Martinborough is a picturesque and compact rural village of 1,300 permanent residents which is known as the capital of the Wairarapa Wine Region, in the south-eastern area of New Zealand’s North Island. This friendly and welcoming town, stands within easy walking distance of many vineyards and revolves around the leafy Memorial Square and the main thoroughfare of Kitchener Street which is lined with a variety of shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants. Many of the historic buildings were brought to town from other places to create a new ‘wine village’ when Martinborough’s popularity increased due to the advent of the wine industry in the 1970’s. These buildings with their old colonial facades, give the town a truly original attractive historic appearance which is reminiscent of the 1870’s when Martinborough was first established by John Martin. Home to 27 wineries, Martinborough produces distinctly boutique Pinot Noir wines which are recognised as some of New Zealand’s premium quality wines, and is the hub of the thriving and world renowned wine growing area of South Wairarapa. Martinborough is firmly put on the map during November each year when the township hosts the ‘Toast Martinborough’, which is one of New Zealand’s premier food, wine and music festivals, attracting over 10,000 visitors from around the globe. Additionally during February and March each year over 25,000 visitors flock to the village for the Rotary promoted and organised ‘Martinborough Fairs’ which provide an avenue for the local craftspeople to display their wares and ensures all visitors a day full of food, fun and laughter.
Offering a good selection of accommodation, quality cafes and restaurants, Martinborough is an ideal destination for the gourmet traveller, and provides a good base for travellers wishing to explore this region of the south-east. The Martinborough Visitor’s Centre provides helpful and detailed information on all of the local attractions and activities such as the wineries, the old Martinborough Colonial Museum, the historic Cape Palliser lighthouse and the nearby fur seal breeding colony, Aorangi Forest Park for nature lovers, hikers and trampers, the Fell Locomotive Museum of Featherston and historic Masterton. More energetic activities available in the surrounding area include jet boating, mountain biking, ballooning and fishing to name a few.
Just 65 kilometres east of Wellington and 35 kilometres south of Masterton, Martinborough lies within the mostly rural and farming region of Wairarapa, which is home to the wine regions of Martinborough, Masterton and Gladstone. Once this region supported a productive farming industry concentrating on traditional beef and sheep, however in the 1960’s Martinborough diversified its activities to include olives, lavender and nuts, with the addition of wines during the 1970’s. Today this south-eastern area of the North Island supports three well known wine sub-regions which are spread over an expanse of mineral laden, flat land on the banks of the Ruamahunga River. Surrounded by the low lying hills of the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges, the area boasts a unique micro-climate, which, together with similar soils creates an ideal location for wine growers.
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