Waipara

Waipara is a small town in North Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand.

Get in

By car

Waipara is at the junction of State Highway 1, which runs between Christchurch and Kaikoura, and State Highway 7.

By bus

Intercity coaches call at Waipara on the Christchurch - Picton and Christchurch - Hanmer Springs routes.

By train

Main article: Rail travel in New Zealand

The Coastal Pacific train stops here on its daily run from Christchurch to Picton and back.

See

• 1 St Paul's Church - Glenmark, 173 Church Rd, Glenmark. Church built in 1906, in an English style. Built from stone and brick with kauri and rimu timber inside. (updated Nov 2016)

Do

• 1 Weka Pass Railway, ☏ +64 3 962 2999, info@wekapassrailway.co.nz. Train excursions on a 14-km track between Glenmark Station in Waipara and Waikari Station every 1st and 3rd Su of the month, every Su in Jan and most public holidays. Trains are usually hauled by an "A" Class "Pacific" steam locomotive built in 1909. Adult $18 one way, $30 return; child $10 and $12. 
• Wine tours. Pinot Noir and Riesling are the specialties here.

Buy

• 1 Waipara Fuelstop 24/7, cnr SH1 & Mount Cass Rd. Automated petrol and diesel pumps. (updated May 2016)
• Waipara Gardens & Post Office, 63 Glenmark Dr. M-F 8-10:30am. This dairy is the only staffed retail outlet in town these days. (updated May 2016)

Eat

• Fossil Point Cafe & Gallery, 1 Valley Rd, Greta Valley (21 km north of Waipara). F 9am-9pm, Sa–Su 8am-4pm. (updated Jun 2017)
• 1 Waipara Springs Winery & Cafe, 409 Omihi Rd (State Highway 1) (just north of the town). 

Drink

• 1 Greystone Wines, 376 Omihi Rd, ☏ +64 3 314 6100, cellardoor@greystonewines.co.nz. 11:00-17:00. Greystone is 100% certified organic. Home to New Zealand's 2018 'Winemaker of the Year', Dom Maxwell, Greystone was also named New Zealand's 2018 'Winery of the Year'. Greystone is best known for their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. (updated Jul 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Waipara Sleepers, 12 Glenmark Dr, ☏ +64 3 314 6003. Sleep in converted historic railway wagons, each on its wheels on a piece of railway track. Tent site $20, van site $25, bunk $25, huts and wagons $40–50 sgl, $60–70 for two. 

Go next

• Kaikoura – north, up the coast
• Hanmer Springs – north, inland
• Kaiapoi – south, towards Christchurch
• Rangiora – south, towards Christchurch

Routes through Waipara

Blenheim ← Kaikoura ←	N  S	→ Kaiapoi → Christchurch
Greymouth ← Hanmer Springs ←	W  E	→ END