Wairarapa
The Wairarapa region is just an hour away from New Zealand's capital, Wellington. Lying to the west are the Tararua mountain ranges and to the east the coastline of the Pacific Ocean stretches from Palliser Bay in the south to Aktio on the north. Great fishing and surfing are just two reasons to explore this stretch of coastline.
For the past 5 decades Masterton has attracted the worlds best sheep shearers to compete in the now famous Golden Shears competition. This iconic event epitomises the regions heritage of living from the land. Greytown has New Zealand's most complete street of original wooden architecture and the antique stores and coffee shops prove very popular amongst Wellingtonians.
At Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre endangered species are studied and bred in captivity and you can see some of New Zealand's rarest birds here, while at Cape Palliser you can observe a seal colony.
Cape Palliser and the South Coast
Just around 45 minutes south of the town of Martinborough will bring you to one of the most spectacular coastlines in the country. Rocky shores and tiny settlements feature as you head towards the magnificent views from the Cape Palliser lighthouse. New Zealand fur seals make these rocky shores and outcrops their home and offer some great photo opportunities. The small township of Ngawi is also quite a unique spot. As you approach you will be forgiven for thinking it's a massive graveyard for old tractors but in fact it's a bustling fishing community. Crayfish are the main catch and massive tractors and bulldozers are used to haul the boats from the water and over the pebble beach. Heading back towards Martinborough a detour to the Lake Ferry Hotel and some local seafood is highly recommended.
Star Safari with Milky-Way Kiwi
Embark on a celestial adventure in Wairarapa's awe-inspiring night skies with top-tier telescopes and Hari and Sam, as they provide an unrivalled night sky experience. Proudly operating from within the world's 21st Dark Sky Reserve, the Star Safari Observatory is nestled between Martinborough and Carterton, offering a perfect retreat from light pollution and revealing a dazzling array of celestial wonders.
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