10 days in a van, Wellington to Auckland

[via collins]

Things have been a bit quiet of late from NZ posters, hopefully I can drag a few out.

My family and I are chucking a few meagre possessions into a winnegabo-type of vehicle in late March, and travelling, as casually as you like, from Welly to A'land.

Cellar door visits opportunities will be relatively limited, so I'm looking for a little advice. Quality time in Martinborough will be a def, and as Te Mata is my holy grail at present, that's on my list. I've love tips on places I shouldn't miss - and I drink everything except shiraz vognier - along the way. We aim to cook fish as regularly as we can along the way, but it's a fairly open schedule at present.

Thanks in advance.

[rooman]

Make sure you book lunch at clearview winery, lovely place in Hawkes Bay. If possible also book Craggy Range. Best to do a week or so in advance.

[Craig(NZ)]

one piece of advice with martinborough - try do it in the weekend. a number of cellar doors have very limited hours (and quite a few dont open at all). we went late morning during the week before xmas and gave up and went to the beach as nothing was open.

i prefer touring hawkes bay personally

[Paradox]

Hmm, 10 days, hmm family...
After your day in Martinborough I'd drive up to Hawke's Bay and spend a few days there. The Te Awanga peninsula is lovely and you can visit the gannets as well as Clearview Winery. Napier is a pretty cool city with quite a bit to do around it. It's a great part of the country. However I'd spend most of my time at Gisborne or on the East Cape, and while the wineries here are nowhere near as stellar as Hawke's Bay, the fishing is better and the family will love the relaxed atmosphere and beaches. Definitely stop at Anauru Bay for a night. There are a few things of interest around Tauranga and Mt Maunganui but a day here would be more than enough for me.

[Bick]

I visited Hawkes Bay a couple of moinths ago, and would second doing the Gannet colony trip along the beach, on a trailer, pulled by tractor.

As to wineries, Te Mata is a holy grail winewise, but nothing flash to visit, imo, just a small cellar door. Craggy Range on the other hand is a must visit winery. Beautiful location and lovely restaurant. Also, Mission is nice to visit and just up the Church Road, from... you guessed it, Church Rd. Mission is a nice place to eat if the weathers good and you can get a table on the grass overlooking the vines below.

On the way up, as you get nearer to Auckland, you should try and stop by Puriri hills in Clevedon. Show the requisite interest and Judy will doubtless show you round the winery and cellar.

[via collins]

Thanks all so far - all advice appreciated, I reckon I've been saved a few chump moves already!We would have rolled into M'borough on a Tues expecting the cellar doors to greet us joyfully. Of course, w'ends only makes sense....and some of those location tips will be duly acted upon.

Yeah, 10 days in the van with the family can look odd from one angle, but we've done a ton of driving here in Oz over the years are are still alive, so we figure a Nth Island jaunt will be a pushover..