Where are the best wineries in New Zealand’s North Island?

For a far-flung region in the South Pacific, New Zealand’s North Island has a wealth of experiences to delight wine lovers, with rolling vineyards and coastal landscapes every bit as expressive as the wines themselves. The mighty South Island may be home to 84 per cent of the country’s vineyards, but the north has top Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers of its own – along with the advantage of being the main gateway for international travellers.  

Visiting the north of Aotearoa (New Zealand) typically means you’ll land in Auckland and spend a little time in the “City of Sails”, which serves as your jumping-off point for exploring North Island and beyond. Just a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown’s CBD across the emerald waters of the Hauraki Gulf lies Waiheke Island. Once a backwater, Waiheke is now an upmarket tourist destination with wineries, hotels and white beaches stretching into the distance. 

If you can visit only one winery there, make sure it’s Man O’ War estate. Set against rugged seaside hills, it’s the perfect place for a private tasting and a leisurely long lunch while watching the waves wash up on the sandy shore. While you’re there, drop in to the Waiheke Art Gallery , where the work of many of the community’s talented artists is displayed.

Just west of Auckland is another prize-winning estate, Kumeu River Wines . Owned and run by the Brajkovich family, it’s home to some of the country’s most awarded Chardonnays in the world. Yet for all its prestige, it still has the feel of a humble family-run enterprise. If time permits, drop by the neighbouring Babich Wines , another family-owned winery. These wineries both have a venerable heritage, founded by families who literally planted the first seeds of New Zealand’s wine industry.   

Exploring the East Coast

An hour’s flight (or a six-hour drive) southeast from Auckland takes wine lovers straight into the heart of North Island’s wine industry – Hawke’s Bay, the country’s second-largest wine region and home to heavyweight winery Hawke’s Bay , a household name for Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays. 

In nearby Ahuriri, a suburb of Napier, you’ll find The Urban Winery , an excellent place to sample some Chardonnay, the region’s leading white wine. Owner Tony Bish has made this a true shrine to Chardonnay, with a range of classic styles. The building also happens to be one of Napier’s most evocative Art Deco buildings, part of a style that redefined the city after a major earthquake in 1933.  

If you’re keen for some exercise to burn off yesterday’s bottle, Hawke’s Bay has hundreds of kilometres of dedicated cycle trails, most of which are off-road but not overly demanding. Bikes and equipment are easy to hire, and you’ll find maps of wineries, cafés and restaurants along the way. A top choice in the bay area for both wine and food is Craggy Range , nestled between Te Mata Peak and the Tukituki River.   

Also near Napier is Trinity Hill Wines , famous for its Syrah, Chardonnay and “The Trinity” reds, while on the coast, you’ll find the Elephant Hill estate, with its highly recommended “Hierynomous” blend of reds and dramatic clifftop views. 

Martinborough and the Wairarapa 

Continuing down the coast brings you into Wairarapa , home to over a thousand hectares of grapes. The beating heart of this region is Martinborough, a small farming town that produces powerful Pinot Noirs. Being flat, Martinborough is agreeable for cyclists, and wineries are mostly within a 10- to 15-minute walk. Its first wineries – Ata Rangi, Dry River and Martinborough Vineyard – emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were soon joined by Nga Waka , which has recently won four trophies and a gold medal for its 2024 Nga Waka Lease Block Pinot Noir at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.  

To sample some of Martinborough’s finest, award-winning wines, head to Ata Rangi for Pinot Noir, Te Kairanga for an exceptional tasting experience at its fine dining restaurant, Nga Waka for its laid-back atmosphere, and Escarpment for majestic wines paired with beautiful views.

Martinborough packs a punch despite its small size, which is a reflection of the North Island’s broader viticulture prowess. It’s warmer than the South Island, smaller in wine volume, but is nevertheless an equally compelling source of fresh vibrant whites and reds, as well as being an attractive destination in its own right. Many people’s next stop is Wellington, a centre of wine bars and frequently rated one of the world’s most liveable cities, and from there into the stunning national parks of Egmont and Whanganui.

Before you leave the Martinborough area, take the opportunity to visit the Putangirua Pinnacles, a spectacular, otherworldly geological formation (hoodoos), which you might recognise from the last film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. A little way along the coast, you’ll find the Cape Palliser lighthouse, where you can see fur seals and, on a clear day, South Island. Perhaps you’ll be tempted to venture over and see the more than 400 wineries on the other side – but with so much close at hand, North Island alone offers more than enough to savour.