Passage Rock Wines

About this place

Passage Rock Wines is a working vineyard, cellar door and restaurant at 438 Orapiu Road on the eastern end of Waiheke Island, roughly a 30-minute drive from the Matiatia ferry terminal. The estate was established in 1993 and sits among vines above the Te Matuku estuary in the Hauraki Gulf, well away from the busier western end of the island.

### The wine

The property covers a 41-acre site from which the winery produces more than 14 varietals. Syrah is the house signature: Passage Rock states that after 26 years its Reserve Syrah is Waiheke Island's most awarded wine, with more than 18 gold medals and a number of trophies to its name. Wines are available by the glass and bottle in the restaurant, through the cellar door, and via the winery's online shop.

### Restaurant and cellar door

The restaurant sits surrounded by Syrah vines, with an indoor dining room and outdoor deck seating. Dishes are matched to the estate wines, or guests can select their own bottles to share. The property is family-friendly, has lawn games on the grounds, and welcomes well-behaved dogs.

Trading hours are seasonal and worth confirming directly. At the time of writing the site advertises the cellar door open on weekends from midday until 4pm (Saturdays only over winter), notes a restaurant reopening in October 2026, and asks guests to book ahead. Larger parties are handled by email or phone rather than the online booking system.

### Groups, functions and events

Passage Rock actively markets to groups and corporate clients. A dedicated sharing menu is offered for parties of 10 or more, priced at two or three courses, with published sample menus and the ability to adjust dishes for allergies and dietary requirements given notice. Dining formats range from a seated indoor meal to a relaxed outdoor standing option.

The covered outdoor area seats 100 people. The winery caters lunches, morning and afternoon teas, degustation dinners and cocktail-style meet-and-greet functions, and says it can arrange transport requirements and suggest accommodation for visiting groups.

For weddings, the venue is offered on an exclusive-use basis for the full day, with a pergola set among the vines for ceremonies. The team cites more than 20 years' experience in the Waiheke wedding market and builds menus and wine lists with each couple.

### Suitability for incentives and corporate events

The combination of exclusive-use capability, a 100-seat covered outdoor area, group sharing menus, transport coordination and a genuine award-winning wine story makes Passage Rock a practical fit for incentive groups, board and team lunches, and buy-out corporate functions on Waiheke. Its location at the eastern end of the island suits programmes that want a quieter, more remote setting than the vineyards clustered near the ferry. See more Auckland venues.