About Us

Our Story

Kosher Tours is a family-run, Wellington-based company founded by passionate foodies and travellers who love exploring the world through its flavours and stories. We believe that experiences create memories, open doors, and spark new friendships and that great food, sensational wine and gorgeous scenery are always best shared.

Our story really begins with Aaron, the owner and heart behind Kosher Tours. His love of food, wine and adventure has been a long time in the making.

It all started at 21, on his first visit to Martinborough and the iconic Alana Estate. Standing among the vines of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wine regions, something clicked. Here was a place that whispered of Burgundy’s elegant, earthy Pinot Noir grown from soil that demanded patience and respect, sitting quietly at the edge of the Wairarapa, barely an hour from Wellington. The region’s Burgundy/Bordeaux-inspired reds, organic producers and long lunches built around local ingredients felt like a world away from anywhere, yet somehow perfectly, unmistakably New Zealand.

As a young and adventurous chef, Aaron was already obsessed with the origin of ingredients, the idea that what grows in the ground, shaped by its climate and environment, tells a story long before it reaches the kitchen. He wanted to follow that story back to its source, bring it home and cook it for his guests. That philosophy never left him.

Like Anthony Bourdain, his great culinary hero, Aaron believes that food is never just food. It is culture, history, conversation, and connection. Bourdain taught the world that the most extraordinary meals are often found at the simplest tables, that intrepid travel and curiosity are the best seasoning, and that French cuisine, from rustic bistros to the transcendent precision of The French Laundry, is the foundation from which all great food thinking grows. Aaron took those lessons to heart and then took them on the road.

Martinborough remains a place close to Aaron’s heart and central to Kosher Tours, a true foodie’s paradise of world-class Pinot Noir, Burgundy-style elegance, artisan producers, and organic ingredients, all set against rolling hills and a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. In 2024, the region earned the ultimate global recognition by winning at the prestigious Decanter Wine Award, cementing what Aaron had always known from that very first visit. It is exactly the kind of place we love to share with guests who appreciate that a great glass of wine and a plate of honest, local food can be just as memorable as any landmark.

Based in Wellington, we showcase the capital’s scenery, culture, and local tastes, whether that’s a relaxed foodie walk, a family-friendly day out, or a custom experience for groups from near and far.

When you travel with Kosher Tours, you’re not just joining an itinerary; you’re being welcomed into our family’s long journey of exploring the world and discovering just how special New Zealand is, one shared table and conversation at a time.

A young man wearing a suit over a turtleneck sweater, exuding a professional and stylish appearance.

Our Team

  • Aaron

    Owner Operator & Tour Guide
    Aaron is the owner, chief foodie and enthusiastic host behind Kosher Tours. He has a weakness for great food, sensational wine, long lunches and even longer conversations with gorgeous scenery as the backdrop whenever possible.

    What started as a love of eating out and sharing meals with friends has somehow turned into a job where “research” involves finding the next great spot to take guests. Aaron brings people together around tables, views and stories, and makes it all feel like a relaxed dinner party that just happens to be in one of the most beautiful corners of the world.

  • David

    Tour Guide
    David spent over 20 years as a banker looking after high-net-worth clients and their investments. Somewhere between the boardroom lunches and client dinners, he developed what he calls a "professional appreciation" for fine wine and good food. His clients called it networking. His wife calls it a habit. We call it a qualification.

    These days, David brings his warmth, charm, and suspiciously refined palate to Kosher Tours, where the only portfolio he manages is making sure your glass is never empty and the conversation never gets boring. Having lived in Wellington for over 50 years, he knows the city like the back of his hand, and he's full of stories he loves sharing with new friends he just hasn't met yet - like you.

  • John

    Tour Guide
    If Wellington had a Wikipedia page, John would have written it. A retired local who now works as a chauffeur, he’s spent years navigating every corner, shortcut and hidden gem the capital has to offer.

    He knows the best viewpoints, the best coffee stops, and most importantly, the best pie shops in town. Semi-retired, he may be, but keeping up with John on a good day is still a full-time job.

  • Emile

    Tour Guide
    Mix a love for the great outdoors, local historical knowledge and a genuinely funny, friendly personality, and you've got Emile in a nutshell. He has a natural ease with people, the kind of guy who makes everyone feel welcome within minutes of meeting him.

    Whether he's sharing fascinating stories about a place's history, pointing out a rare native flora, or cracking a joke on a steep climb, Emile brings warmth and real depth to every tour. His genuine curiosity about people and places is infectious, and that's exactly what makes him such a brilliant guide.

  • Suresh

    Tour Guide
    Suresh is a semi-retired chauffeur who knows Wellington like the back of his hand and drives it with the calm of someone who has seen every kind of weather, traffic and passenger. He has a gentle knack for getting people exactly where they need to be, exactly when they need to be there, usually with a good story or two along the way.

    Warm, reliable and quietly funny, Suresh is proof that a smooth ride and good company can be just as memorable as the destination.

Free Airport Transfer When You Book Direct

Over 0
5 Star Reviews!
With a 98% recommendation Rate!

Enjoy a complimentary airport transfer when you book any private tour through this website. The offer covers hotels within 8 km of Wellington’s CBD.

Extra passengers who aren’t part of the tour can be added for just $30 per person

Book Your Tour Here
Rated #1
Wellington Tour Experience

Complimentary airport transfer included for all guests on private tour bookings made through this website. Transfer valid to any hotel within 8 km of Wellington CBD. Additional passengers not included in the tour can be transferred for only $30 per person.

Tour Options

Wellington City Tours
A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Wellington City Heights Tour – Shared Tour

Panoramic views, hidden lookouts, and local favourites most visitors never find

Wellington’s real character lives in its dramatic hilltops, harbour vistas, and tucked-away lookouts, not the standard tourist trail. Highlights include Wētā Cave, the Wellington Wind Turbine, and the iconic Cable Car, plus off-the-map spots only locals know.

A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Wellington City Heights Tour – Private

Personalised journey through Wellington's spectacular heights and hidden corners

Wellington rewards those who venture beyond the obvious, and on a private tour, you’ll go further than most visitors ever do. Your guide is a Wellington local. Your tour includes Wellington’s most iconic landmarks, Wētā Cave, Wellington Wind Turbine, and the Cable Car, alongside the off-the-map gems that make this city genuinely extraordinary.

A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Wellington Jewish Heritage Tour

A personal journey through New Zealand's Jewish story

Jewish families journeyed to build new lives in Aotearoa. This tour traces those stories alongside Wellington’s wider heritage, Polynesian migrations, early settlers, and the Jewish immigrants. Visit historic synagogues and neighbourhoods with a guide who shares these stories with warmth and personal connection. Includes a kosher lunch.

More Info & Book
A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Wellington Guided Colonial Heritage Tour with Lunch

Guided by a hobby historian, experience Wellington’s rich colonial heritage on this immersive journey through some of the city’s most iconic historical buildings

From the grandeur of Parliament and the gothic beauty of Old St Paul’s to the creative magic of Wētā Workshop and the art deco splendour of the Roxy Cinema, this full-day tour weaves together Wellington’s founding stories, architectural treasures and cultural landmarks. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Ernesto’s Restaurant and take in panoramic views from the Wellington Cable Car, all with a knowledgeable local guide who brings the capital’s history to life.

More Info & Book
Martinborough Food & Wine
A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Chef's Private Martinborough Wine Tour with Lunch – from Wellington

A private wine experience for serious wine lovers

Not a bus tour. A private, chef-led journey into Martinborough’s award-winning micro-producers, small, passionate estates at the heart of New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir destination.

Queenstown Food & Wine

Coming Soon!

Lord of the Rings Tours
A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Wellington Lord of the Rings Private Tour — with Hobbit's Feast

Film locations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the landscapes that became legend

Step into Middle-earth beyond the usual stops. Visit Wētā Cave, then explore the actual filming locations where iconic scenes were shot with insider stories from a guide who knows the films inside out. Stand in the exact spots, recreate the scenes yourself, and dress up as your favourite Hobbit, Elf, or Dwarf with our Lord of the Rings-themed costumes.

A man and a woman stand together on a street corner staring at a paper

Fellowship of the Vine Tour

A full-day journey through Middle-earth, film artistry, and Martinborough's finest wines

Begin at Wētā Workshop, props, costumes, and the creative secrets behind Middle-earth. Then visit three iconic Lord of the Rings filming locations, hear behind-the-scenes production stories, and recreate your favourite scenes. Cross the Remutaka into Martinborough. Visit three boutique vineyards, meet the winemakers, taste limited-release Pinot Noir, and enjoy a gourmet lunch.

More Info & Book
Samoa Tours

Coming Soon!