Food & Wine

The Alpine Pacific Touring Route has a proud history of being a food producer’s paradise, with an ideal climate and soil, forests rich with wild game, market gardens, farms, truffières, rivers and ocean delicacies.

Providing a truly local experience, North Canterbury people are fiercely proud of the region’s strong reputation for its internationally acclaimed food and wine. The best bit is they love nothing better than sharing it with those who venture through this stunning part of New Zealand.

The North Canterbury Wine Region in the Hurunui District boasts more than 90 vineyards, most of them independently owned by this close-knit community, with more than 20 cellar doors waiting for you and 10 vineyard restaurants offering food and wine in harmony with the stunning backdrop.

Greystone Wines in the heart of the Waipara Valley draws its name from the unique limestone conglomerate in the bedrock on which their vine roots grow in. Pinot Noir famously loves soils with limestone, and like many other North Canterbury wineries, their full-bodied red varieties are just the thing to warm your soul over the colder months.

Their popular vineyard tour matches you with a personal guide who will introduce you to the different varieties grown on their unique soils.

You'll get the chance to taste wines right by the source, before heading to the winery to see how they make their wines. You'll even have the opportunity to taste wine straight from the barrel!

Local restaurants and cafes throughout this region hero the fresh, seasonal and unique ingredients that are home-grown in the Hurunui.

A stop into the Amberley Farmers market is where you can find some of this bounty for yourself, and is a must for food lovers.

Filled with the best artisan products the region has to offer, from free range meats, to handcrafted breads, and a variety of fruit chutneys, cheeses and other local delicacies, you’ll find plenty of mouth-watering fare to enjoy throughout your Alpine Pacific road-trip.

Further north into the alpine spa village of Hanmer Springs, one of the best places to enjoy the warm and cosy vibe is No.31 Restaurant Bar.

Housed in a quaint character cottage with open fire, wooden floors, candle-lit tables and French doors opening on to a private courtyard, the atmosphere and delectable cuisine is the perfect way to cap off an afternoon. Here, free range and wild game are the heroes (along with the chef of course). Make sure you try the venison…  Everyone raves about it!