We had no set plans for Napier when we got off the ship but found gold with Johnny! We went in a very comfortable new van with two other couples. Johnny grew up in this area, so he was so knowledgeable and took us to all the lovely places! He had lots of local knowledge and stories of the history of the area.

We went to the top of the highest hill, a winery, a chocolate factory, and a honey factory. We stopped for coffee along the way, and we just had the best day. I would advise any cruise ship passengers to bypass the overpriced ship’s tours and pay one of the wonderful locals to take you on a tour.

The only thing was that we didn't stop for lunch anywhere, but definitely not complaining though. Johnny was the best! Try to get on one of Johnny Driver’s tours when visiting Napier. Great service, great driver, and the best local knowledge!

This was an exceptional experience. I booked a 2.5-hour Art Deco tour of Napier and expected to be dropped off in town promptly at its end. Instead, I spent almost a full day with a charming, worldly, and knowledgeable host.

After a career in the hospitality industry, Johnny is a great amateur psychologist. He soon figured out I wouldn’t enjoy wiling away the afternoon over a couple of glasses of wine, so we saw not just Napier but much of the Hawke’s Bay region: Hastings, Havelock North and the Te Mata Peak, the MTG Museum, the Bluff Hill Domain, Māori historic sites and present developments, Taradale and the Mission Winery with its fascinating migration and history with the Society of Mary.

A native of Hastings, Johnny could speak both personally and authoritatively of life in this region, the natural disasters which impacted it from the 1931 earthquake to the 2023 cyclone, and the ongoing struggles between Māori and European settlers.

Johnny was not a teacher, but perhaps he should have been, given the engaging and appealing way he exposes his passenger to the history and culture of the Hawke’s Bay region.

Our tour chosen for us was called "A MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR" (Day or Evening options available). Well, I've got to tell you what an amazing evening we had with Johnny Driver! Full of delights and pleasing surprises, as we had no prior knowledge of what was in store for us.

John’s knowledge of Hawke’s Bay and its quiet hidden secrets were revealed and choreographed in a staged mix of good taste and excitement. Without telling you the full extended complete story – with not having enough space to do the story justice here…

From being welcomed into a local farmer’s home, we were very privileged to taste their GOLD MEDAL AWARD-WINNING CHEESES matched with a local AWARD-WINNING Chardonnay, a perfect match!

Onwards at dusk through the stunning Tuki Tuki Valley to Napier’s historic Old Port for a delicious dinner in Napier’s latest cuisine establishment, Madame Social, then on to after-dinner cocktails in a hidden gem of theatrics, music, and professional presentation… superb!

If our experience so far wasn’t enough to make us swoon with Johnny’s conviviality, the coup de grâce of the evening was being escorted into a magnificent historical wooden building, into an atmosphere I can only describe as classic utopian 1920s class, with a full swing band in full flight. We danced, laughed and smiled till it hurt… such fun!

We honestly cannot recommend Johnny more, or his professional, experienced hosting on this world-class adventure. With a background of carefully selected sounds complementing our evening journey, we shall treasure this occasion as a happy, memorable first-class time for many years to come.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful our afternoon with John was! We left the day’s agenda in his hands, and he DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Three terrific wineries. The best were the small, intimate vineyards – all of which clearly know and respect him, from large to small, to the one creating NZ’s best Chardonnay for many years in a row!

We ended the day with a relaxing drive through some of the prettiest landscape you can see in this world! If you want to tour with someone who intimately and passionately knows and loves this area… sign up with Johnny Driver!

P.S. His personal music selection while you drive with him is unmatched! Highly recommend!

I’ve been fortunate to have many great experiences. Believe me when I say that I’ve never had such a grand few days as I did with John. He basically made the 3 days that we had with him a real joy. From Kidnappers to the vineyards, and his knowledge of the area and interesting stories, he even took us to a lovely couple of restaurants. His punctuality and courtesy were just exemplary.

If you and your partner are looking for a day or two, then go to beautiful Hawke’s Bay and do a tour with John Driver Tours – it’s worth every buck.

Johnny has extensive experience in the wine industry in Napier and has many contacts among the wine owners in the region. He put together a superb tour for us and is very knowledgeable about the history of Napier. I highly recommend hiring him when you’re in the town of Napier or Hawke’s Bay.

I booked a full-day wine tour for 2 with Johnny Driver through Absolute Beachfront BnB’s recommendation, and I couldn’t have been more thankful and glad I did! Johnny is a great person with heaps of knowledge, natural people skills, and an entertainer! He was open and honest during the booking phase about what would be more beneficial for us to do, kept in touch before the booking, and was great company on the day of the tour!

Johnny went above and beyond to make our day special, memorable, and fun! We cannot thank him enough and highly recommend him to anyone wanting a wine (definitely do a full day) and/or scenic tour! Thank you, Johnny!

We had a scenic half-day tour with Johnny, highly recommended by i-SITE Napier. A true local, Johnny provides top-notch hospitality, offering fresh flowers and delicious local fruits onboard while sharing fascinating stories along the way. The tour concluded with a delightful wine tasting and lunch at Brookfields — an unforgettable experience!

A very good tour with John; his local knowledge was great, having lived for many years in the area. His personal stories were interesting as we drove around the picturesque Tuki Tuki Valley.

The drive up Te Mata Peak had breathtaking views of the Heretaunga Plains, Napier, Hastings, and the Māhia Peninsula. We enjoyed visiting the Waitangi Star, Clearview Estate Vineyard, beautiful homes and gardens, and enjoyed delicious strawberries.

We drove through the towns of Hastings and Havelock North.
Do not miss the opportunity to do a Johnny Tour from Napier.

We had a fabulous time. Great explanations. Went out of his way to make our trip as personalised within a small group. Best tour we have had on our travels.

Had an exceptional day with Johnny. He is extremely personable and knowledgeable in all things Hawke's Bay and further afield. We had a brilliant time visiting some of the best wineries and winemakers, whom Johnny introduced us to. My family and I were fortunate enough to have behind-the-scenes experiences with barrel tastings and a wonderful picnic lunch on the lawn of a superb, picturesque winery. The sights along the journey and the scenery were magnificent – interspersed with lots of laughs.

I highly recommend Johnny; he is the undisputed captain of conviviality.