Park Up and Tour: How to Combine a Campervan Trip with Wine Tours
Quick summary: The easiest way to enjoy New Zealand’s wineries on a campervan trip is to park up and let someone else do the driving. Arrive in the wine region the evening before, settle into a holiday park, and join a wine tour that collects you from the park or a nearby pickup point. Your campervan or motorhome stays put, you taste as much as you like, and you’re back in time for dinner beside your own vehicle.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| The idea | Drive to a region, park, and take a tour on tasting day |
| Typical tours | Half-day and full-day small-group tours, private tours, bike tours |
| Pickup points | Holiday parks, town centres, accommodation and ferry terminals |
| What tours include | Transport between cellar doors, tastings, often lunch at a winery |
| How long to stay | At least two nights in each region you want to taste |
| Book ahead | A day or two, and earlier in busy periods |
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Why park up rather than drive between wineries?
Because wine tasting and driving don’t mix, and a campervan is the worst possible vehicle to drive after a few tastings: large, heavy, high-sided and unfamiliar. Parking up also takes the effort out of the day. You don’t need to navigate narrow vineyard lanes or find space in small winery car parks, and a local guide knows which cellar doors suit your taste, the stories behind the wines and where to eat lunch.
How does a park-up-and-tour day work?
- Arrive the day before. Drive to the wine region, check in to a holiday park and set up camp.
- Book a tour with pickup. Many wine tours collect guests from holiday parks or central pickup points in towns such as Blenheim, Renwick, Napier, Martinborough and Queenstown.
- Leave the vehicle parked. Lock up, take what you need for the day, and enjoy the tour.
- Buy wine on the way. Most tours let you buy bottles at each cellar door, and many will keep them on board until the end of the day.
- Stay another night. Don’t plan to drive on the evening of a tasting day; leave the next region for the following morning.
What kinds of wine tour are there?
| Tour type | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day small-group tours | 3–5 hours | Tasting at three or four cellar doors with a guide |
| Full-day tours | 6–8 hours | More wineries, plus lunch at a vineyard restaurant |
| Private tours | Flexible | Couples or groups who want to choose the wineries |
| Guided bike tours | Half or full day | Riding between cellar doors on quiet roads and trails |
| Food and wine tours | Half or full day | Wine with cheese, chocolate, olive oil or seafood |
Browse all wine tours and our featured tours.
Where can you park the RV while you’re on a tour?
At your holiday park or campground, where the vehicle is secure and you have your site for the night. Most tours collect guests from holiday parks or a short walk away. If a tour leaves from a town centre, check whether your holiday park is within walking distance, or ask the operator about pickup from the park. Avoid leaving the vehicle in a town car park all day, where time limits and space can be a problem for a large vehicle.
Which regions are best for parking up and touring?
| Region | Where to base yourself | Tours |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough | Blenheim or Renwick | Marlborough wine tours |
| Hawke’s Bay | Napier or Hastings | Hawke’s Bay wine tours |
| Martinborough | Martinborough village | Martinborough wine tours |
| Central Otago | Queenstown, Arrowtown or Cromwell | Queenstown wine tours |
| Waipara Valley | Waipara or Christchurch | Waipara Valley wine tours |
| Waiheke Island | Auckland | Waiheke Island wine tours |
What other options are there?
If a tour doesn’t suit, there are two other ways to taste without driving:
- Cycle. Several regions have flat trails or quiet roads between wineries, with bike hire nearby. See our guide to cycling wine trails.
- Walk. Choose a holiday park within walking distance of cellar doors. See our guide to campsites near vineyards.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Many do, especially in the main wine regions, or from central pickup points nearby. Check with the operator when you book.
Half-day tours usually run for three to five hours and visit three or four cellar doors. Full-day tours visit more wineries and often include lunch.
Yes. Most cellar doors sell bottles, and tours usually let you keep purchases on board until the end of the day.
At least two, so you arrive the evening before, spend a full tasting day without driving, and leave the next morning.
Cycle between wineries on a bike trail, or stay at a holiday park within walking distance of cellar doors.