Wairarapa… Summertime Events
The Wairarapa is known for hosting exceptional events… they know how to put on a great show! You might have heard of Toast Martinborough and Wings Over Wairarapa. But there's much more to choose from, all year round - check out just a few below.
1 - Pūkaha Garden Tour – 6th and 7th November 2021
This two-day self-drive garden tour is a rare chance to visit selected private gardens opening to support Pūkaha's annual fundraiser…the Pūkaha Wairarapa Garden Tour. 2021 marks 11 years.
The tour will feature beautiful and unique gardens in North Wairarapa and is sure to delight gardeners of all ages. The tour will bring you some perennial firm favourites along with some new gardens that haven’t been on the tour before.
2021 will showcase gardens from Carterton through to Masterton and beyond. As always, the tour aims to offer plenty of variety: gardens for small spaces, sustainable edibles, natives, ornamentals, rural homestead gardens and urban designs.
Pick your gardens and choose your route according to whatever tickles your gardening fancy. The tour offers more than 12 gardens to choose from. Locally sourced and homemade refreshments will be available in selected gardens and BYO picnics are welcome in some gardens. Look for the icons to guide you. www.wairarapagardentour.co.nz 2 - Toast Martinborough – 21st November 2021
Toast Martinborough is a unique one-day multi-vineyard site event, with participating vineyards all offering wonderful wine, food and music choices throughout the day.
It is a true celebration for lovers of fine wine, gourmet food and talented music artists. A premium event that since it first began in 1992, it has showcased a unique boutique wine village with many talented Martinborough vineyards, in the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Martinborough is about an hour and a half drive from Wellington.
On the third Sunday of November each year, Toast Martinborough is truly enjoyed, talked about and continually sought out near and afar. It is an event that people leave dancing and singing, laughing and remembering.
Toast celebrates its 29th year on Sunday 21 November 2021. General Tickets are available at $85 + fees www.toastmartinborough.co.nz 3 - Cruise Martinborough – 27th till 30th January 2022
Cruise Martinborough is a classic and muscle car event open to cars and caravans from back in the day. Spread over several days in the sunny Wairarapa, just 90 minutes north of Wellington.
There are prize categories for both cars (pre 1979 or newer by prior approval) and retro caravans. Cruise Domain (rugby grounds) will be set up as Caravan HQ for self contained campers.
Motorcycles are welcome to park up on the Saturday of the event in and around The Martinborough Square - specifically the car park of The Pukemanu Tavern. www.cruisemartinborough.co.nz 4 - Martinborough Fair – 5th February & 5th March 2022
New Zealand made goods in a fantastic summer market, which radiates out from the Martinborough Town Square.
Every year since 1977, the Rotary Martinborough Country Fair has attracted an increasing number of visitors who swell the population and provide a healthy cash injection to the south Wairarapa.
The 2-day Martinborough Fair was the brainchild of members of the Greytown Rotary Club and in 1977 they began with just 35 stalls. In order to attract stallholders the fair was promoted in the Manawatu and Wellington.
Today the reputation of the fair means demand for stalls exceeds sites available, with over 500 stallholders coming from all over New Zealand. More than 25,000 people flock to Martinborough for the event. www.martinboroughfair.org.nz 5 - Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival – 26th February 2022
The festival is held at the beautiful, sheltered riverside setting locally known as ‘The Cliffs' on the banks of the Ruamahunga River at the end of Dakins Road in rural Wairarapa. Its remoteness and vineyard setting is part of its appeal while still being close to public transport.
Being 10 minutes from both Masterton and Carterton makes the site easily accessible to local and visitors to the district alike. A regional shuttle service runs to and from the festival site at
the beginning and end of the day with an additional service meeting the scheduled Wellington train at the Carterton Railway Station. Reservations are essential.
There will be an emphasis on entertainment throughout the day featuring a variety of live music, art exhibitions and static displays ensuring that all tastes are catered for.
While of obvious interest to food and wine ‘buffs' it will also appeal to those from outside the area to use it as an excuse to have a day out in the Wairarapa region. Viewed in conjunction with other events running locally over the same weekend it will offer the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience some of the wide variety of entertainment that the region offers. www.wairarapaharvestfestival.co.nz 6 - 121 Music Festival – 11th, 12th & 13th March 2022
A 3-day dance odyssey featuring top tier international, emerging & heritage artists transcending genres with a diversely programmed schedule of house, techno, dub, roots, soul, funk, rock and hip hop. Tauherenikau Racecourse, Main Rd., Tauherenikau, Featherston. www.121festival.co.nz 7 - Castlepoint Races – 12th March 2022
The thundering of hooves across wet sand and the cheering of the crowd… that's the sound of the Castlepoint Beach Races, an annual Wairarapa Event held every March, depending on beach conditions and tides.
The beach races date back to 1872 when local farmhands would race each other for bottles of rum and stray coins. Today, thoroughbreds have replaced farm hacks and the day is as much about picnicing and family as it is about horses.