8 awesome things to do in Martinborough
Martinborough is one of New Zealand’s most charming small towns.
Martinborough is the North Island’s cutest little wine village.
It takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to drive from Wellington to Martinborough.
Drive across the rugged Remutaka ranges and you’ll hit the green pastures and wide open skies of the Wairarapa, before arriving in the small town in the centre of the region.
All of the best things to do in Martinborough are within an hour’s drive of the tiny town. You can easily explore the whole region using Martinborough as a base.
What to do in Martinborough?
Martinborough is most famous for the wineries dotted around the town, which produce exceptional Pinot Noir, but it’s also known for excellent food and beautiful countryside.
Fortunately, there are also some great walks where you can hike off the vineyard platters and wine.
In a nutshell
My top things to do each time I’m in Martinborough are:
Visit Poppies for a vineyard platter and a tasting
Pop down to the Cape Palliser lighthouse for seals and views
If you want a tour from Welllington that covers all Martinborough’s highlights, I recommend this one. For a half-day tour of wineries only, check out this tour.
A heads up: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you).
1) Visit Martinborough’s wineries
Poppies, Martinborough
The entrance to Poppies
The main thing to do in Martinborough is explore the vineyards.
Often compared to the French wine region of Burgundy, Martinborough — a sub-region of the wider Wairarapa region — is an excellent wine destination.
The Martinborough wine region has around 30 vineyards, most of which are boutique, family-owned wineries.
Happily, around 20 vineyards are clustered around Martinborough village centre, so you can walk or cycle to a whole range of vineyards.
Martinborough is known for producing excellent Pinot Noir wines, which often have bright and vibrant red fruit notes.
Expect flavours of ripe red cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as hints of plum and black cherry, and savoury undertones of dried herbs and notes of forest floor.
Or just a really good glass of red, if you like to keep it simple.
If you prefer white wines, the region also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.
Visiting a few of Martinborough’s wineries is the best way to learn more about the region’s wines, as well as the people who make them. The vineyards range from the larger productions, like Palliser Estate, to small family-run affairs like Muirlea Rise.
Whether you’re looking for a small and intimate tasting guided by a passionate winemaker, or a decadent vineyard lunch in the sunshine, you’ll find plenty of wineries to keep you busy in Martinborough.
Don’t miss: Poppies Martinborough — a local favourite thanks to its platter lunches and stellar white wines. You can stroll in for a tasting anytime, but you should book ahead to get a lunch spot.
I loved how laid back the tasting was at Poppies. It felt friendly and down-to-earth, while the wines were fabulous (my favourite was the dry Pinot Noir Rose).
How to get around Martinborough’s wineries
With so many vineyards in close proximity to the centre of Martinborough, it’s easy to get around the vineyards.
The most efficient way is to cycle — the area is nice and flat, and it’s easy to rent a bike — but in my experience, trying to cycle while tipsy isn’t the most fun.
I prefer to walk, and tend to not get further than two vineyards.
2) Walk the Patuna Chasm
Cost: $45.00 for adults and $25.00 for children 16 years and under.
The Patuna Chasm is one of the coolest things to do in Martinborough — it’s something of a hidden gem.
Located on a traditional sheep and beef farm 20 minutes outside of Martinborough, the Patuna Chasm is carved out of limestone.
A walk takes you through the stream at the bottom of the chasm, where you can admire the clear water and elaborate rock formations.
The walk takes around three hours, depending on how much time you spend admiring the fossils, stalactites, and native bush.
You’ll see the chasm from above, before walking through the water — keep an eye out for eels.
Note | The Patuna Chasm is only open from the start of November until the end of March.
3) Go star gazing in an International Dark Sky Reserve
In 2023, the Wairarapa region was named as a Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association.
It’s only the second Dark Sky Reserve in New Zealand, after the Aoraki-Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve that covers Tekapo and parts of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
This special status recognises the pristine nature of the Wairarapa’s night skies. With little light pollution, the area around Martinborough is ideal for star gazing.
One of the most interesting places to Stonehenge Aotearoa is the hub of astronomy in the Wairarapa region.
This open-sky observatory is inspired by and built on a similar scale to Stonehenge in England, but it’s not a replica.
The layout and stones of Stonehenge Aotearoa are carefully aligned with celestial features and events, such as solstices, equinoxes, and other key astronomical phenomena.
Stonehenge Aotearoa offers self-guided and guided tours which introduce astronomy, Māori mythology and celestial navigation, and the cultural significance of celestial events in New Zealand's indigenous Māori culture.
‘Star Treks,’ or night time explorations of the sky, are available on any evening but must be booked in advance. Allow 90 minutes for your tour which should begin about an hour after sunset.
Minimum price for 2 people is $160 or $80 each. Prices per person reduced as the numbers rise. 3-6 people are $55 each and so on. Email: nzstarlore@gmail.com
4) Walk around the Putangirua Pinnacles
A 40-minute drive from Martinborough are the Putangirua Pinnacles.
These unique rock formations have an eerie appearance like fairy chimneys. You can walk through the pinnacles up a rocky streambed, or up to a ridgeline for views of the rock formations amidst the forest.
The walking track to the Putangirua Pinnacles is well-marked and easily accessible. The return walk to the Pinnacles and back to the car park typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, but you may want to allow extra time for exploring and taking photographs.
The Putangirua Pinnacles are a photographer's dream. The interplay of light and shadow on the unique rock structures, especially during sunrise or sunset, creates stunning photo opportunities.
Note that in February 2023 the Putangirua Pinnacles track was closed due to a large slip. Check the DOC website for the latest updates.
5) Visit the Cape Palliser lighthouse
The road to Cape Palliser follows the pebbled coast around the southern Wairarapa.
It’s dotted with one-way bridges, slowing you down in preparation for the pace of life in Ngawi, a quirky fishing village wedged between a cliff and gravelly beach.
Bulldozers tinted orange from salt spray sit in a haphazard line along the water’s edge, their rusted hulks waiting to drag homecoming fishing boats from the ocean.
Rogue sheep trot across the road, unbothered by passing cars.
Continuing past Ngawi, you’ll feel as if you’re reaching the end of the world. In some ways you are; this is the southernmost point of the North Island.
The road becomes narrow and potholed, dipping in and out of fords and clinging to the rocky cliff in places.
Only attempt it if you’re in a small to medium-sized campervan.
On the way to the lighthouse is the largest fur seal colony in the North Island.
The seals are everywhere, hopping between bushes and lugging themselves over rocks, wafting pungent smells as they go. They are often sprawled right by the parking area, so take care and make sure you keep at least a 20-metre distance.
The Cape Palliser lighthouse is the last stop on the road. Boldly candy striped in red and white, it has stood at its fantastic vantage point since 1897.
Climb the 253 steep steps to enjoy views of the harakeke-covered hills and surf surging onto shingle beaches below.
8) Sample artisanal local gin at Tōhi
Photo courtesy of Tōhi
Photo courtesy of Tōhi
If you’ve had enough of wine, pop into Tōhi, at Karahui Wine Bar & Eatery.
Tōhi is a dedicated gin tasting room with a focus on G&T’s, gin tasting flights, and gin cocktails. The menu highlights exceptional gins from small batch distillers in the Martinborough regions.
The 32 gins include bottles from Dr Beak, Lighthouse and Reid & Reid.
Lighthouse Gin is inspired by the commanding Cape Palliser Lighthouse on the southernmost tip of the North Island of New Zealand.
Their gin contains unique botanicals, including zest fromNew Zealand oranges and lemons. Each bottle is handcrafted from spring water from the Rimutaka Ranges
Reid + Reid is another small craft distillery. Stew and Chris Reid, the brothers behind the distillery, use New Zealand native botanicals in their gin, including kawakawa, manuka and horopito.
With a gin flight, you can try three gins and compare the flavours neat, with ice and with tonic.
The bar is in an old renovated villa with dangling chandeliers and curios providing a welcoming, informal atmosphere. The tasting advice from the friendly staff can be fascinating and illuminating if you’re gin curious.
Travel notes
Getting to Martinborough
The easiest way to get to Martinborough is by car. This is a convenient option, especially if you plan to explore the vineyards and nearby attractions at your own pace.
It takes around one and a half hours to drive from Wellington to Martinborough.
If you’re relying on public transport, you can take the train from Wellington to Featherston, which is the nearest train station to Martinborough.
From Featherston, you can either catch a connecting bus to Martinborough or arrange for transportation to your final destination.
What’s the best time of year to visit Martinborough?
The summer months from January to March are the best time to visit Martinborough. The weather is warm and dry, making it ideal for outdoor activities and wine tasting and you can enjoy long daylight hours. This means you can enjoy al fresco dining and drinking into the evening.
However, it's also the busiest time, so accommodations and winery visits may require advance booking.
In the off-peak winter months, Martinborough slows down and some places shutter completely.
I visited in June and Martinborough’s town centre was still buzzing, although a few winery restaurants and cellar doors were closed.
I called Poppies for a lunch reservation and they were fully booked — so even in the heart of winter, it’s a good idea to reserve your lunch plans.
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