Five-and-a-half hours, three tastings, zero rushing. This Napier tour strings together Mission Estate’s historic wine stop, the National Tobacco Building gin tasting, and a final Askerne cheese-and-wine session in one smooth afternoon plan. I especially like the start: a generous Mission platter plus a glass of wine you choose. I also like the way you end: a family-run Askerne tasting with cheese and biscuits, where you even get a short vineyard-style explanation. The main thing to consider is that it’s a lot of alcohol in one go, so pace yourself and lean on the provided water.

The tour keeps a relaxed feel while still hitting every stop. Pickup is included from your hotel area, the guide (often Ross) handles timing well, and you’re in an air-conditioned vehicle. Even on wet days, the schedule keeps moving, and the stops are indoor-heavy enough that you won’t feel stuck waiting out weather.

One more practical note: it isn’t set up for wheelchair users. You’ll also want comfortable shoes because you’ll spend time walking around tasting rooms and the Mission House grounds.

Key things I’d plan around on this Napier wine and gin day

• Mission Estate Restaurant platter lunch first, with a wine you pick to go with it
• Mission Cellars wine tasting tied to the Marist Order arriving in Hawkes Bay in 1851
• National Distillery in the Art Nouveau National Tobacco Building, plus gin tastings with a rum option on request
• Askerne Estate tasting with a complimentary cheese board, biscuits, and a short vineyard talk
• A small-group feel and a guide focused on keeping the pace steady (Ross is a common name for the hosting)

Mission Estate Restaurant lunch: the day’s tasty, historic kickoff

Most wine tours start with a drive and a sales pitch. This one starts with food, in a proper setting. You begin at Mission Estate Restaurant in the Old Mission House, described as Grande Colonial, where the day gets off to an easy start.

First comes a gourmet platter with a glass of wine of your choosing. The platter typically includes cold meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, breads, and biscuits, and it generally includes a hot seafood component too. It’s a nice way to settle in before you start tasting hard liquids, and you get to pick the wine rather than being shoved into one style.

Why this works for your trip: lunch here sets the tone. Mission Estate is established in 1851, and that early connection to Hawkes Bay’s wine story shows up in how the tasting is framed later. If you like wineries where you learn something while you eat, this start will feel like part of the experience, not a pause in the middle.

Mission Cellars wine tasting: more than sips, with a real Hawkes Bay backstory

After lunch, the tour moves into the Mission House experience with a detailed wine tasting at Mission Cellars. You’re not just tasting different bottles; you’re learning how the Mission House ties into the Marist Order and the arrival of missionaries in Hawkes Bay in 1851.

Then you get time to roam the Mission House. That includes access to an underground cellar, which is one of those practical “why this place matters” touches. It also helps you see the scale of the operation, not just stand in a tasting room and move on.

What you should watch for: the pacing here matters. Because the day later includes both gin and another estate tasting, the Mission wine segment can feel like the calm center of the tour. Take it at a comfortable speed, and don’t feel pressured to race through pours. The tour includes water in the vehicle, which makes a difference once you stack tastings back-to-back.

One small drawback to keep in mind: if you’re hoping for a purely modern, music-and-lit-lounges vibe, Mission is more about heritage and architecture, and the experience leans traditional.

Ahuriri gin tasting at the National Tobacco Building: Art Nouveau spirits, plus options

Next is the National Distillery in Napier, set inside the iconic National Tobacco Building. This building is known for its Art Nouveau design, and you may see an occasional Art Deco guide style around the place, in a way that doesn’t interrupt your experience.

You’ll be invited to taste several gins. The tasting includes multiple pours, and on special request you can also sample their rum. The route here is part of what makes the afternoon feel like an actual tour, not just three separate drop-offs.

Why this stop is valuable: Hawkes Bay isn’t only about wine. Gin gives you a different angle on local production, and this location also gives you a strong sense of Napier’s industrial and port-area history through the building itself. If your idea of a good tasting day is variety—different categories, different flavors, different settings—this distillery stop earns its place.

Practical tip: keep your palate switched between wine and gin. Wine tends to be fruit-forward and structured; gin can be more botanical and bright. If you drink quickly, you’ll start to feel the shift instead of enjoying it.

Askerne Estate finish: cheese, biscuits, aromatic wines, and that family-run feel

The last tasting is at Askerne Estate, a smaller, family-owned operation with a near perfect viticultural setting. You drive there through Havelock North and past orchards, vineyards, and agricultural fields. That short countryside transit is more than filler; it helps you connect the tasting notes back to the land they come from.

At Askerne, the tasting includes a complimentary cheese board. You’ll also get biscuits as part of the tasting setup. Askerne is known for producing a range of aromatic wines, and the estate grows their own varietals—one reason the tasting selection can feel coherent.

Quantity-wise, it’s an interesting contrast to the big-name wineries. Askerne produces about 100,000 bottles, but they grow more than a dozen different varietals. That means the tasting options can change depending on what’s being showcased, and you may find yourself sampling wines that feel distinct from each other rather than just incremental variations.

One extra touch: for those who are interested, Ross provides a brief talk in/near the vineyard about grape growing practices in the region. It’s not a long lecture, but it helps you leave with a clearer sense of why certain flavors show up.

How to make the most of the final stop: consider slowing down at Askerne. By this point, your day has already included wine, lunch, and gin. The cheese-and-biscuits setup is meant to be enjoyed with your tastings, so let food do some of the heavy lifting for your palate.

Timing, pace, and getting back by late afternoon

The total duration is about 5.5 hours, with return pickup to your drop-off location between roughly 5:30 and 6:00 pm. That’s a great length for visitors who want a “real experience” without losing an entire day.

Pace-wise, multiple people have described the day as relaxed but always progressing. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and water is provided. Your guide typically handles the flow so you’re not standing around guessing what happens next.

Weather doesn’t stop the tour. The schedule runs regardless of conditions, so that’s a plus in Napier’s changeable weather. Comfortable shoes still matter, since you’ll move around at Mission and between stops.

There’s also a small logistics win built into the flow: you skip the ticket line. That matters on busy days when you’re trying to get to tastings on time.

Value check: is $134 worth it for a wine-and-gin day?

At $134 per person for 5.5 hours, you’re paying for two things: access (organized tastings at distinct producers) and the structure that keeps the day from turning into a self-drive checklist.

Here’s what’s included based on the tour details:

• A lunch platter at Mission Estate Restaurant, plus a glass of wine you choose
• Wine tasting fees at Mission Cellars
• Gin tasting fees at the National Distillery (and rum on special request)
• A final Askerne tasting with a complimentary cheese board
• Water in the vehicle
• An English live guide and a description of the Hakwes Bay wine business context
• A vineyard-manager style guide/talk (as described)

If you tried to recreate this yourself, you’d have to arrange transportation between Mission Estate, the distillery in Ahuriri, and Askerne, then price out multiple tastings and lunches. Even if you could drive, you’d lose the guided history thread—Marist Order arrival in 1851 at Mission, and the industrial building setting at the distillery—and you’d likely end up paying for a similar number of separate tasting sessions.

Big caution on value: because the day includes multiple tastings and lunch wine, it can feel alcohol-heavy. In pure cost terms, it’s still good value, but in comfort terms you may want to bring the right mindset—slow down, sip between pours, and use the water.

Who should book this Napier winery + gin tour

This tour fits best if you want:

• A classic Hawkes Bay wine start at Mission Estate, with a historic setting
• A gin tasting that feels different from a standard wine-only day
• A final stop that mixes wine with cheese-and-biscuits and a light vineyard explanation
• A guided pace with pickup and a comfortable vehicle, rather than self-planning

It may not be ideal if:

• You’re sensitive to alcohol or prefer fewer pours in one day
• You need wheelchair access (it’s not suitable for wheelchair users)
• You want a strictly modern, minimal-history experience (Mission leans heritage)

If you’re visiting Napier for just a short time—especially if you’re a fan of wine plus spirits—this is a compact way to see the region’s range without overthinking it.

Should you book the Napier Mission + National Gin + Askerne tour?

I’d book it if you’re looking for a balanced wine-and-gin afternoon with real place-based storytelling. The Mission Estate lunch and cellar access make it more than a tasting-only stop, and the National Tobacco Building gin tasting adds a strong Napier flavor of its own. Ending at Askerne with cheese, biscuits, and a short vineyard talk is a smart way to finish: it ties the day together and gives you something tasty and practical to remember.

Skip it if alcohol in one day sounds like a lot for you, or if you need wheelchair accessibility. Otherwise, this is a solid, structured way to spend 5.5 hours in Napier—without turning your itinerary into a stressful driving route.

FAQ

What’s included in the Mission Estate lunch?

You start with a gourmet platter that includes cold meats, cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, breads, biscuits, and generally a tasting of hot seafood. You also get a glass of wine of your choice with the platter.

How long is the tour, and when do you get back?

The tour runs for about 5.5 hours. You’re delivered back to your pickup location between 5:30 and 6:00 pm.

Where is the gin tasting held?

The gin tasting happens at the National Distillery located in Napier’s National Tobacco Building in Ahuriri, the old port area.

Can I request something besides gin at the distillery?

On special request, you can taste their rum in addition to their gins.

Are dietary requirements handled?

Yes. Dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notice.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. The tour goes ahead regardless of weather conditions.

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