Deposit
  • All groups booked onto a Set Menu are required to pay a deposit. This deposit consists of the food component of the bill. i.e. 20 guests x $85pp = $1,700 
  • The food deposit is required to secure your booking and to be paid no later than 7 days prior to your booking 
 
Cancellations: 
  • The food deposit is fully refundable and amendable provided cancellation/amendments are made in writing no less than 48 hours prior to visit.   
  • Man O’ War reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee if changes are made within 48 hours.   
  • 50% of the food cost per person will be charged if cancelled less than 48 hours prior to visit.  
  • 100% of the food cost per person will be charged if cancelled less than 24 hours prior to visit or in case of a 'no-show'.   
  • This cancellation fee reflects the cost incurred in terms of staffing, food, and any loss of revenue as a result of turning away other potential bookings.   
  • If you are making your way out to us on the Explore ferry and the sailing is cancelled, you will receive a full refund.   
  • If it is raining and you have an outside table booked and we don’t have capacity to move you to an inside table or provide sufficient rain cover, the food deposit is fully refundable. Please note this call needs to be made 24 hours prior to your booking time. 
 
Adjustments to numbers: 
  • Adjustments in numbers can be made to your initial booking, provided you give us at least 48 hours notice.  
  • If numbers increase, please check with us. It will be subject to availability. 
  • If numbers decrease, we are happy to put any difference paid between the food deposit and the actual confirmed numbers towards your drinks bill. 
 
Drinks options:  

Drinks can be ordered on the day and charged on consumption. We offer the following two options for beverage payments:  
 
1. One bill per table: you will get full table service and your drinks will be charged onto one tab. The entire table's drink bill would need to be settled in one payment either at the end of your visit or via invoice within 48 hours after your visit.  
 
2. Individual payments: guests can pay for their drinks individually at the bar at the time of ordering. However, please note that we won't be able to provide table service for this option. 
  


FAQs  |  RESTAURANT PAVILION & COURTYARD 

 
What is the difference between booking a table in the Restaurant Pavilion,  Courtyard or Deck? 
 
  • Restaurant Pavilion tables are inside tables. On a nice day, we open all of the doors.  
  • Courtyard tables are located outside on the gravel section next to the Restaurant Pavilion and are a combination of tables and picnic tables.  
  • The Deck tables are low arm chairs located on the verandah surrounding the Tasting Room and are reserved for guided wine tastings and light snacks only. Although the deck does have a roof it is not weatherproof, and we recommend keeping an eye on the weather to make sure you bring appropriate clothing.  

What is the largest group you can seat inside the Restaurant Pavilion?

The section nearest the windows overlooking Man O’ War Bay can seat a maximum of 36 pax in one section. 

What is the largest group that can seat outside in the Courtyard/Lawn area?

We can seat up to 60 on picnic tables outside. However, if you are looking for a private space, our Event Pavilion could better suit your needs.  Please contact our Events Team.

What is the minimum group size required to order from the set menu?  

Our Long Lunch Menu is suitable for 12 - 60 pax. For larger groups of 50+ our Event Pavilion is the ideal space. Please contact our Events Team for more information.

Do you have any private or semi-private tables/sections in the Restaurant & Courtyard? 
No unfortunately we don’t as we are open to the public. Our Event Pavilion is our exclusive, private space for events up to 120 pax. Please contact our Events Team for more information.

How long will I have my table for?  

We allocate 3 hours for groups bookings so you can slow down and enjoy being on ‘island time’.  

Do you offer any set menus?  

Yes. Please contact tastingroom@manowar.co.nz for our current set menus. Please note that all our menus are subject to change, and we will confirm your menu closer to your booking.

I’ve booked an inside table. If it’s a nice day, can we move to an outside table? 
You can most definitely request to be moved to an outside table, but it will be subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. 

What happens if it is bad weather on the day of my booking?  
We always try to accommodate our guests to the best of our ability and if we notice the weather is looking particularly bad, we will give you a call to offer a few options. Unfortunately, we may be fully booked inside the Restaurant Pavilion which means we might not be able to move you inside. If you choose to cancel because of the bad weather, we can postpone your group reservation to another date. Worst case, please discuss refund options with our team.

If it starts to rain when I am dining outside, can I move to an inside table?  
If we have availability inside, yes absolutely we will move you to an inside table. However, our Restaurant has limited capacity and there is a chance we may not be able to accommodate you if those tables are already booked. Unfortunately, we do not have enough space inside our restaurant to seat a fully booked outside area. We recommend keeping an eye on the weather forecast before you visit us at Man O' War to make sure you bring appropriate clothing for the day. 

Can I bring my dog?  
Yes your well-behaved pup is welcome, but it is preferred that they stay on a lead. Please be mindful of other customers, children and our serving staff. Surrounding the site is farmland and conservation land and we are passionate about protecting our native flora and fauna and the ecosystems they depend on. 

Is there a dress code?  
We're super relaxed and casual at Man O' War so almost anything goes. Keep it casual or dress to impress - it's up to you! If you've joined us from the beach or a boat in the Summer, we do ask that your swimming costume is covered by a shirt/dress. Shoes are recommended due to the risk of broken glass.  
 
Can I bring a cake? 

Yes absolutely. We’d be happy to store it for you and cut and serve to your guests when you’re ready. We charge a $5 cake cutting fee. 
 
Do you offer any gifts? 

If you're looking to treat your guests to a thoughtful take-home gift, we also offer a selection of Man O’ War branded items including jars of honey, olive oil, caps, and Huski tumblers & wine coolers... and wine of course! These can be specially packaged for your group to add a personal touch to the experience.

Do you have any activities or games? 

If you haven’t tried our Forest Flight zipline experience, you must! It’s a perfect team building activity. Alternatively we have lawn games available for our customers on the lawn including Giant Jenga, Kubb and Corn Hole.  
 
 
FAQs | TASTING ROOM 

Do you offer guided wine tastings? 

A great way to start your day at Man O’ War is with a guided wine tasting in our Tasting Room - perfect for setting the tone for a memorable visit. 

Guided wine tasting 4 wines from the Flagship collection for $32pp:  
  • Exiled Pinot Gris
  • Valhalla Chardonnay
  • Dreadnought Syrah
  • Ironclad Bordeaux blend  
 
Guided wine tasting 5 wines from the Flagship collection for $40pp:    
  • Sidewinder Sauvignon Blanc
  • Exiled Pinot Gris  
  • Valhalla Chardonnay 
  • Dreadnought Syrah  
  • Ironclad Bordeaux blend 
 
Swiftsure wine tasting $16pp: 
Showcasing our new South Island Collection
  • Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
  • Bannockburn Pinot Noir  
  
What is the maximum amount of people that can participate in a guided wine tasting at one time inside the Tasting Room and do I need to pre-book?  

Yes pre-booking is highly recommended, especially for groups. Our Tasting Room is an intimate space with a wraparound deck. We have two high tables inside the Tasting Room and can seat 12 pax (a combination of stools and some standing) around each table indoors. 

Do you offer guided wine tastings for groups?   
Yes we do! For larger groups of up to 30 pax we may be able to offer you the option of standing outside around wine barrels. Please enquire with our Tasting Room team.
  
What is a standard wine tasting pour?  

30ml x 4 tasters = 120ml total   
30ml x 5 tasters = 150ml total  
 
Can you enjoy lunch in the Tasting Room?  

No, unfortunately not. We are more than happy for you to order a couple of small bites but no pizzas or main courses are to be consumed inside the Tasting Room. Please note that Guided Wine Tasting bookings are for 1 hour only and we may have another booking after your tasting. We recommend booking a table in the Restaurant Pavilion or Courtyard after your guided wine tasting if you’d like to stay and enjoy lunch.