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Waipara Hills

Waipara Hills: Hours, Address, Waipara Hills Reviews: 4/5

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Waipara Hills

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Waipara Hills
4
155
#4 of 13 things to do in Waipara
Wineries & Vineyards
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
On State Highway 1, set amongst the vines is the iconic stone building that is home to Waipara Hills. Here you'll discover an operating winery, cellar door and seasonal cafe. Just 45 minutes drive north of Christchurch.
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The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3 within 5 kms
Waipara Hills Cafe
94
25 m$$ - $$$ • European • New Zealand • Vegetarian Friendly
Pegasus Bay Winery Restaurant
249
2.3 km$$$$ • New Zealand • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Fiddler's Green Vineyard & Bistro
26
2.6 km$$ - $$$ • New Zealand
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Attractions
11 within 10 kms
Pegasus Bay Winery
230
2.2 kmWineries & Vineyards
Terrace Edge Vineyard & Olive Grove
55
3.7 kmWineries & Vineyards
Lake Sumner Forest Park
4
1.6 kmNature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Torlesse Wines
69
3 kmWineries & Vineyards
Weka Pass Railway
33
2.7 kmScenic Railroads
Greystone Wines
47
4.7 kmWineries & Vineyards
Waipara Springs Winery
45
Wineries & Vineyards
Georges Road Wines
12
Wineries & Vineyards
The Bone Line
5
Wineries & Vineyards
Sherwood Estate Wines
4.1 kmWineries & Vineyards
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Popular mentions
4.0
155 reviews
Excellent
79
Very good
31
Average
17
Poor
14
Terrible
14
Shane D
Wairarapa, New Zealand87 contributions
average with potential
Nov 2021
Can't rate the whole experience higher given we were there for lunch and a tasting, and it was the approach and service in the restaurant that let it down. Had booked online, and in notes requested to come earlier for tasting. Received booking confirmation for table, but ended up ringing on day of booking as we ere nearby, to check on tasting as nothing mentioned in auto email. Told then that it was all arranged - perhaps you might next time tell the person who booked...? Jilly - was absolutely exceptional. great personality and pizazz - a great ambassador for you.

Then it was to the food. Wheels are wobbling here. Knowing we are tasting wines - and only about 5 minutes after the booking time - we approach the restaurant only to be told our table for two is not ready. hmm, a quick wait and we get taken to an unset, very wet table. To our left a fully set table for two that we could have been sat at...

Service was good - not great.

Pricepoint - not bad though 3x2cm cubed pieces of pork belly does not an entree make for $19. While the flavours were nice - I didn't order a salad and some bland noodle.

Overall - average and what a shame
Written 23 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
50kimma
Christchurch, New Zealand2 contributions
Disappointing management experience
Jul 2021 • Friends
A nice lunch that unfortunately didn’t end well for the following reasons.The Manager needs to step up & start leading her staff & set a better example in how to manage & look after customers. Sometimes exceptions to the rules need to be made when the staff themselves have slipped up & made errors. I do not know of any good business that would expect customers to pay for something that they did not order. We had two different waitresses who came to our table one after the other & both asked us the exact same things, so clearly there was no system in place & they are not instructed to serve a specific table, hence we got an extra side plate we did not order. We ordered 1 grazing platter & 1 deconstructed platter, when they brought the plates out there was 1 given to myself & another shared by two others plus a small side plate which we assumed was part of the deconstructed platter as they came together. When we had finished & went to pay, we noticed there was an extra falafel plate which we did not order, but when we mentioned this the Manager told us, you ate it, you have to pay for it, even though the two waitresses admitted they had mucked it up & it was their mistake, the Manager still insisted that we pay for it & then said to us when they came to ask you if everything was ok with the food etc we should have brought it up then, but why would you bring it up when you genuinely thought it was part of the deconstructed platter, maybe if they were brought out separately it would have been picked up but they were brought out together & put on the table together. The waitresses were very nice but they did just not have any efficient systems in place which is what good managers are surely employed to do & also train & help there staff provide excellent service. Isn’t good business about treating customers well & making good judgement calls to retain customers for the future it was not about the money as we did pay for it even though we did not order it. I feel the Judgement call she made in this particular situation was very poor & one I feel a good manager would not make & for this reason would not return nor would we recommend the winery cafe to others.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
reneexl
Invercargill, New Zealand63 contributions
Yum
Jun 2021 • Couples
We had a wonderful lunch at this winery. Deconstructed platter was amazing. We brought a bottle of wine to bring home too 😄
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jude Baker
4 contributions
Fabulous lunch
Jun 2021
Beautiful lunch today at Waipara Hills. 4 of us did the wine tasting first, then the main meal. Excellent service and fabulous food. Cooked and presented to perfection. You would go a long way to find this quality elsewhere. It pays to book as they were quite busy.
Written 4 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
STW2012
Rangiora, New Zealand54 contributions
Lunch at Waipara Hills
May 2021 • Friends
Waipara Hills Cafe is on the main road side so you I can’t miss it. Its an imposing building with a double door entrance into the wine tasting area and a restaurant to the back with great views of the vines. The food is exception with something for everyone and a mix-and-match option. Recommend it for lunch on your journey either south to Christchurch or northwards up the Winery Trail. A delicious lunch with wine tasting to start you off right.
Written 17 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
120Petunia
Timaru, New Zealand183 contributions
Well worth a visit
Apr 2021 • Friends
Right from the moment we arrived the staff made us very welcome. Do go on a lovely fine day so you can take a walk around the grapes. There were some pintos left on the vines which we were told 'for the birds' and to taste. Our food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious with the wines that were recommended. We will definitely recommend to friends and visit again soon.
Written 29 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GARH21
London, UK53 contributions
Fabulous Winery in Waipara
Apr 2021 • Friends
Just can’t rave and rate this winery enough. Had an awesome experience not only the wine tasting with Dion who was fantastic and very knowledgeable as well friendly but the food was great as well. Venue is awesome and the outside area is great. Well worth a visit if you are in the Waipara area.
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
scoots634
Rangiora, New Zealand67 contributions
Beautiful spot with delicious food and great service - bravo!
Mar 2021
We were a walk in with no booking on a Sunday at 12.30pm and found wonderful service, fast and efficient without rushing. We ordered the lamb pitas, fries and spring rolls. Lots of food for two people - probably didn't need the chips but of course we ate everything. The lamb pitas are to die for. Beautiful location and nothing to fault. Great experience for my husband's birthday. Thank you.
Written 18 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
jondc93
Palmerston North, New Zealand11 contributions
Inhospitable Hospitality
Jan 2021 • Friends
Went to Waipara Hills Winery for lunch with Boyfriend. Went to the restaurant reception and asked availability for lunch. A pretentious obnoxious female waiter/receptionist said “We are fully booked and have absolutely no tables!”
There was no offer of other services (wine tasting) or even a pretence of seeing if could fit us in for lunch at a later time. I had been to Waipara Hills Winery before and enjoyed it, hence reason coming back. But the sheer lack of service, empathy or interest in trying to accommodate us for lunch, left a bad taste in our mouths and unfortunately will not be visiting again anytime soon. Hospitality is all about service and to be frank there was none.
Written 24 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mncrbest
Stroud, UK652 contributions
Slick,efficient,big and right on the main highway.
Mar 2020
Large retail experience as you walk in the door then a limited guided tour followed by an eight wine tasting at the raised counters in the entrance lobby. Included in the tasting were two Rieslings and one Gwertztraminer. Then a terrific lunch. Generous size multi meat sharing plates all washed down with copious quantities of Pinot Noir. Warm sunny Sunday lunch which attracted large crowds to this easy to get to venue being only about half an hour north of Christchurch.

Well worth a visit.The restaurant offers a high quality wide ranging menu and professional table service and lets you linger over lunch with no hurry to go for a second sitting.
Written 26 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Waipara Hills
Waipara Hills is open:
  • Thu - Mon 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Waipara Hills tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Waipara Hills tours on Tripadvisor