The North Island Wine Trail by Campervan: Auckland to Wellington in 8 Days

Quick summary: This one-way campervan wine trail links the North Island’s best wine regions between Auckland and Wellington. It starts with a ferry day on Waiheke Island before you collect the campervan or motorhome, visits Kumeū, crosses the central plateau via Taupō to Hawke’s Bay, then heads south through the Wairarapa to the walkable wine village of Martinborough. It’s around 850 km over eight days, with two full tasting days when the vehicle stays parked.

At a glance
Length	8 days, one-way
Start and finish	Auckland to Wellington
Total driving	Around 850 km
Wine regions	Waiheke Island, Kumeū, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough
Tasting days off the road	Waiheke (before pickup), Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough
Longest day	Around 300 km, Kumeū to Taupō

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Day 1: Waiheke Island (before pickup)

Spend the day before you collect the vehicle on Waiheke Island. Take the passenger ferry from downtown Auckland, join a Waiheke wine tour, and return to the city in the evening. See Waiheke Island by campervan.

Day 2: Pick up and drive to Kumeū (around 25 km)

Collect the campervan, stock up on supplies and drive north-west to Kumeū. Spend the afternoon at Muriwai’s black-sand beach and gannet colony, then settle in nearby. If you’d like to taste Kumeū’s Chardonnay, buy a bottle at a cellar door to enjoy at camp. See Auckland wine country.

Day 3: Kumeū to Taupō (around 300 km)

The longest driving day. Head south on State Highway 1 through the Waikato to Taupō, with a stop at Huka Falls on the way into town. Stay beside the lake.

Day 4: Taupō to Napier (around 140 km)

Cross the central plateau on State Highway 5 to Napier. Spend the afternoon exploring the Art Deco city centre and Marine Parade, then settle into a holiday park for three nights.

Day 5: Hawke’s Bay tasting day (no driving)

Hire bikes and ride the Hawke’s Bay Trails to the wineries, or join a Hawke’s Bay wine tour to the Gimblett Gravels and Havelock North. See Hawke’s Bay by campervan.

Day 6: Hawke’s Bay at leisure (local driving only)

Visit the farmers’ market at Hastings, drive up Te Mata Peak for the view, or take a tour to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers. Keep driving to the morning, and enjoy a vineyard dinner within walking or taxi distance of your campsite.

Day 7: Napier to Martinborough (around 290 km)

Head south through the Hawke’s Bay countryside and the Wairarapa, via Waipukurau, Masterton and Greytown, to Martinborough. Park up at the village campground for two nights.

Day 8: Martinborough and on to Wellington (around 80 km)

Spend the morning walking or cycling between Martinborough’s cellar doors, with lunch at a vineyard, and stay a second night if you can. If your drop-off is today, taste on a tour that returns you to the campground, and drive over the Remutaka Hill to Wellington the next morning. See Martinborough by campervan.

Can this RV trail work in reverse?

Yes. Start in Wellington, visit Martinborough first, then Hawke’s Bay, and finish in Auckland with a day on Waiheke after you’ve returned the vehicle. The route works equally well in both directions, so choose based on flights and one-way availability.

How can you change the pace?

• Add a night in Martinborough, so Day 8 is a full tasting day and the drive to Wellington is the next morning.
• Add Rotorua between Kumeū and Taupō, splitting Day 3 in two.
• Continue south on the Cook Strait ferry to Marlborough, following our three-week New Zealand wine trail.

What should you book ahead?

• The one-way hire, which may carry an extra fee or longer minimum hire period.
• Holiday parks in Napier and Martinborough, especially on summer weekends.
• Wine tours and bikes for your tasting days.

For the driving route, see our sister site’s Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa route.

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Frequently Asked Questions