WINE TASTING - Wairarapa
The Wairarapa region northeast of Wellington is home to three successful wine districts; Masterton, Gladstone and Martinborough. Here, stony well-drained soils, vigorous winds and long hours of sunshine create grapes of intense flavour.
Numerous local boutique vineyards produce award-winning wines, predominantly pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. With picturesque landscapes and historic architecture, Wairarapa is an idyllic wine tasting destination.
Your Wairarapa wine experience can happen inside, around a winery restaurant table, or outside in the wildflower-decorated vineyards. Find a local tour guide and custom-design a journey that leads to your favourite kinds of wine. Wairarapa is particularly famous for pinot noir - if you love a good red, this is your region.
photo courtesy of Rob Suisted
ARATOI MUSEUM - Masterton
Aratoi is Wairarapa's Museum of Art & History and features a wealth of Wairarapa stories & artworks by local artists as well as exhibits of national & international works. The museums building is award winning and was designed by Studio of Pacific Architecture. An adjacent Wesley Church has been incorporated as an exhibition gallery. Aratoi is the home of the Rutherford Art Collection.
Location: Cnr Bruce & Dixon Streets, Masterton
Price: free, exhibits may charge
Hours: 10am till 4pm, 7 days.
Photo courtesy of nzmuseums.co.nz
WAIRARAPA FARMERS MARKET - Masterton
The Wairarapa Farmers Market displays a great variety of produce which is locally produced from vegetables, herbs, cheese, wine, free range eggs, flowers & plants to artisan products, Arabica coffees, olive oil, cider, organic meat, beer, and more. Definitely worth a look on that sunny Saturday morning.
Location: Solway Showgrounds - Fleet St Entrance, Masterton.
Price: free
Hours: 24
PUTANGIRUA PINNACLES - Cape Palliser
A geological formation and one of New Zealand's best examples of badlands erosion, the Putangirua Pinnacles are worth a look. They consist of a large number of earth pillars located at the head of a valley in the Aorangi Ranges. The Pinnacles are the result of higher sea levels from 7 to 9 million years ago receding and alluvial fans being eroded due to weather conditions.
An enjoyable days visit, allow about three hours for the walk of which there are three to choose from, here you'll walk between monstrous pinnacles taking in the interesting forms made over millions of years.
Location: Drive about 13 kilometres along Cape Palliser Road from the Lake Ferry turn-off to the reserve. Camping ground available.
Photo courtesy of Touko Maksimainen
RIVERDSALE BEACH - Riversdale
Situated 40 kilometres east of Masterton, Riversdale Beach Resort consists largely of holiday homes and a few shops. The beach is a light sand beach with a slow incline, is popular with families and surfers alike and has good facilities and a food and beverage kiosk. On your travel there your bound to enjoy the scenic drive.
Riversdale beach is the longest beach in the Wairarapa and is renowned for year round surf.
Location: Take Masterton Castlepoint Rd, turn right in to Blair Logie-Langdale Rd, then right in to Honeywood Rd & left in to Riversdale Rd to the end.
PUKAHA MOUNT BRUCE NATIONAL PARK
- Wairarapa
Here you'll find scenic tracks for which you can admire New Zealands Native bush and wildlife.
The Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre is an important sanctuary for rare and endangered native birds - including Kiwi, Kokako and Kaka - and a must-see nature experience.
Location: State highway 2, 30 km north of Masterton and 10 km south of Eketahuna.
Web: http://www.pukaha.org.nz
photographs courtesy of Scott Venning
Photo courtesy of Scott Venning
Photo courtesy of Scott Venning
photographs courtesy of Scott Venning
MARTINBOROUGH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
festival begins every year on the third Sunday in November.
The promise of new wine releases draws the crowds each year to the Toast Martinborough wine, food and music festival. More than 30 vineyards surround the town square, each matching fresh food from local and Wellington restaurants to their carefully crafted wines. Pinot noir and sauvignon blanc are the main varieties in this area, however several other grapes are grown in lesser quantities.
An informal party atmosphere welcomes thousands of visitors to the Martinborough wine village at festival time. Live music and a free bus between the vineyards ensure a festive time for all. It’s a spectacular setting for relaxing over fine wine and local cuisine. Live entertainment ranges from quiet jazz to high-profile contemporary groups. Toast Martinborough has something for everyone.
CASTLEPOINT - Castlepoint, Wairarapa
Castlepoint is a picturesque coastal beach with its sheltered bay and reef which is frequented by surf casters, if your lucky you may see a pod of orca swim past.
There are several good walks at Castlepoint including the boardwalk to the lighthouse, operational since 1913.
For a longer hike, follow the track through Castlepoint Scenic Reserve to Castle Rock, an impressive rock formation that was named by Captain James Cook in 1770. There is also the quaint kiosk at the beach for which you can get a snack or ice cream while enjoying the sun or going for a swim, bodyboard or surf.
Location: Take Ore Ore rd out of Masterton, then Castle Point Rd till it ends.
Photograph courtesy of Ian Trafford
Wairarapa Sights
Featherston, Carterton, Martinborough, Greytown, Masterton
Scott Venning
Wairarapa is a premium wine destination, renowned for a laid back lifestyle and warm hospitality. A weekend favourite for fine food and wines, or nature trips.
Situated in the North Island and renowned for producing high quality pinot noir, Wairarapa is a key part of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. From the Martinborough Village there are many vineyards within walking distance enabling you to cycle or stroll between wineries.
There are many boutique accommodation options available as well as a vibrant café and dining scene which invite locals from Wellington and surrounds as well as international tourists. Within the Wairarapa you'll find delicacies from gourmet bread, to cheese, olive oil and chocolate all from local producers.
Archaeologists believe that the Wairarapa has a strong Māori hertiage with parts of the coast being occupied for more than 800 years.
In relation to the Māori legend (that the North Island is the fish - Te Ika a Maui - which Maui hooked from his boat (the South Island)), it is said that Palliser Bay is the mouth of the fish, and Lake Wairarapa is the eye. Cape Palliser as a matter of fact was named after Captain James Cooks friend and patron, Sir Hugh Palliser in 1770 while sailing the coast.
A popular destination for foodies, Martinborough and Greytown are renowned for their artisan food producers and are home to many a restaurant or café.
For those who like to tour there are various food and wine tours available that enable you to goes behind the scenes and meet the producers as well as sample the local produce.
"Martinborough and Greytown are renowned for their artisan food producers and home to many a restaurant or café."
CAPE PALLISER SEAL COLONY - Cape Palliser
The Cape Palliser Seal Colony is the North Island's largest fur seal colony.
With hundreds of seals to view along the shore you can get within metres of the seals, but be careful as they are wary and could charge you if scared! Experts say not to get between them and their escape to the sea.
The seal colony is the highlight of the trip to the lighthouse and taking time out to view them will be rememberable.
Location: Cape Palliser
Price: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Photo courtesy of Daniel Ung
HENLEY LAKE - Wairarapa
Henley Lake is situated in the city of Masterton and is a man made lake for recreation and non-motorised water sports. The lake is Wairarapa's only freshwater lake. It consists of streams, ponds, wetlands, lagoons and plantings of native and exotic trees. The area is popular for running, walking, birdwatching & picnics.
Location: Colombo Rd, Masterton.
Price: Free
Hours: 24 hours
WAIRARAPA TIMES AGE BUILDING - Masterton
The Wairarapa Times Age Building is situated on the cnr of Chapel & Cole Streets in Masterton and is an "Art Deco" style building designed by Mitchell & Mitchell in 1937. Its said that the triangular design is copied from the Miami Herald newspaper's building. The building is home to the Times Age Newspaper & community publications.
Location: Cnr of Chapel & Cole Street, Masterton
Hours: 24 for outside viewings.
Price: free
Web: http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?Rid=7666
Photo courtesy of Historic Places Trust
FEATHERSTON HERTIAGE COMPLEX - Featherston
The Featherston Heritage Complex offers you the opportunity to see a Fell Engine, as used on the Rimutaka Incline. The Rimutaka Incline was used as the form of travel over the hills for trains between the Wairarapa and Wellington before the present-day tunnel was opened. The line operated for 77 years.
Here you'll also find stories about the military and prisoner-of -war camps which were once in the area. The Information Centre is situated next door between the library and heritage complex.
Location: Cnr Lyon & Fitzherbert Streets, Featherston.
Price: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Photo courtesy of nzmuseums
