DANNY : DE HEKThe Waipara Valley is New Zealand’s most rapidly expanding wine area and is home to award winning winery cafes and internationally acclaimed wines.

The long narrow Waipara Valley is only 65km’s from Christchurch city and is home to award winning wines. Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate local planting’s, however a number of other grape varieties are also grown.

Wine lovers will enjoy the fabulous selection of wineries open to the public along with winery restaurants serving local cuisine.

Wine tours in the Waipara Valley are available and highly recommended for anyone considering trying a few wines as drinking and driving don’t mix! Professional wine tour companies are located in Christchurch and the Hurunui area.

Pegasus Bay winery is situated in the heart of the Waipara valley and is renowned for fabulous wines and delicious cuisine! Whether it be tasting their range of highly regarded estate grown wines, viewing the barrel hall and wine cellars, or indulging in their scrumptious restaurant cuisine, Pegasus Bay is one of the ‘must visit’ Hurunui wineries.

Other wineries in the region include Daniel Schuster Wines, Waipara Springs boutique vineyard and winery, the hugely impressive Canterbury House, Muddy Water, Hurunui River Wines, Alan McCorkindale, Torlesse, Mt Cass, Sherwood and Floating Mountain Winery.

The Weka Pass Railway is based at Waipara. This historic rural railway uses both vintage steam and diesel-electric locomotives on 12.5km of scenic rail line.

Waipara Valley accommodation is diverse, from luxury homestay to winery cottages to budget accommodation in unique historic railway wagons!

From Waipara it is only a 40 minute drive to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools or just over 1 hour from whale watching in Kaikoura.