Wairarapa Activities
The Wairarapa is an over the hill weekend and holiday escape for Wellingtonians. It has a number of attractive small towns, including - North to South - Masterton, Greytown, Carterton, Featherston, and Martinborough, as well as localities such as Gladstone, Lake Ferry, Tora, Ngawi, and Palliser.
By and large the Wairarapa is centred in the Ruamahanga catchment, bounded to the east by the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges, to the north by Mt Bruce and the Manawatu catchment, and all the east coast from the Mataikona River north of Castle Point down to Cape Palliser, and the south coast around to Mukamukaiti Stream.
- Wairarapa wiki
- Rimutaka rail trail
- Wairarapa Times-Age
- Surf
- Morison Bush
- Aotea Farm Cottage and Homestead (Hinekura)
- Whispering Winds Cottage and Homestay (Tauherenikau )
Eketahuna
Founded in 1872 and originally named Mellemskov, Eketāhuna is the Māori name.[1]
Castle Point
- Scenic Reserve
- Lighthouse and history
- History
- Weather, Marine weather
- Holiday Park and Models
- Whakataki Hotel
Riversdale
Masterton
Wairarapa's largest town, founded in 1854, by Joseph Masters.[2]
- Shear discovery
- Pointon Collection
- Regent 3 Masterton
- Vintage Aviator Fighter Collection Hood Aerodrome
- Wings over Wairarapa
- Mawley Park
Carterton
Named after Charles Rooking Carter, founded as Three Mile Bush in 1857.[3]
- Stonehenge Aotearoa
- Paua World
- Goodness of Food cafe gluten free
Greytown
Founded in 1854 as a planned inland town, and named after Sir George Grey.[4]
Featherston
Originally known as Burlings, founded in 1856 and named after Isaac Featherston.[5]
- Kahutara Canoes & Taxidermy
- All aboard Board games and more
- W+ts end Ritual in daily life
- Fell locomotive museum
Martinborough
Founded in 1881 by John Martin, with its square laid out in the shape of a Union Jack.[6]
- Circus Cinema Martinborough
- Lake Ferry Hotel
Walks
The Wairarapa has a number of fantastic walking opportunities.
Free walks
The Department of Conservation has a page of Wairarapa tracks and walks.
Additionally they have a downloadable brochure of Wairarapa family walks and day visits.
The Tararua Ranges can be accessed from
- Kiwiwhakapapa
- Waingawa Road End
- Holdsworth (near Masterton)
- Waiohine Gorge (near Carterton)
Greater Wellington have the Rimutaka Rail Trail.
See the Wairarapa walks
Commercial walks
See also
- Tararua District to the north