Waipara

Wine and Waipara go hand in hand. Its proximity to Christchurch makes it an easy day trip, by wine lovers often decide to stay and sip a while.
The Waipara Valley is one of New Zealand's newest wine areas. Known for Pinot Noir and Riesling, the area is growing in size and popularity. And just like many other wine regions around the world, with good wine comes good food. Olive groves, nut farms and fields of lavender are popular stops visitors can add to their itinerary.
Train lovers will want to ride the Weka Pass Railway. Using both vintage steam and diesel-electric locomotives, on scheduled Sundays, trains travel to Waikari, covering almost 13 kilometers of scenery. The Weka Pass Railway is run entirely by volunteers.

Practical Info

Waipara Valley is a 45-minute drive from Christchurch. It is the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand. Around 80 vineyards call the Waipara Valley home, producing around 100,000 cases of award winning wines each year.