Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa Wine Trail by Campervan

The route and how long it takes

From Wellington, State Highway 2 climbs over the Remutaka Hill Road into the Wairarapa, then runs north through Featherston, Greytown, Carterton and Masterton and on through Eketāhuna, Dannevirke and Waipukurau to Hastings and Napier. Wellington to Napier is about 330 kilometres and 4.5 to 5 hours without stops, so the trail wants three to five days.

The Remutaka Hill Road is winding and can be affected by wind, ice and slips, with a strict speed limit on the descent, and the south of the Wairarapa is exposed to the wind. Check the NZTA Journey Planner before you set out and use the driving day planner to set days that suit a campervan.

Martinborough and the Wairarapa

Martinborough sits about an hour and a half from Wellington, a village on a square with more than 20 wineries within a few minutes of it, most known for pinot noir. The country is flat, so cycling between cellar doors is easy and hire is available in the village. Greytown, further north, has heritage buildings, boutiques and cafes and is the other natural stop.

Many Wairarapa cellar doors open at lunchtime and close by late afternoon, some only at weekends or by appointment, so check hours before you drive out. The Wellington and Wairarapa camping loop guide has the region's campgrounds and the Cape Palliser coast.

Masterton to Hawke's Bay

North of Masterton the highway runs through farming country and small towns, with Eketāhuna, Pahiatua and Dannevirke each a coffee stop. Masterton to Hastings is about 200 kilometres and three hours, and a night in Masterton or Dannevirke splits it comfortably.

Rural roads carry stock trucks and tractors, and passing places are limited. Slow down for blind corners and let traffic pass at the pull-outs. The Wellington to Napier drive guide covers the same highway in more detail.

Hawke's Bay: Napier, Hastings and Havelock North

Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's oldest wine region and is known for syrah and Bordeaux-style blends from the Gimblett Gravels, with chardonnay and sparkling wines too. Napier is the Art Deco city on the coast, Hastings the working centre, and Havelock North the village at the foot of Te Mata Peak, with cellar doors and restaurants all within a short drive.

The Hawke's Bay Trails are flat cycleways that link the towns and many of the wineries and give a car-free day, with bike hire around Napier and Havelock North. Allow a day for Napier's Art Deco streets and the seafront, and another for Te Mata Peak and Cape Kidnappers.

Wine tasting and drink-driving

The drink-driving limit is 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood for drivers aged 20 and over, and zero for drivers under 20, and a few tastings can put a driver over it. Appoint a driver who does not drink, take a winery tour or shuttle, or cycle between cellar doors on the flat trails. The alcohol and fatigue guide has the rules in full.

Most cellar doors let you spit and will pour small samples, so tasting does not have to mean drinking, and they will arrange a taxi. A campervan is no place for the driver to sleep off a tasting before driving in the morning, because alcohol can still be in the blood.

Where to camp

Holiday parks in Martinborough, Greytown, Masterton, Hastings and Napier suit a campervan, with powered sites, showers and kitchens, and many sit close to the cellar doors. Book ahead in summer and over school holidays, and for events such as the harvest in March and April.

Freedom camping in both regions is controlled by council rules, and several towns restrict it to certified self-contained vehicles at set sites. Do not park overnight at a cellar door unless the owner has invited you. DOC campsites are limited on this route, so check the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay hubs for what is open.

Planning the trail in KiwiCamping

KiwiCamping lists the holiday parks and the few DOC campsites between the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay, with filters for campervan access and facilities. Save the towns you want to base yourself in, add them to a trip in order, and the app shows how far apart they are and what the forecast says at each one. It has no directions or live traffic, so NZTA is the place to check for closures on the Remutaka Hill Road.

Booking stays on the provider's own pages. Free to download, with in-app purchases.

Places along the way