Campervan Wine Trips from Auckland: Kumeū, Waiheke and the Road South

Quick summary: Auckland is where most North Island campervan trips begin, and it’s a great starting point for a wine trip. Before you collect the campervan or motorhome, you can taste on Waiheke Island or join a tour to Kumeū from the city. Once you have the vehicle, Kumeū and Matakana are less than an hour away, and Hawke’s Bay, the North Island’s biggest wine region, is a day and a half’s easy driving to the south-east.

At a glance
Depots	Mostly near Auckland Airport, usually linked to the terminal by shuttle
Nearest wine areas	Kumeū (around 25 km), Matakana (around 60 km), Waiheke Island (ferry)
Taste before pickup	Waiheke Island or a Kumeū tour from the city
Next wine region	Hawke’s Bay, around 420 km via Taupō
One-way options	Auckland to Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown
Tours	Auckland wine tours

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Auckland

How do you start a wine trip from Auckland?

The best plan is to taste first and collect the campervan afterwards. After a long-haul flight, a night or two in the city lets you recover, and it’s the perfect time for a day on Waiheke Island or a tour to Kumeū or Matakana, when you don’t have a vehicle to worry about. Then collect the campervan rested and ready, and head for the open road.

What can you taste before picking up the RV?

• Waiheke Island, by passenger ferry from downtown Auckland, with tours of the island’s vineyards. See Waiheke Island by campervan.
• Kumeū and Matakana, on tours that collect from city hotels. See Auckland wine tours.
• City wine bars and cellar shops, where you can taste wines from regions you’ll visit later.

Where can you stay on the first night?

• Near Kumeū or Muriwai, to the north-west, if you’re heading north or want a quiet first night close to the vineyards.
• Around Warkworth or the Matakana Coast, for beaches and the Matakana farmers’ market.
• South of the city, if you’re heading directly to Hawke’s Bay, to get a head start on the drive.

See our Auckland wine country guide.

How do you get from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay?

Head south on State Highway 1 to Taupō, around 280 km, then east on State Highway 5 to Napier, around 140 km. Most travellers break the journey with a night in Taupō or Rotorua. For the route in detail, see our sister site’s Rotorua and Taupō route, and for the wine region, see Hawke’s Bay by campervan.

Can you start a one-way wine trip in Auckland?

Yes. A one-way trip from Auckland to Wellington takes in Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough, and continuing across Cook Strait links the North Island’s regions with Marlborough and the South Island. One-way hires may carry extra fees or longer minimum hire periods, so compare options when you search. See our North Island wine trail and the three-week New Zealand wine trail.

For general advice on collecting a vehicle in Auckland, see our sister site’s Auckland pickup guide.

Compare campervan and motorhome hire at Auckland Airport

Frequently Asked Questions