Waipara Valley

The Waipara River has carved small but spectacular gorges through soft limestone and mudstones. Fossils of Saurian reptiles (which look similar to gigantic crocodiles and alligators) were first found in the river in 1859 by Thomas Cockburn Hood and a mosasaur skull (large ocean dwelling marine lizard) found in 2004, is thought to be 65 million years old. Many mosasaur's, plesiosaur's and the world's oldest penguin have all been unearthed from the river bed over the last 150 years. While on the river banks God's Marbles, 65 million year old limestone spheres, contain fossilised dinosaur bones and fossilised shells.

In 1855 George Henry Moore established Glenmark Estate, with over 90,000 sheep and covering 150,000 acres. He became the richest farmer in New Zealand and made headlines for many reasons - for turning down a swagger who asked for help, only to shoot himself; for building a lavish mansion on Glenmark Estate (destroyed by fire in 1890); and for New Zealand's biggest moa bone find, on his property in 1857. Today Glenmark Estate is much smaller and is surrounded by successful vineyards. Three symbols of Glenmark Estate survive today: ruins of the mansion; the stables dating from 1881; and St Paul's Anglican Church (built in 1907 by Annie Townsend to honour her father).

• Resident population 258 (2006 census)
• Produces in excess of 250,000 cases of wine in an average year
• Southern gateway of the Alpine Pacific Triangle touring route
• Only 45 minutes from Christchurch International Airport
• Over 1,200 hectares of grape plantings
• Weka Pass Vintage Railway operates the first and third Sunday of each month, departing at 11:30am and 2pm
• Three winery restaurants
• Olives, venison, lavender, saffron and hazelnuts also produced in the area

Saturday Farmers Market (Labour Weekend - Easter) in Amberley