Waipara Valley Vineyard Trail

Glenmark Domain — Greystone

2.5km, 15min

The Waipara Valley Vineyard Trail starts amongst the majestic oak trees at the Glenmark Domain where you will find toilets, and a map board to start you off.

Riding down the aptly named Church Rd (look for trains at the crossing) you will pass the local cemetery before turning onto the off-road trail just past Sherwood Estate.

The trail heads past the historic Glenmark Church and through the first of several gates – please leave them closed.

Before heading under State Highway 1 there is the turnoff to Waipara Springs Winery – marvelous wines make the short detour a must. Once under the highway, you will pop out at the cellar door of Greystone and Muddy Water Wines, time for a short break.

Greystone — Greystone Loop

1.4km, 15min

The trail uses the vineyard track, across Omihi Stream then, the main uphill for the trail. At the top of the road branches – to the right is the Greystone Loop, a route around the vines on this north-facing slope.

To the left, through the stock grate is the main trail – Muddy Water, Mountford, and Black Estate this way.

Greystone Loop — Muddy Water

0.9km, 10min

The trail now crosses the pasture above the vineyards and on trails on the vineyard headlands, through several stock grates to drop down through the old macrocarpa hedge, turn left alongside the hedge to the picnic table at the Muddy Water lake.

Muddy Water — Black Estate

2.1km, 15min

From Muddy Water, the trail winds up through the vines and out onto the track through Rockford Estate into and above Mountford Estate.

Out of Mountford, through yet another stock grate (and gate, they breed tricky sheep here) the trail is out on the slopes of Stackhouse Farm.

You will be sharing the trail with inquisitive sheep. The last gate and stock grate enter the Black Estate with its award-winning cafe and wines, what better place to rest up.

Black Estate — Glenmark Domain

6.9km, 25min (return option)
7.6km, 25min (Loop via SH1 option)

Recommended is returning the way you have just traveled – even more, opportunities to taste the wines missed and appreciate both the new views to the south and also that great downhill into Greystone.

The other option is work in progress, dropping down ‘Blacks Avenue’ through the vineyards to SH1 at the Omihi Bridge. A project has just been consented to provide a crossing of the Omihi Stream under SH1, watch this space.

The only other option is carefully using SH1 for 300m and turning right into Kings Rd. From there this quiet road winds through some of Waipara’s oldest vines and farmlands, turning left onto Glenmark Drive back to the domain – you will have just done 14.5 km