Martinborough is a lovely little town in the heart of the wine region, Wairarapa, in the southeastern section of the North Island. It's the perfect destination for a day trip from Wellington, being only 2 hours away by public transport and just over an hour by car.
From Wellington Railway Station, take the train to Featherston. From there, catch the bus into Martinborough. This often tends to run just once or twice in the morning and once or twice back in the afternoon so be sure to check the schedule and time your day accordingly!
Nico was out here working on a farm for a while in order to get his Working Holiday visa extended so I took the opportunity on a sunny Sunday to go up and visit him.
The town is filled with delight - a sweet shoppe lined floor to ceiling with jars of candy, little boutique clothing shops, plenty of cafes and brunch spots, a hole-in-the-wall ice cream store with massive scoops, a huge park in the heart of town in which to lounge with a picnic, a quaint hotel with a bustling patio... there seems to be no end of lovely things to explore here.
And that's just in town - there's 20 or so vineyards nearby, most within walking or cycling distance! If you'd like to stay longer than a day, the adorable Martinborough Hotel is in the heart of town.
The Martinborough Hotel
