Things to Do in The Wairarapa and Martinborough
Pinot noir country an hour over the hill.
See top-rated activities »About the Wairarapa
The Wairarapa is the broad farming valley east of the Remutaka Range, about an hour from Wellington by road over the Remutaka Hill or by train to Featherston, Carterton and Masterton. Its best-known town is Martinborough, a small village laid out around a square in the shape of a Union Jack, surrounded by more than 20 wineries. The region is known especially for pinot noir, and many cellar doors are within cycling distance of the square; bike hire and guided wine tours are the easy way to visit several without driving.
Greytown, about 20 minutes north, has a main street of restored Victorian buildings full of cafes, food stores and boutiques, and Featherston has antiques and a well-known bookshop scene. At Pukaha National Wildlife Centre, near Mount Bruce in the north of the region, you can see kiwi, kaka and other native birds and take part in conservation programs.
Cape Palliser, at the bottom of the Wairarapa, is the North Island's southernmost point, reached by a coast road past the fishing village of Ngawi, where bulldozers launch boats off the beach. A lighthouse sits at the top of 250 steps, and the rocks below are home to the North Island's largest fur seal colony. On the east coast, Castlepoint has a lighthouse on a reef beside a sheltered lagoon. South of Martinborough, a track leads up a stream bed to the Putangirua Pinnacles, eroded earth pillars that appeared as the Paths of the Dead in The Return of the King. Slips and flood damage have closed parts of this track in recent years, so check the Department of Conservation alerts before you go.
Don’t Miss
More than 20 wineries, many within cycling distance of the village square.
Towering eroded pillars and a lookout track, a Lord of the Rings location; check DOC alerts first.
A striped lighthouse above the North Island's largest fur seal colony.
Native forest, kiwi and kaka, and a working conservation center.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in the Wairarapa
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 31, 2026. Wellington Travel may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »the Wairarapa — FAQ
Can you visit Martinborough without a car?
Yes. Trains run from Wellington to Featherston, and a connecting bus continues to Martinborough. Many visitors then hire bikes or join a guided wine tour.
How long does it take to drive to Cape Palliser?
About two and a half hours each way from Wellington, partly on a narrow coastal road. Combine it with Martinborough and the Putangirua Pinnacles for a full day.
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