A Waipara Wine Weekend by Campervan from Christchurch
Quick summary: For campervan travellers looking for a short escape from Christchurch, two nights in the Waipara Valley is just right. Drive north in the afternoon, settle in among the vines, spend a full day tasting on a tour or over a long vineyard lunch, and drive home the next morning via the Weka Pass. It’s around 150 km in total, with no driving on the tasting day and plenty of time to enjoy the campervan or motorhome lifestyle.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 nights |
| Start and finish | Christchurch |
| Total driving | Around 150 km |
| Tasting day | Day 2, with the vehicle parked |
| Highlights | Waipara cellar doors, Amberley, the Weka Pass |
| Tours | Canterbury wine tours |
Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch
Day 1: Christchurch to Waipara (around 60 km)
Pick up the vehicle mid-morning, buy groceries on the northern edge of the city, and follow State Highway 1 past Kaiapoi and Amberley. By early afternoon you can be parked among the vines with the awning out, which leaves time to confirm the next day’s tour and stroll the valley road at golden hour.
Day 2: A tasting day in the valley (no driving)
The vehicle doesn’t move today. A small-group tour picks up in the valley and takes in three or four cellar doors, usually with a vineyard lunch, or you can book a table at a winery restaurant close enough to walk or take a taxi. Pick out a Riesling or a Pinot Noir for dinner at camp. See tasting without driving.
Day 3: Home via the Weka Pass (around 90 km)
After a slow breakfast, loop north through the Weka Pass, where grey limestone tors rise out of the paddocks, then head back south. Amberley’s cafés make a good last stop before the city.
Can you fit this into a longer RV trip?
Yes. Waipara works as the first stop of a trip north to Kaikōura and Marlborough, or inland to Hanmer Springs and the Lewis Pass. See the Canterbury wine and Hanmer loop.
What should you book ahead?
A campground in the valley and your wine tour, especially on summer weekends. See where to stay.
Compare campervan and motorhome hire at Christchurch Airport
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Two nights among the Waipara vines allows a whole day of tasting with the vehicle parked, and only around 150 km of driving.
At a campground in the valley or around Amberley, close to the cellar doors.
A route through limestone country north of Waipara, with rock outcrops and a heritage railway.
It is best to book ahead, especially on summer weekends.