing Co. Craft Beers. Please allow up to 45 minutes. 

Reservations are suggested to ensure availability, but you are welcome to turn up on the day subject to availability. You can book via our online reservations system here.

Yes, Tantalus and Alibi Gift Vouchers provide a one-stop solution for all your gifting needs.

Our vouchers can be used at the Tantalus Estate Restaurant and Cellar Door, at the Alibi Brewer’s Lounge, or to purchase our products online – all accessible under one card. This is one of the most popular choices from our online shop, and they are also available to purchase from our Cellar Door.

Purchase a gift voucher HERE.

Alibi Brewing Co. is a working brewery that is situated below the Estate restaurant. There is a viewing window from the restaurant and from the Alibi Brewer’s Lounge. If you would like to arrange a private tour with our Head Brewer, please contact us to discuss. We can’t always accommodate all requests, but we will do our best! Please contact info@tantalus.co.nz.

Yes, we have canned beer and refillable crowlers available from our Cellar Door, or can buy cans from our online shop.
Alternatively you can visit the Alibi Brewer’s Lounge to purchase directly.

We do not use animal fining agents in our wine making.

We can accommodate up to 130 guests for a seated event or up to 200 guests for a standing event. To learn more, please contact our Events Manager at events@tantalus.co.nz.

Waiheke Island is a fantastic destination for special occasions, and we’re delighted to offer an unforgettable experience for your Hen or Stag party. Our exclusive Decanter Room is dedicated to hosting these events, providing a private space with a stunning adjoining courtyard, your own sound system, and a microphone. Costumes and games are welcome in this space, ensuring a fun and memorable celebration.

Please contact our Events Manager to discuss pricing options – events@tantalus.co.nz

Yes, we are very happy to show you around the Estate if you are considering us for your special day. To arrange this, please get in touch with our Events Manager events@tantalus.co.nz to find out more.

As a very popular wedding destination we are typically booked out at least 12 months in advance. During the peak wedding season of March to November this increases to forward bookings up to 18 months in advance. We recommend booking with us as soon as you can.

We can accommodate small intimate groups right up to 160 guests. There are a range of venue options available, depending on your requirements and guest numbers.

In order to confirm your booking, written confirmation must be received, along with a signed copy of your Terms and Conditions. The deposit due must be received by Tantalus Estate within ten days of the booking being made in order to secure your booking.

Full details are outlined in our terms and conditions.

As we use only the freshest ingredients, your menu will be designed and ready for dish selection one month prior to your wedding date.

We have a number of quality local providers that we are happy to recommend. These include celebrants, florists, photographers, musicians, DJs, theming/props/design, accommodation, and transport operators. Ask our Wedding & Events Manager for more information – weddings@tantalus.co.nz

Yes, we can accommodate drone requests, however, the photographer must provide us with their plan for filming prior to the event.  We are on a working vineyard and we have a helipad, so we will consider every request based on the situation.

We highly encourage you to hire a DJ or musician to provide entertainment from start to finish! Musicians or DJs are expected to bring their own speakers, while we require the use of our house PA system, which allows for a simple XLR-to-XLR connection.

Yes, we are happy to provide you with a handheld microphone for your ceremony and speeches during the dinner.

Yes, by arrangement.  We charge landing fees per movement (two landings). These fees are donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Yes, we have two brass easels that are available to display your seating plan and welcome sign. Please be sure to mention this when you make your booking with us.

Yes, we have a beautiful archway that your florist can decorate. Please be sure to mention this when you make your booking with us.

We allow real rose petals as confetti outside. Sorry, that means no glitter, paper confetti, party poppers, sparklers or sprinkle decorations.

We provide all catering and beverage services on the premises, and no outside food or beverages may be brought onto the property for consumption before, during, or after your wedding. We strictly adhere to this policy, with the sole exception of your wedding cake.

Please contact our Wedding & Events Manager at events@tantalus.co.nz to start planning your special day.