Introduction
New Zealand is renowned for its unique honey varieties, particularly Manuka honey, and its diverse beekeeping practices. Exploring bee farms across the country offers a fascinating look into honey production and beekeeping techniques. Here are the top 10 bee farm tours in New Zealand.
1. Comvita
- Location: Te Puke, Bay of Plenty
- Address: 36 Queen St, Te Puke, 3119
- Highlights: Comvita offers guided tours of their Manuka honey production facilities, including hive visits, honey extraction demonstrations, and a chance to sample their premium Manuka honey.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Hive visits
- Honey extraction demonstration
- Manuka honey tasting
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Comvita
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
2. The Honey Centre
- Location: Wellington
- Address: 32 Wakefield St, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011
- Highlights: Offers interactive tours that include a visit to their beekeeping facilities, honey extraction demonstrations, and tastings of a variety of New Zealand honey.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Beekeeping facilities visit
- Honey extraction demonstration
- Honey tasting
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: The Honey Centre
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
3. Wairarapa Honey
- Location: Masterton, Wairarapa
- Address: 108 Bruce Rd, Masterton, 5810
- Highlights: Features tours that cover the full cycle of honey production, from hive management to honey extraction, with a focus on their premium Wairarapa honey.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Hive management
- Honey extraction
- Wairarapa honey tasting
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Wairarapa Honey
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
4. New Zealand Honey Co.
- Location: Christchurch, Canterbury
- Address: 24 Sheffield St, Christchurch, 8024
- Highlights: Offers tours that include educational talks on honey production, hive visits, and tastings of their diverse honey range, including Manuka and clover honey.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Educational talk on honey production
- Hive visits
- Honey tastings
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: New Zealand Honey Co.
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
5. Pure New Zealand Honey
- Location: Auckland
- Address: 8 Ethel Ave, Glenfield, Auckland 0629
- Highlights: Provides tours that showcase their honey production process, from hive management to packaging, with opportunities to taste their high-quality honey varieties.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Honey production process overview
- Hive management
- Honey tasting
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Pure New Zealand Honey
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
6. Kiwi Honey
- Location: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
- Address: 33 Fenton St, Rotorua, 3010
- Highlights: Known for their interactive tours, including visits to their apiary, honey extraction demonstrations, and tastings of various honey products.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Apiary visits
- Honey extraction demonstrations
- Honey tastings
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Kiwi Honey
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
7. Honey Tree
- Location: Hastings, Hawke’s Bay
- Address: 67 Hastings St, Hastings, 4122
- Highlights: Offers educational tours focusing on their honey production techniques, hive management practices, and the benefits of their honey varieties.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Honey production techniques
- Hive management
- Honey variety benefits
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Honey Tree
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
8. Beekeeper’s Delight
- Location: Nelson
- Address: 15 Selwyn Pl, Nelson, 7010
- Highlights: Features farm tours that include hive inspections, honey extraction demonstrations, and a deep dive into their unique beekeeping practices.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Hive inspections
- Honey extraction
- Beekeeping practices discussion
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Beekeeper’s Delight
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
9. Sweet As Honey
- Location: Queenstown
- Address: 22 Church St, Queenstown, 9300
- Highlights: Known for its scenic location, Sweet As Honey offers tours that include hive visits, honey tasting, and a chance to learn about the region’s beekeeping practices.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Hive visits
- Honey tasting
- Regional beekeeping practices
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Sweet As Honey
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
10. Manuka Dreams
- Location: Dunedin
- Address: 101 George St, Dunedin, 9016
- Highlights: Offers in-depth tours focusing on the production of Manuka honey, including hive management, extraction processes, and tastings.
- Tour Itinerary:
- Hive management
- Manuka honey extraction
- Honey tastings
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Booking: Tours can be booked online or by phone.
- Website: Manuka Dreams
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
These tours offer a wonderful opportunity to explore New Zealand’s beekeeping industry, learn about honey production, and taste some of the finest honey varieties.
