The Waipara Valley by Campervan: North Canterbury’s Wine Country

Quick summary: The Waipara Valley is Canterbury’s wine country, around an hour’s campervan drive north of Christchurch on State Highway 1. Sheltered by hills from cool coastal winds, the valley is known for Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay, with cellar doors and vineyard restaurants among the limestone country. It’s an easy first or last stop on a campervan or motorhome hire from Christchurch, and it sits on the road to Hanmer Springs and Kaikōura.

At a glance
Where	North Canterbury, north of Christchurch
From Christchurch	Around 60 km, about 50 minutes
Signature wines	Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, aromatic whites
Best way to taste	A wine tour, or park up in the valley and take a tour
Nearby	Amberley, the Weka Pass, Hanmer Springs, Kaikōura
Tours	Waipara Valley wine tours

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Why include the Waipara Valley in a campervan trip?

Because it’s the closest wine region to Christchurch, the South Island’s main pickup city, and it lies on the road to two of Canterbury’s highlights: the thermal pools of Hanmer Springs and the whales of Kaikōura. The valley’s warm days, cool nights and limestone soils produce elegant Pinot Noir and aromatic Riesling, and many cellar doors have restaurants and platters among the vines.

How do you taste the valley’s wines without driving?

• Take a wine tour from Christchurch, ideally the day before you collect the campervan. Small-group tours visit several cellar doors with lunch included on some.
• Park up in the valley at a campground and join a tour from there.
• Book lunch at a vineyard restaurant close to where you’re staying, and walk or take a short taxi ride there.

Browse Waipara Valley wine tours, and see our guide to parking up and taking a tour.

Can you go wine tasting on the way out of Christchurch in an RV?

It’s better to taste on a tour, either the day before pickup or after you’ve parked up for the night. Waipara is close enough to the city that you can collect the vehicle, drive up in under an hour, set up camp in the valley and take a tour the next morning. Our sister site christchurchtours.co.nz lists Waipara tours that leave from the city.

What else is there to do?

• The Weka Pass Railway, with vintage trains running on selected days between Waipara and the limestone outcrops of the pass.
• Māori rock art near Waikari, in limestone shelters open to the public.
• Amberley, a small town with cafés and a farmers’ market.
• Hanmer Springs, around 75 km further north, with thermal pools and forest walks.
• The coast at Amberley Beach and Motunau.

Where can you stay?

• Campgrounds in the Waipara Valley and around Amberley.
• Hanmer Springs, around an hour away, with many holiday parks.
• Vineyard stays at some wineries for self-contained vehicles, by arrangement.
• Freedom camping is limited, for certified self-contained vehicles, and only where Hurunui District Council permits it.

For a local guide to the valley with campervan tips, see the Waipara Valley guide on christchurchtours.co.nz.

Where does the trip go next?

• North to Kaikōura and Marlborough, on the coastal State Highway 1. See Marlborough by campervan.
• Inland to Hanmer Springs on State Highway 7.
• A weekend loop from Christchurch: see our wine weekend from Christchurch.

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Frequently Asked Questions