South Wairarapa District: Nature, Trails and History
Accommodation in South Wairarapa District
In South Wairarapa District, experiences range from wetlands and native bush to historic museums and trails. This makes the region appealing to families who want to enjoy the outdoors while also discovering its natural and cultural heritage. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay: water and wildlife, outdoor routes, or history at different places across the district.
Wetlands, bush and distinctive wildlife
Wairarapa Moana is a 10,000-hectare ecosystem of wetlands and open water. It provides a habitat for native fish and birds, as well as unique native plants. You can also go kayaking in the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands. If you are interested in waterscapes and their habitats, this offers a different focus from a walk through the bush or a visit to a museum.
Barr-Brown Bush is a 400-year-old remnant of native bush with a network of short walking tracks. The Pinnacles Ridge Track leads to a lookout with dramatic views of rock-pillar formations. At Cape Palliser, visitors can climb the 253 steps to the lighthouse; the cape is also home to the North Island’s largest fur seal colony. Wetlands, bush, rock formations and fur seals offer very different nature experiences across the district.
Trails for different kinds of active days
The Remutaka Rail Trail is an easy 18-kilometre route for walking, running or mountain biking. Along the trail are restored railway bridges and historic tunnels. Its distance helps you distinguish this option from the short walking tracks in Barr-Brown Bush; each offers its own way to spend time outdoors. The Greytown to Woodside Trail follows a historic railway line and adds another route connected to the area’s railway past.
The Tauwharenikau Bridge is also relevant for getting around the district: it allows users to travel safely from Featherston to Woodside in Greytown without having to compete with heavy traffic on State Highway 2.
Museums and memorial sites
A building in Martinborough also tells a story of changing uses: it opened as the town library in 1894 and became a museum in 1978. The Martinborough Museum collects, preserves and displays materials and information about the natural and cultural heritage of Martinborough and South Wairarapa. Martinborough Square, also known as Memorial Square and Union Square, is traditionally the focal point of the annual Martinborough Fair.
The Cobblestones Museum in Greytown comprises six historic buildings and a collection of agricultural, horticultural and road-making machinery spread across two acres of gardens. In Featherston, the Fell Locomotive Museum houses H199, “Mont Cenis”: the last surviving Fell locomotive in the world. The Featherston Heritage Museum preserves information and memorabilia relating to the Featherston Military Training Camp, the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp from the Second World War, as well as Featherston and the surrounding districts.
The site of the Featherston Military Training Camp is of outstanding historical significance. The South Wairarapa District Council reserve on the south side of State Highway 2 by the camp includes several memorial features with international connections to Belgium and Japan. For a stay with a historical focus, these places offer different ways to explore the past: a museum with memorabilia and information, a site with memorial features, and collections on the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
Places and recreational activities
South Wairarapa has more than 20 parks and reserves for the community to use and enjoy. Te Papa Ora o Mōroa, known as Papa Ora, is a hub for skaters, scooter riders, BMX riders and families. The Martinborough Pump Track is in Considine Park, next to the outdoor swimming pool. Visitors can sample local produce at the weekend and experience the district’s natural and cultural heritage.
If you would like to explore the district’s town pages, you can find Greytown, Martinborough, Kahutara and Pirinoa here.
For the broader travel overview: Wellington.
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