We visited Marlborough- New Zealand’s most famous wine region – in January. Locals kept telling us we needed to visit Martinborough for some of the best wine in the country. Martinborough is in the South Wairarapa District about two hours from Palmy. So our friend group loaded up and headed south to see what all the talk is about.
Martinborough
It is the cutest little village, surrounded by fabulous wineries. Since cycling has become our favorite way to explore wine regions, we rented bicycles for the day. We found a bike shop with plenty of options, including tandem bikes and even tricycles, which added an extra level of fun and silliness to the experience.
And oh, the wine! Martinborough is known for its pinot noir. We were told that the climate and grapes are similar to Burgundy region of France (don’t tell the French!). We visited Margrain Vineyard and found our new favorite Sauvignon Blanc. We tried amazing rosé at Poppies. And had wonderful pinot noir at Ata Rangi and Moy Hall. We topped off the day with a delicious dinner at Tirohana Estate. Our dinner was the best meal we have had so far in New Zealand. It was a perfect day.
Cape Palliser
The next day we took a scenic drive and visited Cape Palliser. We were treated to rocky coastline, blue water, crashing waves, and fur seals!
Cape Palliser is known for its iconic, red and white striped lighthouse. We walked up the 250 steps to reach the top and were treated to amazing views of the coastline. Well worth the trek!
Finally, we capped off the day with a hike to see the Pūtangirua Pinnacles – interesting rock formations that were featured in the Lord of the Rings. We thought it was an easy 4km walk. It turned out to be a little more than we expected, but it was well worth it! This was a truly excellent weekend.
Our First Guests
It should surprise no one that Lauren’s parents were our first visitors. We had already traveled around New Zealand together during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, but this trip was all about seeing our new home and meeting their newest granddog, Poppy. Unfortunately, they arrived just one day before Cyclone Vaianu hit, so they got to experience a lot of rain. Thankfully, we still managed to squeeze in plenty of fun between the downpours.
Dusty was away at a work conference for the first part of their visit. So after hunkering down for the storm, we visited Martinborough for a day trip for good food and wine.
We also drove the winding roads to Castlepoint to see its dramatic lighthouse. Dusty and I first visited Castlepoint on our honeymoon, and we remembered it feeling like the edge of the world. Our memories were spot on. Even though the weather was overcast, the light house is a stunner.
Next we visited the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. They featured tons of native New Zealand birds in an unfenced protected sanctuary. We even got a chance to sneak a peek at the elusive kiwi. The kiwis are kept in a dark area and are only lit by red light. It does not make for the best pictures, but it was very exciting to see them. We also saw a feeding of longfin eels. New Zealand has no snakes, but has plenty of eels, which are just as creepy!
Finally, we enjoyed a nice day on the Wellington waterfront. By then the weather had finally cleared, and we got a sunny day! Good weather in Wellington is hard to beat.
Hawke’s Bay
We picked Dusty up at the airport and set off for Hawke’s Bay for a fun weekend. Hawke’s Bay is about 2.5 hour drive up the east coast and is known for its wineries and beaches. It is centered around the twin cities of Napier and Hastings. The area was decimated by an earthquake in 1931. The planners at the time made the decision to re-build quickly, and to do so in the style of the day – Art Deco! Every year Napier hosts an Art Deco Festival, where guests dress up in flapper costumes, dance the Charleston, and party like it’s the roaring 20s! The festival is in February, so we just missed it. But next year, for sure.
Napier is a coastal city and has a beautiful, waterfront esplanade, bordered by Norfolk pines. And because this is New Zealand, mountains in the distance.
We visited a few wineries and enjoyed the wonderful varieties. But the best part was the company. We soaked up the last weekend of their visit and made great memories together. From Palmy, they flew to the South Island for a few days in Queenstown before making the trip back home. Take this as a friendly reminder that visitors are welcome!
Thank you for reading along and drop us a comment if you like the post! Next up, our first big New Zealand hike!
