Destination, Issue 30

Martinborough

More than 30 wineries, a main street full of boutiques, olive groves, gourmet food shops and fine-dining restaurants ... oh, and a golf course, scenic walks, horse and bike riding.  More than one weekend is needed to soak up all this Wairarapa town has to offer. But if one weekend it is, then we have to choose the Wine Trail as the prime attraction. (A map and opening hours of all vineyards is available from the Information Site, email martinborough@wairarapanz.com).

You might want to visit Martinborough for the Taste Martinborough weekend in November. They call it “New Zealand’s premier wine, food and music festival” and we cannot disagree. Tickets and accommodation sell out, so book early. toastmartinborough.co.nz

The Martinborough Fair is another premier Martinborough event, so popular it is now staged twice annually (2 February and 6 March this year) and being accepted as a stall-holder is a competitive business. martinboroughfair.org.nz
 

Both these events are day-long experiences, so a second day of wandering the shops and cafes is probably enough for most visitors. The town is laid out in the shape of the Union Jack, with streets names such as Naples, Panama and Cologne reflecting the travels of the town’s founder, Irishman John Martin. He set up New Zealand’s first sheep station here in 1881.

It’s considered one of the world’s most challenging walks, but for Australians in particular Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Track is not so much a trek as a pilgrimage. Words & Photos by Don Fuchs.