Within a 30 Minute Drive
Featherston Village
Step into a town steeped in history and hospitality. Explore and celebrate Featherston’s history and heritage every November at Featherston Heritage Festival which showcases over 30 events.
Visit the Fell Locomotive Museum to see the world’s only surviving Fell steam engine, which helped navigate the steep Remutaka Incline. Right next door, the Featherston Heritage Museum showcases the town’s unique military past, including the WWI Training Camp and WWII POW Camp.
After taking in the history, grab supplies at the award-winning C’est Cheese shop. Book lovers shouldn’t miss perusing the many antiquarian bookshops, or visiting during Booktown, the popular annual festival held each May.
Featherston also offers walking and cycling tracks, and scenic swimming holes.
For all the information on Featherston click here.
Martinborough and Greytown
Martinborough Wine Country: Famous for its world-class Pinot Noir and charming, village-style layout, Martinborough is a must-visit for food and wine lovers. Explore over 20 boutique cellar doors by car, join a guided tour, or hire a bicycle to meander between vineyards for platter lunches. Information about Martinborough can be found here.
Historic Greytown Boutique Shopping: Just a short drive away, Greytown offers New Zealand’s complete main street of restored Victorian architecture. Spend an afternoon browsing high-end fashion boutiques, antique stores, artisan homeware shops, and stopping in at famous local spots like Schoc Chocolates. Greytown in July becomes a mid-winter Christmas festival. All information about the festival and Greytown can be found here.
Cafes & Culinary Delights: Both towns host an exceptional dining scene. From cozy vineyard bistros in Martinborough to tree-lined outdoor cafes and bakery treats in Greytown, you’ll find plenty of spots to sit back and savour local Wairarapa produce. There’s almost too many to choose a favourite, but our first choices are Apertif Wine Bar in Greytown and The Runholder in Martinborough.
Further afield
Coastal Gems & Day Trips
Lake Ferry & Ocean Beach: Take a scenic drive down to Lake Ferry for a swim, followed by classic fish & chips at the iconic Lake Ferry Hotel. Be sure to detour past rugged Ocean Beach, where on a clear day you can catch breathtaking views across the strait to the South Island.
Palliser Bay & Cape Palliser: Explore the dramatic Putangirua Pinnacles—famous as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings. Continue just 10 minutes further down the wild coastline to visit the resident fur seal colony and climb the steps of the iconic red-and-white Cape Palliser Lighthouse.
Masterton & Eastern Beaches: Head north for a day trip to the stunning coastal beaches at Castlepoint and Riversdale. On your way through Masterton, take time to stretch your legs and wander through Queen Elizabeth Park and around scenic Henley Lake.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre (Mt Bruce): Just a short drive past Masterton you can experience conservation in action at Pūkaha, home to wild kākā, kiwi, takahē, tuatara, and lush ancient forest tracks.
Remutaka Rail Trail & Cross Creek:
The historic Cross Creek site is located right nearby, serving as the local entry or finishing point for the rail trail. Whether you are electric-biking, mountain biking, or walking, you’ll love exploring native bush, historic bridges, and old railway tunnels. Lakeview Lodge is in the perfect position for cyclists tackling this famous ride – enjoy comfortable accommodation waiting for you right at the trail’s edge. We are in the process of organising food packages for guests tackling the Remutaka Trail – reach out to find more.