Day 01
Nature, Tastings, and Cape Palliser from Wellington
- Depart at 10:00 am and travel northeast, following the Hutt River into the Hutt Valley for a visit to Kaitoke Regional Park, including a crossing of the swing bridge and a loop walk through the original native rainforest.
- Continue on a scenic drive over the Remutaka Ranges, including a stop at the summit for spectacular views.
- Descend into the Wairarapa region, passing through Featherston for a cheese tasting at C'est Cheese and into Greytown for a chocolate tasting at Schoc Chocs before arriving in the quaint winery town of Martinborough. Here, visit award-winning wineries, enjoy their cellar door experiences, and sample their world-renowned wines before a sumptuous lunch at a vineyard restaurant.
- Head to the rugged south Wairarapa coast and Cape Palliser. The tour follows the edge of the coast, providing uninterrupted views of the bay, before exploring the rural fishing village of Ngawi with its iconic tractors hauling fishing boats up the beach. Marvel at the North Island's largest permanent fur seal colony and test your fitness on a climb to the Cape Palliser Lighthouse, which provides epic sweeping sea views.
- After working up an appetite, take a short walk along the edge of Lake Onoke (Lake Ferry) and hear about its history while local fishermen haul in their catches fresh from the ocean, then sit down at the historic Lake Ferry Hotel for dinner.
- Return to Wellington via the Remutakas and State Highway 2 for an 8:00 pm drop-off.
