The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail combines breathtaking scenery with world-class food and wine experiences. This multi-day, self-guided touring route connects four key regions, including three that account for more than 80% of New Zealand’s wine production, along with New Zealand’s vibrant capital city, rural towns, and coastal waterways.
Follow the distinctive grape signage as you travel between cellar doors, meeting the people behind the wine and learning how it’s made. Along the way, taste your way through cellar doors, dine at award-winning restaurants, and explore a mix of cultural and outdoor experiences that sit alongside the wine trail.
It’s a flexible journey designed for slow travel — shaped by vineyards, landscapes, and local flavour at every stop.
🍷 Jump to a Day
A quick way to navigate the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail by day. Jump straight to the region or stage of the journey you’re most interested in — whether it’s Hawke’s Bay’s vineyard landscapes, Wairarapa’s boutique cellar doors, Wellington’s urban food and drink scene, or Marlborough’s Sauvignon Blanc country.
Day 1 — Hawke’s Bay vineyards & coastal food
Day 2 — Wairarapa cellar doors & countryside stops
Day 3 — Wellington wine bars & harbour dining
Day 4 — Marlborough wine country & cellar doors
🍇 Day 1: Hawke’s Bay – Vineyards, markets & coastal dining
Bold Bordeaux-style reds, structured chardonnay
Hawke’s Bay (Te Matau-a-Māui) is New Zealand’s oldest wine region and a recognised Great Wine Capital of the World, known for its Mediterranean climate, Art Deco heritage, and sun-drenched landscapes. It’s the country’s leading region for red wine, particularly Bordeaux-style blends, alongside elegant chardonnay and a strong culinary culture.
Start in Napier and Hastings, where vineyards, coastline, and local markets sit within easy reach. The region is made for slow exploration — from cycling between cellar doors to coastal drives and long outdoor lunches among orchards and vines.
Mission Estate
With more than 70 wineries, Hawke’s Bay blends iconic estates and boutique producers. Standout cellar doors include Craggy Range Winery, Church Road Winery, Elephant Hill Winery, Mission Estate Winery, and Te Mata Estate, each offering distinctive vineyard settings and tasting experiences.
The wider region is equally known for its fresh produce, farmers markets, roadside stalls, and artisan producers that showcase its seasonal abundance.
Don’t miss:
- Te Mata Peak sunset views over vineyards and coastline
- Cape Kidnappers gannet colony, home to the world’s largest mainland colony
- Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market for local produce and artisan goods
- Church Road Winery
- Napier Art Deco architecture
⛺ Where to camp
Events: Hawke’s Bay’s events calendar brings the region to life year-round, from F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic and Harvest Hawke’s Bay to the iconic Art Deco Festival Napier, where the region transforms with vintage cars, live music, and Gatsby-style celebrations.
🍷 Day 2: Wairarapa – Boutique wine villages & rural charm
European-style pinot noir, boutique wineries
Wairarapa is just over the hill from Wellington, offering rolling landscapes, boutique towns, and a strong reputation for small-scale winemaking.
The region is made up of five towns — Martinborough, Featherston, Greytown, Carterton, and Masterton — each offering its own mix of heritage streets, countryside charm, and artisan producers.
It’s best known for European-style pinot noir and its compact, bike-friendly wine village around Martinborough. Cellar doors sit close together, making it ideal for self-guided cycling or relaxed guided tours.
Alongside wine, Wairarapa is home to artisan producers crafting cheese, chocolate, bread, and olive oil — perfect for picnic-style tasting.
Standout cellar doors include Le Gra Vineyard, and Alexia Urban Winery, each offering relaxed, hands-on tasting experiences.
Don’t miss:
- Martinborough wine bike trail
- Cape Palliser Lighthouse drive
- Ngawi seal colony
- Greytown artisan food walk
- Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve
⛺ Where to camp
🍷 Day 3: Wellington – Wine bars, craft beer & harbour dining
Wine bars and waterfront dining
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital and its most creative food and drink city, set between green hills and a compact waterfront.
Everything is close together — cafés, restaurants, wine bars, and craft beer spots are all within easy walking distance of the city centre and harbour.
The city is known for its coffee culture, craft beer scene, and inventive dining. Expect everything from casual street food to award-winning restaurants and tasting menus, alongside some of the country’s best breweries and wine bars.
Wellington offers some fantastic waterfront dining, like at Cones Bar and Eatery
Beyond food and drink, Wellington offers a strong cultural layer. Explore Cuba Street, walk the Wellington waterfront promenade, visit Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, or take in views via the Wellington Cable Car. Behind-the-scenes film culture comes alive at Wētā Workshop Experience.
No visit is complete without Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, a world-class cultural and historical experience.
Don’t miss:
- Cuba Street food and culture walk
- Wellington waterfront promenade
- Te Papa Tongarewa Museum
- Wētā Workshop Experience
- Garage Project tasting room
⛺ Where to camp
Events: Wellington’s calendar is packed year-round, led by Wellington on a Plate, the Wellington Jazz Festival, and the internationally renowned World of WearableArt (WOW) Show, alongside comedy, film, and arts festivals.
🍾 Day 4: Marlborough – Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world
Sauvignon Blanc, coastal seafood experiences, vineyard landscapes
Marlborough is home to 168 wineries and is New Zealand’s largest wine region, forming the southern gateway of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. It’s the global heartland of Sauvignon Blanc, surrounded by vineyards, waterways, and the Marlborough Sounds.
Base yourself in Blenheim and explore a wide network of cellar doors and tasting routes. Iconic producers include Villa Maria, Cloudy Bay, Wairau River, Saint Clair, and Wither Hills, alongside boutique wineries such as Hans Herzog Estate, Te Whare Ra, and Clos Henri Vineyard.
The region pairs wine with exceptional seafood and local produce — especially greenshell mussels, Marlborough King salmon, and shared regional platters best enjoyed outdoors.
Beyond wine, Marlborough is defined by its landscapes. Take the famous Mail Boat Cruise at the Marlborough Sounds, walk sections of the Queen Charlotte Track, or explore alpine views on the Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku Track.
The Wairau Road is one of the most scenic drives in all of New Zealand, with a host of award winning wineries
Don’t miss:
- Marlborough cellar door trail
- Queen Charlotte Track
- Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku Track
- Greenshell mussel tasting in Picton
- Mail Boat Cruise
- Cycling vineyard routes
- Marlborough Farmers Market
⛺ Where to camp
Events: The region’s calendar is anchored by the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival, the Havelock Mussel Festival, and the Omaka Classic Fighters Airshow, celebrating wine, seafood, and aviation heritage.
Extend the journey
Each region rewards slow travel in its own way — Hawke’s Bay with structured wine and food experiences, Wairarapa with boutique charm, Wellington with urban energy, and Marlborough with iconic Sauvignon Blanc and coastal landscapes.
