Martinborough by Campervan: A Walkable Wine Village Near Wellington

Quick summary: Martinborough is New Zealand’s most walkable wine village, and a perfect campervan wine stop. Around 80 km from Wellington, over the Remutaka Hill, the village is surrounded by small wineries known for Pinot Noir, many within walking or cycling distance of the leafy village square. Park the campervan or motorhome at the village campground, explore on foot or by bike, and add a day trip to the wild coast at Cape Palliser.

At a glance
Where	The Wairarapa, north-east of Wellington
From Wellington	Around 80 km over the Remutaka Hill, about 1 hour 15 minutes
Signature wine	Pinot Noir
Best way to taste	On foot or by bike from the village
Nearby	Greytown, Featherston, Cape Palliser
Tours	Martinborough wine tours

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Why is Martinborough perfect for a campervan wine trip?

Because you can park the vehicle once and leave it there. The village is small and flat, with wineries clustered on its edges, so you can walk or cycle between cellar doors, have lunch at a vineyard restaurant and stroll back to your campsite. The wineries are mostly small and family-run, and the cool, dry climate has made Martinborough one of New Zealand’s most respected Pinot Noir areas.

What is Martinborough like?

The village was laid out around a central square, with streets radiating out in the pattern of a Union Jack. Historic buildings, cafés, wine shops and restaurants line the square, and the vineyards begin just a few blocks away. It’s a relaxed, friendly place, especially busy on summer weekends, when Wellingtonians come over the hill for lunch among the vines.

How do you taste Martinborough’s wines?

• On foot. Many cellar doors are within walking distance of the village square and the campground.
• By bike. Bike hire is available in the village, with quiet, flat lanes leading to the wineries.
• On a tour. Small-group tours collect from the village and from Wellington. See Martinborough wine tours.

See our guide to cycling wine trails for more.

Is the Remutaka Hill road suitable for an RV?

Yes, with care. State Highway 2 climbs over the Remutaka Range between Upper Hutt and Featherston on a steep, winding road with tight corners and sharp drop-offs. Drive it slowly in a lower gear, especially on the descent, and use the pull-over bays to let traffic pass. Strong winds can buffet high-sided vehicles on the summit, so check the forecast before you go. Once over the hill, the roads through the Wairarapa are flat and easy.

What else is there to do nearby?

• Greytown, around 20 km away, with a historic main street of boutiques, cafés and heritage buildings.
• Cape Palliser, around 1 hour south, with a lighthouse, a fur seal colony and the Putangirua Pinnacles, eroded rock formations reached by a walk up a stream bed.
• Featherston, at the foot of the Remutaka Hill, with antique shops and a small heritage trail.
• Olive groves and food producers around the Wairarapa.

Where can you stay?

• The village campground and holiday park, within walking distance of the square and many cellar doors.
• Greytown and Featherston, with smaller campgrounds.
• Vineyard stays for self-contained vehicles at some wineries, by arrangement.
• Freedom camping is limited, for certified self-contained vehicles, and only where South Wairarapa District Council permits it.

How does Martinborough fit into a longer trip?

It sits neatly on the route between Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, and Wellington is the departure point for the Cook Strait ferry to Picton and Marlborough. See our North Island wine trail and our guide to picking up in Wellington.

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Frequently Asked Questions