The Wairarapa, New Zealand |  | Tour the vineyards of the Wairarapa by bicycle (or quad bike) | | | New Zealand is a place that has long fascinated me. So much so that during the pandemic I applied for a temporary visa (Spoiler alert: it was denied). Its remoteness, its beauty, its history and culture – what wouldn’t lure you in? One of the (many) perks of working at Lonely Planet is the endless bounty of information at our fingertips. So when I read about New Zealand's Wairarapa region while perusing our Where to Go When book (endorse!), I was determined to learn more about this beautiful, wild and rural area just an hour’s drive northeast of Wellington. Knowing exactly zero beyond what I read, I reached out to Brett Atkinson, a New Zealand–based Lonely Planet writer, to discuss all things Wairarapa. During our lively conversation, Brett painted a spectacular picture of the landscape, punctuated with spot-on suggestions for traveling to this gorgeous region. Read on and start your planning engines. | | | | | Senior Director of Content | | | | | | | The 10 best hikes in New Zealand | Known for its Great Walks, overnight hikes and short rambles, incredible views and scenery, New Zealand is an outdoors-lover's paradise. | | | New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed. But it's always epic. | | | | | New Zealand is a world unto itself, with history, culture, city living, rural idylls and more. Choose your own adventure. Read more Planning tip: Be sure to book in advance if you're visiting the Wairarapa's wineries on the weekends. | | | | | Once you arrive, making your way around New Zealand is a snap. The best way to see the remoter parts of the country? By car. Read more Planning tip: The most eco-friendly and immersive way to explore the Wairarapa’s wineries is by bicycle. | | | | | Stunning hikes in the summer, white-powder getaways in the winter and cultural festivals year-round mean New Zealand is always ready to play host. Read more Planning tip: There are two wine and food festivals in the Wairarapa: the Harvest Festival in March and Toast Martinborough in November. | | | Best places to travel in April | See additional recommendations for where to travel this month, including Rome, Jordan and South Korea. | | | | | | Get expert advice from The Points Guy | Already dreaming of your next trip? Subscribe to TPG’s daily newsletter to get the latest in travel deals, credit card offers, airline news, and more. Travel farther and reach your dream destinations with the help of expert advice from our travel team | | | New Zealander Brett Atkinson shares tips for planning a trip to the Wairarapa. | | | Tell us a bit about your background. | I’ve been a freelance writer since around 2004. I’ve contributed to multiple Lonely Planet guidebooks, covering about 15 countries. I’m an Aucklander, and have been more focused writing about New Zealand recently. I like to write about food, wine, craft beer, cycling and walks. | How would you describe the vibe in Wairarapa? | Relaxed, rural, authentic. Martinborough is a lovely place to set up: it’s close to nearly 20 vineyards, and the coastline is not far away. | | | | | “The Wairarapa has a nice balance of wine, beer, food and walks.” | | | What are some of the vineyards do you like? | One of my favorites is Shubert. They’re a little bit smaller and have food trucks at the weekend. They do Pinot Noir, which is the signature wine of the region. Colombo Martinborough is family-friendly, with wood-fired pizzas and live music. The third one I recommend is Moy Hall. It’s a lovely place to have lunch. | Where do you recommend people stay and eat? | In Martinborough, you can stay at one of the vineyards or a B&B. Or you can camp out near the coast. For food, I recommend Poppies in Martinborough. In Greytown, which is known for its 18th-century architecture, you can stay at the White Swan or just stop by for a drink on their deck. | Are there any hidden gems nearby we should know about? | There’s a lovely old fishing village called Ngawi, which is worth a visit and is not far from the Cape Palliser lighthouse and a fur seal colony. Then you should take a walk in the Putangirua Pinnacles, where some of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was filmed. | | |  | Love travel inspiration in your inbox? | | | Share with a fellow travel lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Click here to subscribe. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
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