Wine, Villages and Relaxed Rural Experiences
Just over the Remutaka Hill Road from Wellington, Wairarapa welcomes visitors with its boutique vineyards, charming towns and peaceful countryside. It’s a region where you can sip wine under wide skies, browse independent shops, and explore heritage sites in towns like Greytown and Martinborough.
Martinborough’s vineyards are ideal for exploring by bike, with cellar doors close together and welcoming hosts. Greytown impresses with historic architecture, artisan boutiques and leafy streets—perfect for a day of strolling, shopping and dining.
rails, Wildlife and Coastal Highlights
Outdoor lovers are well catered for, with walking trails in the Tararua Ranges and family-friendly nature stops like Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. A key cycling highlight is the Remutaka Cycle Trail, which links Petone to the Wairarapa via a historic railway route through native bush, tunnels and rolling countryside.
Coastal Wairarapa adds drama to the mix. Castlepoint offers spectacular cliff-top views and a picturesque lighthouse walk, while the road to Cape Palliser winds past fishing villages to a seal colony and New Zealand’s southernmost lighthouse, perched atop a rugged flight of stairs.
Things to Do in Wairarapa New Zealand
Here are some of the top attractions and experiences to enjoy in Wairarapa:
- Ride the Remutaka Cycle Trail from Wellington to Wairarapa
- Taste wine at boutique vineyards in Martinborough
- Stroll and shop in heritage-rich Greytown
- Visit the Cape Palliser lighthouse and seal colony
- Walk the coastal cliffs at Castlepoint
- Explore forest trails in the Tararua Ranges
- Visit Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre to see native birds
- Discover Featherston’s books, galleries and museums
- Learn local stories at Cobblestones Museum
- Shop and snack at weekend farmers’ markets
