Wineries and Vineyards in the Waipara Valley
A South Island road trip between Christchurch and Kaikoura takes you through a very special place, the Waipara Valley. It lies in the heart of the Hurunui district and is lovingly nicknamed “Hurunui’s Pantry” for its wealth of wineries and vineyards. While travelling along State Highway 1, take the time to pop into the wineries in the Waipara Valley to sample award-winning wines and take in spectacular vineyards backed by mountains. Check out some of the best wineries with tastings available in the list below!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in 10 Best Wineries in Marlborough and 10 Christchurch Must-Dos.
1. Pegasus Bay
Pop in for a wine tasting or sit down for dinner at the indoor and outdoor dining venue of the Pegasus Bay winery. Winning countless awards for their winery restaurant, Pegasus Bay is a go-to for a special occasion or “just because”.
Location: 263 Stockgrave Road
© Jocelyn Kinghorn on Flickr2. Black Estate
Take in expansive views of the Waipara Valley along with your tasting at the Black Estate. Enjoy wines from their organic vineyard paired with meals made from local seasonal and organic produce.
Location: 414 Omihi Road
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Waipara Hills
Set among the vineyards in an attractions stone building, Waipara Hills is a must-stop for any wine-lover. Tour an operating winery, experience a wine tasting and stay for lunch with a platter in their bistro-style cafe.
Location: 780 Glasnevin Road
© Phillip Capper on Wikipedia4. Greystone Wines & Muddy Water
Two wineries share a tasting room here at the Greystone Wines cellar door. Taste wines from Greystone Wines and Muddy Waters wineries while soaking up the views of their organic vineyards. This cellar door can be visited along the Hurunui Bike Trail, making it a great stop along the journey.
Location: 376 Omihi Road
© Sandrea Vallaure on Flickr5. Ataahua Wine
Sample handcrafted wines at the Ataahua Wine vineyard. The winery is only open by appointment only, but it’s worth the extra effort to visit the valley and vineyard scenery that inspired the wine’s name, Ataahua, meaning “a place of beauty” in Maori.
Location: 83 Church Road
© Sandra Vallaure on Flickr6. Georges Road Wines
Get a personal experience at Georges Road Wines where a trip to cellar door often means meeting the winemaker. All wines are made from the one vineyard, which you can look around, as well as the winery.
Location: 625 Mt Brown Road
© Rodrigo Abreu on Unsplash7. Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove
Match stunning landscapes with wine and olive oil tastings at the Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove. This family-owned vineyard and olive prove produces organically grown wines and extra virgin olive oil. The cellar door is open Thursday to Sunday.
Location: 625 Mt Brown Road
© Pexels8. Torlesse Wines
A great little winery based in Waipara Village, Torlesse Wines prides itself on hand-crafted wines, particularly its award-winning Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. The winery offers tastings and has arts and crafts for sale, as well as bike hire.
Location: Loffhagen Drive
© Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash9. Waipara Springs Winery & Cafe
A staple of wines tours in the region, like this wine tour with Leisure Tours from Christchurch, Waipara Springs Winery & Cafe has a great little winery cafe serving delectable platters. Pop into their Southern Boundary Wines Cellar Door to sample older vintages. Find out more about Leisure Tour’s wine experiences on Viator and Tripadvisor.
Location: State Highway 1, 5km (3 miles) north of Waipara Bridge
© Pxhere10. Mt Beautiful Wines
A must-visit in Cheviot, Mt Beautiful Wines has a great little tasting room right in the heart of the town. Sample varietals such as Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Find more activities here with our list of 5 Fun Things to Do in Cheviot.
Location: 11 Hall Street, Cheviot
© PexelsMore About Wineries in New Zealand
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
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