Top Things to do in Waipara
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Waipara, New Zealand
Discover the best top things to do in Waipara, New Zealand including Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove, Torlesse Wines, Waipara Hills, Waipara Springs Winery, Greystone Wines, Muddy Water Fine Wine, Weka Pass Railway, Waipara Valley Walks, Bishops Head Wines, Georges Road Wines.
Restaurants in Waipara
1. Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove
Overall Ratings
5 based on 32 reviews
Terrace Edge is a family-owned, organic vineyard & olive grove, with expansive views of the river valley and foothills of the Southern Alps.Take a short tour through the olive grove and Pinot Noir vines to the "roasted slope", a spectacular place where the Syrah vines cling to the 45 degree angle slope. Enjoy a tasting of 8 premium wines, cool climate extra virgin olive oil and table olives.
Reviewed By dixiepeach - Kansas City
We were out for a drive and happened upon this vineyard so we stopped to taste. They have a great selection of wines. There is no Sauvignon Blanc here but they have an Albariño they are working on. The rose is excellent, a blend of...MoreThanks so much for the review! We're so pleased you enjoyed your time at Terrace Edge
2. Torlesse Wines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Steve A - Christchurch, New Zealand
My party visited this winery as part of a Waipara Valley Wine Tours activity. Let me say from the start that Waipara Wine Tours were a wonderful company and treated us very well. Their driver was fun, courteous, flexible to accommodate our timetable and knowledgeable and the tour itself was good value for money. I would recommend them whole heartedly.
HOWEVER, Torlesse wines themselves let us down. The wines were amazing, the tasting range also amazing and when the host was talking about wine, it was very knowledgable, friendly and enjoyable. BUT, the host himself was sexist and chauvanistic to the point of embarrassment. He openly ogled the young women in our group and made entirely inappropriate comments about their looks, etc. His humour was equally inappropriate. In summary, he was a total sleaze. Not only that, but the outdoor garden area where we were seated had what we assumed was fresh dog's urine running down the brick wall. It turned out to be where the host himself had peed! Disgusting! In short, go for the wines, they are amazing, but if you have attractive young women in your group then warn them that at least one of the potential hosts is a sleaze.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Cutting-a-Track - Auckland, New Zealand
Pouring with rain on a bleak June day in Canterbury but saved by this impressive building and the ambience of Waipara Springs Winery. A grand building with lovely Gardens and very good food, young but helpful staff. You really wouldn't know you were 100m from State Highway 1. Recommended
5. Greystone Wines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Greystone Wines is one of New Zealand's most acclaimed vineyards and offers the public a chance to taste and purchase their range of wines (including past vintages and special releases) direct from their boutique cellar door.
Reviewed By dixiepeach - Kansas City
I did a tasting here and loved their wines. The Sauvignon Blanc here may be one of the best if not the best I’ve ever had! They also had a couple Pinot noirs that were very different from one another. One is grown at this...MoreWow, now that's what we love to hear! So glad you enjoyed the wine and your time at Greystone.
6. Muddy Water Fine Wine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Certified Organic Winery. The Tasting Room is part of the Greystone Winery complex at 376 Omihi Rd, Waipara. Come by to taste our award winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinotage
Reviewed By Simplyko - Perth, Australia
Muddy waters was bought over by Greystone and they are keeping the labels separate. Muddy water vines are growing mostly on clay and Greystone's growing on limestones. Both produce good wine. However, the Chardonnay from Muddy water was nicer. The brittle star riesling from Greystone was good. Service was great and very methodical. Went through the list of wines available in their lovely alfresco area. Very casual and fun. Wine was very smooth and good. Bought a couple of bottle. My partner was not tasting but they brought him a glass of water anyway.
7. Weka Pass Railway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Only 50 min from central Christchurch, the Weka Pass Railway is a historic rural railway using both vintage steam and diesel-electric locomotives out of Waipara, North Canterbury. Take a train ride on one of the public operating days on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, most Sundays in January and most public holidays. Perfect for a break on a trip to Hanmer Springs, Kaikora or while visiting the Waipara wine region. Trains will usually be hauled by 1909 built "A" Class "Pacific" steam locomotive number 428. During exceptional fire risk in summer months, "A428" may be replaced with a vintage diesel locomotive. For the latest details on operating days please visit the Weka Pass Railway website.
Reviewed By santo t - Auckland, New Zealand
Well it was awesome although not 100% perfect at my trip day. The weather was really good, full Sunshine blue sky, the train ride start on time from Glennmark, however before reaching the section for photo shot. the steam train stall and after stop for awhile, it moved again at slower speed, it had problems with steam pressure, the pressure was not enough to run normally. Then the train stop at photo shot point without photo shot, train cannot move, the steam pressure did not enough to move the train. After lost approx 30 min or more, the relief engine came, the diesel engine to push the stall train. Now the train has two engines, one steam at the front and one diesel at the rear. So we were late at the destination, Waikari. When the train just started the travel back to Glenmark, the local Fire Station stopped the train because fire hazard risk and asked the train to wait until safe to do the return trip. So we waited again and lost another 30 min, before finally moving back to Glenmark. The operator then cancelled the second trip because it was too late to run the second train as scheduled.So, we had unique trip, missing photo shot but riding with two headed engine. Not too bad, still awesome and OK.
8. Waipara Valley Walks
Overall Ratings
4 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By nglenjarman - Christchurch, New Zealand
Very different from Tiromoana Bush walk, Laidmore Road walk is at the other end of Waipara, about 15km inland. A great place to see fossils, visit the river and find the KT boundary which marks the end of dinosaurs and the start of a new era. From the car park walk upstream to see the fossils embedded high up (well some have come rolling down) in the bank.
9. Bishops Head Wines
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Home to the award winning Bishops Head Wines. Come taste and purchase our selection of fine local wines, grown and made onsite. Specialists in Pinot noir, Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling and Pinot gris. Meet and chat with the owners and winemaker.
Reviewed By Dan H - Auckland, New Zealand
Anyone looking for a boutique winery experience in Waipara should look no further than Bishops Head.
Husband and wife team Pete & Juliet Saunders deliver a unique experience. Not only do they run the vine yard and make the wine, they're likely to make the delicious food platters and deliver the wine tasting.
Only five minutes off the main road, treat yourself to fine wine, food, all served with a friendly smile and often many laughs. Enjoy!
10. Georges Road Wines
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Georges Road Wines is a picturesque winery and vineyard in Waipara, New Zealand, only 45 minutes north of Christchurch. Visit the winery and tasting room, taste the wines with the winemaker and look around the vineyard.
Reviewed By Peter P - London, United Kingdom
This place is a one man band and has been developed from nothing within I believe around 15 years. The owner does everything is very hospitable and produces fabulous wines. This is a great trip into the countryside for a group of friends.
