8 minute read
ROAD TRIP: A journey through Wairarapa
Pahiatua to Wellington Classic Wine Trail Part Two via SH 2 - 2hr 9min, 160km
SIDE TRIP - Masterton to Castlepoint via Masterton Castlepoint Rd - 58min, 65.4km
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SIDE TRIP - Featherston to Cape Palliser via Martinborough and SH 53 - 1hr 24min, 87km
Discover the heart of the Wairarapa region on this attraction-filled road trip along SH 2, covering rolling farmland, sprawling vineyards, cute towns and finishing up in our fine capital city.
From Tararua district you’ll take in bucolic backcountry before rolling into the wider plains of Wairarapa wine country. Masterton is the largest town in Wairarapa; neighbouring Carterton is a gateway to many walks in the mighty Tararua Ranges. Greytown is a dream for boutique shopping and Martinborough, the heart of the Classic Wine Trail, is only short detour from the main route.
Once you’re over the Remutaka Range and have made your way through Upper Hutt, Wellington Harbour and the stretch of cityscape lie ahead.
HIGHLIGHTS
PŪKAHA NATIONAL WILDLIFE CENTRE - Located at Mt Bruce and home to many species of rare and endangered bird life that you will no longer encounter in the wild. Kōkako, kākāriki and tahakē live here, alongside Manukura, an incredibly rare white kiwi. Don’t miss Te Hīkoi, a new 90-minute guided tour that explains how the forest’s flora and fauna relates to Māori myth and legend.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, Wairarapa
Destination Wairarapa
GREYTOWN - This little town is a mecca for shopping with its pretty main street lined with boutiques selling homewares, antiques, local art and collectibles. Pop into one of the excellent cafés and delve deeper into the town’s heritage at the Cobblestones Museum.
The White Swan, Greytown
Destination Wairarapa
FEATHERSTON - At the foot of the Remutaka Range, Featherston is a small town with a love of reading. Officially a ‘book town’, Featherston is home to several great secondhand book shops and hosts an annual book festival. With cafés, an excellent cheese shop and weekend market, this is a good place to stock up.
HUTT VALLEY & PETONE - In Lower Hutt the Dowse Art Museum is a centre of contemporary creativity, while in Petone, Jackson Street is the place to see local art, craft and fashion. The Hutt is also the gateway to the outdoors with cycle trails, walking tracks, rafting and kayaking sites.
REMUTAKA HILL - The drive up and over the Remutaka Hill from Featherston to Upper Hutt, with its hairpin bends and vertiginous drop-offs is one of the North Island’s most notorious trips. Stop at the top for magnificent views and to read the fascinating story of the troops who walked this route on their way to the Trentham Training Camp in Upper Hutt during WWI.
CARTERTON - It’s here you’ll find Stonehenge Aotearoa. This full scale adaptation of Stonehenge built in the Wairarapa countryside was designed as a practical open air observatory. Take a self-guided audio tour during the day, or visit at night for one of the many astronomical events held year round.
Stonehenge Aotearoa at sunset, Carterton
Kay Leather
MASTERTON - Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton boasts one of the bests play areas in New Zealand. With a large skate park, BMX track and extensive parkland there is plenty of space to burn off energy. Other activities include a mini-golf course, miniature train rides and friendly deer that enjoy being hand-fed acorns in the autumn.
EKETĀHUNA - A small rural town with access to Tararua Forest Park for various walks. Visit the elaborate Middleton Model Railway and get a selfie with the giant kiwi statue.
SIDE TRIP to CASTLEPOINT
An hour’s drive from Masterton, Castlepoint is one of the most popular and interesting beaches in the Wairarapa region. With a classic white lighthouse towering over long stretches of pale sandy beach and a sheltered lagoon popular for swimming, Castlepoint is as picturesque as it is pleasant. Set on a low islet, the lighthouse is only intermittently connected to the mainland by a causeway of sand, depending on the height of the tide, but the walk to and around the rugged rocky islet itself is well worthwhile. The best way to approach the lighthouse is to take the easy 30-minute walk across the reef from the 162-metre-high Castle Rock. With plentiful marine and birdlife in residence, including dolphins and kekeno fur seals, there is plenty to discover here.
Castlepoint, Wairarapa
Destination Wairarapa
TOP WALKS
TE ARAPIKI O TAWHAKI - Accessed from within the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, the Te Arapiki o Tawhaki walk is a 4km, two hour loop though the native lowland podocarp forest, the remnants of what was once the magnificent 70-mile forest in the Wairarapa.
KIRIWHAKAPAPA LOOP - A short, easy walk, the Kiriwhakapapa Loop in the Tararua foothills is a well graded track that passes through regenerated native forest and towering redwoods. Suitable for kids and dogs, the walk is 1km long and should take around 30 minutes.
FENSHAM RESERVE - Just west of Carterton, you’ll find the 48 hectares Fensham Reserve, home to remnants of ancient kahikatea swamp forest, native bush and wetlands. Take the hour-long walk on the circuit track in the company of native birdlife including tūī and pīwakawaka.
MT HOLDSWORTH - If you’re feeling adventurous, head towards the Tararua Range just south of Masterton to tackle the classic Jumbo Circuit, a two to three-day tramp that climbs through beech-podocarp forest to some of the best alpine tops in the Tararua Forest.
THE GREAT HARBOUR WAY/ TE ARANUI O PŌNEKEE - An ever-extending walking and cycling route around Wellington’s dazzling Harbour.
Solace in the Wind, Wellington harbour
Mike Clare
CLASSIC WINE TRAIL PART TWO
Dine in the vines, Martinborough
Destination Wairarapa
Famous for PINOT NOIR, Martinborough is a hotbed of vinous delights, with wineries and cellar doors studded throughout scenic countryside surrounding the small town. The long straight roads are ideal for cycling, so why not stop in at:
• Palliser Estate • Margrain • Escarpment • Ata Rangi • Nga Waka • Moy Hall • Te Kairanga • Julicher
Cycling in Martinborough
Destination Wairarapa
The small country village of Martinborough, with its Union Jack shaped square, is the epicentre of Wairarapa wine country.
More than 20 wineries can be reached on an easy bike ride from the village, or an even quicker drive.
Take a leisurely tour of the cellar doors and vineyard restaurants here, where you can meet winemakers and learn why the local terroir is ideal for producing such delicious wine. While Martinborough is famous for its velvety pinot noir, the region also produces excellent chardonnay, along with many other varietals.
Each year Martinborough hosts several festivals celebrating the region’s fare and cultural flair. Notably, Toast Martinborough, held each November, which has grown to become one of New Zealand’s leading food and wine festivals.
And over the last weekend of August, the village comes alive with all styles of music, from sultry songstresses to big band for the Jazz in Martinborough festival (cancelled for 2020 but resuming in 2021).
Charming colonial style abounds in Martinborough, and once you’ve explored the vineyards you can easily linger in the village for great coffee, boutique shopping and tasting other local tipples at one of several excellent bars and bistros.
WELLINGTON
Around the Bays, Wellington
Jeff McEwan
There is so much to love about Wellington. It’s a hub of art and culture, fantastic food and copious amounts of craft beer. It’s also compact enough to easily explore on foot. When the sun shines on the city centre, there is nothing more pleasant than a stroll around the wide waterfront promenade or even a dip at Oriental Bay. Cultural hounds can follow a Writer’s Walk, see live theatre, attend a concert or browse top quality galleries such as Wellington City Gallery. The city centre has excellent shopping options including local boutiques and thrift stores. Craft beer brewing is a Wellington staple and for night owls, the bars are buzzing.
Writers' Walk
AATP
PSST! Matiu/Somes Island is a 25-minute ferry ride from Queens Wharf and a haven for walkers and nature enthusiasts. There’s also a lighthouse and World War remnants. Wellington Museum’s Ship ‘n’ Chip deal combines a guided museum tour, fish and chips on the ferry and a visit to the island.
Wellington Must-Do's
Wellington Night Markets
PIVOT Photography
> Te Papa
> Zealandia
> Mt Victoria Lookout
> Cable Car
> Cuba St
> City Gallery
> Wellington Zoo
> Wellington Night Markets
> Mākara Beach
> Days Bay
Te Papa
Positively Wellington Tourism
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Take a behind the scenes tour of Weta Workshop and visit the Weta Cave in Miramar. Take the kids to the excellent Wellington Zoo. Catch the Wellington Cable Car and stroll through the Botanic Gardens. Get up close to New Zealand’s native wildlife at Zealandia, the fully-fenced eco sanctuary in the heart of Wellington City. Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand is a must-visit, with its range of fascinating family-friendly exhibits. Learn about New Zealand’s Government on a tour of the Beehive and Parliament Buildings.
Zealandia, Wellington
Zealandia
SIDE TRIP to CAPE PALLISER
For rugged coastline and lighthouse action, drive an hour south from Martinborough to Cape Palliser at the southernmost tip of the North Island. At Cape Palliser, you’ll find the largest breeding kekeno fur seal colony in New Zealand. Visit between November and January to spot the small furry pups.
Climb the steep 253 steps to the promontory above the cape for wild and windswept views across Palliser Bay and the Cook Strait, with the peaks of the South Island looming in the distance.
Cape Palliser Lighthouse, Wairarapa
Destination Wairarapa
Palliser Bay - Putangirua Pinnacles
Getty Images
As you head back towards Martinborough, another natural attraction that’s worth exploring are the Putangirua Pinnacles. These lofty rocky pillars have been eroded by the forces of rain, wind and flooding. Take the short, easy walk, suitable for dogs and kids, but be aware of falling rocks, especially after heavy rain
