8 minute read
ROAD TRIP - Pahiatua to Wellington
Pahiatua to Wellington Classic Wine Trail Part Two via SH 2 2hr 9min, 160km
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SIDE TRIP - Masterton to Castlepoint via Masterton Castlepoint Rd 58min, 65.4km
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 a 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.
Exploring Wairarapa wineries
© Destination Wairarapa
HIGHLIGHTS
PŪKAHA NATIONAL WILDLIFE CENTRE Located at Mt Bruce and home to many species of rare and endangered birdlife that you will no longer encounter in the wild. Kōkako, kākāriki and tahakē live here. Don’t miss Te Hīkoi, a 90-minute guided tour, or try the ‘Ranger for a Day’ experience.
GREYTOWN Come to observe the restored Victorian buildings and stay for the antiques, art shops, boutiques and cafés. Pop into Schoc Chocolates for 85 different chocolate flavours – located next to Cobblestones Museum where you can delve deeper into the town’s heritage.
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. Don’t miss C’est Cheese, a charming boutique cheese shop.
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. In Upper Hutt, discover Brewtown, the region’s best craft breweries all under one roof and spilling across a big green lawn with indoor and outdoor seating.
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 viewsand to read the fascinating story of the troops who walked this route 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 evening astronomical tour.
QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK, MASTERTON Hours of family fun are to be had while playing at a brilliant playgroundcum-wooden fort with a flying fox and hamster wheel; boating on the lake; feeding the resident deer and riding a miniature train.
EKETĀHUNA A small rural town with access to Tararua Forest Park for walks. Visit the elaborate Middleton Model Railway and get a selfie with the giant kiwi statue.
GOLDEN SHEARS Masterton holds the world’s premier shearing and wool handling championship, held every year in March over four days. Pop into The Woolshed: National Museum of Sheep and Shearing to find out more.
Union Square Bistro & Bar,
© DWB
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Take a behind the scenes tour of Weta Workshop and visit the Weta Cave in Miramar. Grab the kids and head 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 building.
CLASSIC WINE TRAIL PART TWO
The small country village of Martinborough, with its Union Jackshaped 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.
Cycling through a Wairarapa winery
© Destination Wairarapa
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 every spring, the village comes alive with all styles of music, from sultry songstresses to big band for the Jazz in Martinborough festival. All set to take place in early September with dates to be confirmed.
Charming colonial style abounds in Martinborough, and once you’ve explored thevineyards you can easily linger in the village for great coffee, boutique shopping and tasting other local tipples at one of several excellent barsand bistros.
Selfie at a Wairarapa winery
© 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
> Escarpment
> Schubert
> Ata Rangi
> Luna Estate
> Dry River
> B.wine
> Butterworth Estate
WELLINGTON
> Cable Car
> Cuba Street
> Mākara Beach
> Matiu/Somes Island
> Mt Victoria Lookout
> Oriental Bay
> Sky Stadium
> Te Papa
> Wellington Chocolate Factory
> Wellington Zoo
> Zealandia
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.
TOP TIP: Picnic, play and stroll along the city’s waterfront, with plenty of good times to be had at Waitangi Park and at the freshly upgraded Frank Kitts Park, which will reopen in October 2022.
Cable Car in Kelburn, Wellington
© WellingtonNZ
SIDE TRIP - 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 162m-high Castle Rock. With plentiful marine and birdlife in residence, including dolphins and kekeno fur seals, there is plenty to discover here.
Castlepoint, Wairarapa
© Jet Productions
SIDE TRIP - 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.
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.
Cape Palliser
© Destination Wairarapa
