North Island New Zealand Wine Map: 16 Regions in 3D, Interactive
Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough, Waiheke Island, Gisborne, and the North Island wine regions in full 3D terrain.
This interactive 3D North Island wine map shows the wine regions and subregions of New Zealand’s North Island on real terrain: Northland, Auckland with Kumeu, Matakana and Waiheke Island, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and the Golden Slope, Hawke’s Bay with Central Hawke’s Bay and the Gimblett Gravels, and Wairarapa with Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton, drawn in 3D by SommGeo. Tilt and fly from the subtropical north to the Wairarapa terraces, check elevation and slope, and click any region for its grapes and climate. The interactive map is part of SommGeo membership, which starts with a free 15-day trial.
- Regions on the map: 16 North Island regions and subregions, every boundary clickable: 7 regions and 9 subregions
- Hawke’s Bay: New Zealand’s second most planted region and the home of the Gimblett Gravels, a district of deep greywacke shingle on an old riverbed
- Martinborough: Dry, cool Wairarapa country with gravelly alluvial terraces, known for concentrated Pinot Noir
- Signature grapes: Red Bordeaux varieties and Syrah in Hawke’s Bay and on Waiheke Island, Chardonnay in Gisborne and Kumeu, Pinot Noir in Martinborough
- Northland: Where New Zealand’s first vines were planted, subtropical, and now under 1% of the national vineyard
- 3D tools: Tilt and rotate the terrain, elevation profile readouts, daylight and shadow animation, layer controls and a weather overlay
The North Island of New Zealand is where the country’s wine industry began and where its most diverse range of styles is produced. From the warm, Bordeaux-inspired reds of Hawke’s Bay to the cool-climate Pinot Noir of Martinborough, to the coastal Chardonnay of Gisborne, the terrain shifts dramatically across relatively short distances. Maritime influence is constant but varies in intensity, and the interplay of altitude, aspect, and proximity to the coast shapes site character in measurable ways. This map covers the North Island’s wine regions and subregions with detailed popup data on each. Use the layer controls to change between shading and outlines and the elevation profile tool to trace the altitude gradients that separate the island’s distinct growing zones.
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This 3D Fast Map covers the wine regions and subregions of New Zealand’s North Island. Click any mapped area for detailed popup content covering grape varieties, climate details, and geographic specifics. Use the layer controls to toggle different regional groupings on and off and the elevation profile tool to trace the terrain differences between coastal and inland growing sites.
- North Island wine regions and subregions mapped with detailed popup data
- Elevation profile tool for measuring vineyard altitude and slope gradients
- Daylight and shadow animation to visualize aspect and sun exposure
- Detailed popup data for every mapped region and subregion
Key Regions in Focus
Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is the North Island’s most important red wine region. The Gimblett Gravels, a roughly 800-hectare (1,977-acre) area of free-draining alluvial gravel from the old Ngaruroro riverbed, is the standout subregion: stony soils retain heat and radiate it back at night, ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah to a concentration rare in New Zealand.
Wairarapa and Martinborough
The Wairarapa sits at the southern tip of the North Island, tucked in the rain shadow of the Rimutaka (Remutaka) Range. Martinborough, the most celebrated subregion, occupies river terraces at low elevation with free-draining alluvial gravels over clay. Shelter from westerly rain, cooling winds from the south, and well-drained soils make this one of the best Pinot Noir sites in the country. Production scale is small and vineyards are concentrated in a compact area. The 3D terrain makes the rain shadow visible: the Remutaka and Tararua Ranges rise steeply to the west, and Martinborough sits in the dry zone immediately behind them. The elevation profile tool is useful for measuring the range and understanding why the eastern side stays drier.
Auckland, Waiheke, and Gisborne
Auckland’s wine regions are scattered across distinct sites. Waiheke Island, has a warm microclimate and clay soils over weathered Jurassic greywacke that produce concentrated Bordeaux-style reds and Syrah on a small scale. On the mainland northwest of the city, Kumeu is one of New Zealand’s top sources for Chardonnay, while Matakana, north of Auckland, produces Pinot Gris and Bordeaux varieties in a warmer coastal setting. Gisborne is one of New Zealand’s sunniest wine regions, with fertile alluvial soils producing the country’s largest volumes of Chardonnay alongside increasingly respected Gewürztraminer. The 3D terrain highlights Waiheke’s island geography and the flat, coastal character of the Gisborne plains.
North Island regions on this map (16)
Every North Island region and subregion on the map, north to south. The 3D map adds the terrain, elevation and sun tools plus a full profile for each.
| Name | Status | Principal grapes |
|---|---|---|
| Northland GI | GI region | Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Merlot |
| Auckland GI | GI region | Red Bordeaux varieties, Chardonnay |
| Matakana GI | GI, within Auckland | Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris |
| Kumeu GI | GI, within Auckland | Chardonnay |
| Waiheke Island GI | GI, within Auckland | Red Bordeaux varieties, Syrah, Chardonnay |
| Waikato | Region (not a GI) | Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Bay of Plenty | Region (not a GI) | Chardonnay, Merlot |
| Gisborne GI | GI region | Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer |
| “The Golden Slope” | Subregion of Gisborne (not a GI) | Chardonnay |
| Hawke’s Bay GI | GI region | Red Bordeaux varieties, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Central Hawke’s Bay GI | GI, within Hawke’s Bay | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir |
| Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District | Subregion of Hawke’s Bay (not a GI) | Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Wairarapa GI | GI region | Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Masterton | Subregion of Wairarapa (not a GI) | Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Gladstone GI | GI, within Wairarapa | Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris |
| Martinborough GI | GI, within Wairarapa | Pinot Noir |
Hopefully this index is useful on its own. To explore these regions interactively, with every boundary on real terrain and a full profile for each, start a 15-day free trial. To see what one of these maps is like first, a different map is unlocked for everyone every day. For a flat view of the same regions, see the New Zealand Fast Map. The South Island has its own 3D map: the South Island New Zealand 3D Fast Map.
North Island New Zealand 3D Wine Map: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the North Island’s wine regions?
From north to south: Northland, Auckland with its Matakana, Kumeu and Waiheke Island GIs, the sparsely planted Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Gisborne on the east coast, Hawke’s Bay with Central Hawke’s Bay and the Gimblett Gravels, and Wairarapa at the bottom of the island with Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton. Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa carry most of the island’s quality reputation; the far north is subtropical and small. All 16 are on this map.
Why is Hawke’s Bay known for red wine?
It is one of the warmest and sunniest regions in the country, sheltered by ranges to the west, and its old riverbeds left deposits of free-draining gravel. The Gimblett Gravels, deep greywacke shingle on a former course of the Ngaruroro River, heat up fast and ripen Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in a way few other New Zealand sites can. Chardonnay is the leading white, and inland Central Hawke’s Bay is cooler and higher.
What makes Martinborough good for Pinot Noir?
Martinborough sits in the rain shadow of the Tararua Range, so it is dry and sunny, yet it is cool and windy enough to keep the growing season long. The vineyards are on old river terraces of gravel topped with shallow silt loam, which limits vigor and yields. The result is concentrated, age-worthy Pinot Noir from a small area, with Gladstone and Masterton to the north growing Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc on similar soils.
How does the 3D map help with North Island wine?
The North Island’s regions are shaped by ranges and coastlines. In 3D you can see the Tararua Range behind Martinborough, the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges sheltering Hawke’s Bay, the flat Gimblett Gravels against the Heretaunga Plains, Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf and the hills behind Gisborne’s Golden Slope. The elevation and slope tools show why Central Hawke’s Bay is cooler than the coast and why the Wairarapa terraces drain so well.
Is the North Island New Zealand 3D wine map free?
The region index on this page is free to use. The interactive 3D map itself, with clickable boundaries and a full profile for every region, is part of SommGeo membership, which starts with a free 15-day trial. If you want a feel for what one of these maps is like before signing up, SommGeo unlocks one map every day on a rotation, different every day, no signup needed. Today’s unlocked map is on the home page.
New to 3D Fast Maps? Learn how to navigate 3D terrain, use elevation profiles, animate sunlight, and get the most from your map.
3D Fast Maps Guide →Ready to explore the New Zealand North Island in full 3D? Join 200+ wine organizations already using SommGeo.
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Map by Greg Van Wagner, SommGeo
