The New Zealand Wine Trail by Campervan: Auckland to Queenstown in 3 Weeks

Quick summary: Three weeks lets you follow New Zealand’s wine trail almost from top to bottom in a campervan or motorhome. This one-way route starts with Waiheke Island and Kumeū in Auckland, heads to Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough, crosses Cook Strait to Marlborough and Nelson, then runs south through Kaikōura, the Waipara Valley, Oamaru and the Waitaki Valley to Central Otago and Queenstown. It’s around 2,100 km, with tasting days in every major region.

At a glance
Length	21 days, one-way
Start and finish	Auckland to Queenstown
Total driving	Around 2,100 km, plus the Cook Strait ferry
Wine regions	Waiheke, Kumeū, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough, Nelson, Waipara, Waitaki, Central Otago, Wānaka
Tasting days off the road	Around eight
Longest day	Around 310 km

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Week 1: The North Island

Day	Route	Distance	Highlights
1	Waiheke Island (before pickup)	Ferry	Waiheke wine tour
2	Auckland to Kumeū	Around 25 km	Pickup, Muriwai
3	Kumeū to Taupō	Around 300 km	Huka Falls, the lake
4	Taupō to Napier	Around 140 km	Art Deco Napier
5	Hawke’s Bay	No driving	Cycle trails or a wine tour
6	Napier to Martinborough	Around 290 km	The Wairarapa
7	Martinborough	No driving	Cellar doors on foot, a wine tour

See the North Island wine trail for more detail.

Week 2: Across the strait to the top of the South

Day	Route	Distance	Highlights
8	Martinborough to Wellington	Around 80 km	Te Papa, the waterfront
9	Ferry to Picton, then Renwick	Ferry plus around 40 km	The Marlborough Sounds
10	Marlborough	No driving	Bikes or a wine tour
11	Renwick to Nelson	Around 105 km	Havelock’s mussels
12	Nelson	No driving	The Great Taste Trail
13	Nelson to Kaikōura	Around 245 km	The coast road
14	Kaikōura to Waipara	Around 125 km	Whale watching in the morning

See Marlborough and Nelson in 5 days.

Week 3: Canterbury to Central Otago

Day	Route	Distance	Highlights
15	Waipara Valley	No driving	A Waipara wine tour
16	Waipara to Oamaru	Around 310 km	Penguins at dusk
17	Oamaru to Kurow	Around 70 km	The Waitaki Valley, Oamaru tours
18	Kurow to Cromwell	Around 180 km	The Lindis Pass
19	Bannockburn and Cromwell	No driving	A local wine tour
20	Cromwell to Wānaka	Around 55 km	Lakeside cellar doors, Wānaka tours
21	Wānaka to Queenstown	Around 70–115 km	Drop-off, then a Gibbston tour

See the South Island wine trail and the Central Otago wine loop.

Should you take the RV on the ferry or swap vehicles in Wellington?

Both work. Taking the same vehicle across Cook Strait keeps things simple, but you’ll need to book its place on the ferry and check your rental terms. The alternative is two hires: return the first vehicle in Wellington, cross as foot passengers, and collect a second in Picton. Compare both options when you search, as one-way hires can carry extra fees or minimum hire periods. See our sister site’s Cook Strait ferry guide.

How can you change the pace?

• Add a rest day in Hawke’s Bay or Central Otago, the two regions with the most to do.
• Skip Nelson to save two days, driving straight from Renwick to Kaikōura.
• Finish in Christchurch instead of Queenstown, ending with the Waipara Valley.

What should you book ahead?

• The one-way hire and the Cook Strait ferry.
• Holiday parks in the busiest regions in summer: Napier, Martinborough, Renwick, Nelson and Queenstown.
• Wine tours and bike hire for each tasting day.

For a wider New Zealand trip that adds the glaciers, Fiordland and Northland, see our sister site’s whole of New Zealand in four weeks.

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Frequently Asked Questions