Things to do near Rose Cottage, Wairarapa
Rose Cottage is a wonderful holiday home from which to explore the South Wairarapa. See our location page for distances to local towns such as Featherston, Martinborough and Greytown. We are also close to the Tauherenikau racing and events centre, which hosts a range of music festivals across the summer, and virtually across the road from Heritage listed venue and art gallery Rototawai.
There is an excellent visitor centre (with neighbouring children's playground) in Martinborough if you need more inspiration!
Active outdoors - run, walk, cycle
Greytown to Woodside station (~5km) - a dedicated bike / running trail which now connects to Featherston via a new swing bridge over the Tauherinikau river (another ~12 km). The route is well sign posted and a mix of quiet country roads, some gravel, and bike / walking track. The roads are quiet until you get into Featherston, making it a pretty safe bike ride option.
There are also mountain bike parks near Carterton (across from Feltensham reserve) and Masterton.
Rimutaka Rail Trail comes out at Cross Creek about 11km south of Featherston. Also good for running.
If you are a fit accomplished hill walker /runner and looking for a challenge, then our friends (who do such things) recommend Pylon Track up in the Remutakas. Google and it is on All Trails. Allow two hours to the top, less down but please note it is very steep and not for the faint hearted.
Closer to home, it is 13km to run around our “block”. Turn right out of the gate, right on to Pahautea Rd, and then just keep going right at every intersection until you get back to the cottage. Not suitable for road bikes as some of it is gravel.
There is an awesome BMX track at Kahutara school, just down the road. BYO bike.
Walking only options
Visit the Boggy Pond wetlands reserve. Less than ten minutes drive down the road, this is part of the conservation reserve surrounding Lake Wairarapa. Google boggy pond to find out more.
Follow the walking track over the Waiohine Gorge swing bridge (an experience itself) and enjoy the fantastic twisted ancient native forest trees(30mins is enough for a flavour) then take an icy swim in the river afterwards (path back at the carpark).
Retail and gastronomic therapy
Each of the small towns near Wairarapa offer their style of shopping. Greytown is the largest, most upmarket, and often has stall days and similar.
Featherston is having a wonderful retail resurgence and is worth checking out on Fridays and Saturdays (when most shops are open) if you have not stopped there for a few years. Some highlights include:
- Award winning C'est Cheese, home of Rimutaka Pass Dairy
- Brac n Bow cafe / restaurant and bar inside the Royal Hotel - really good, tasty, fairly hearty meals, and the best service in the Wairarapa. Book ahead for dinner.
- For the Love of Books opposite Farm Source on State Highway 2 is perhaps the best second hand book store and has a great childrens selection - keep them entertained on a wet weekend.
- Mr Feather’s Den is always worth an explore for curiosities.
- Explore around Fox St for second hand stores.
Featherston is New Zealand's only "Booktown" and you can join the book festival usually held the second weekend in May.
Canoeing and taxidermy
Our lovely neighbours Karen and John run Kahutara Canoes and Taxidermy on Pahautea Rd (you can do canoeing or taxidermy!). They will totally sort you out for a relaxed float down the local river, or show you the most surprising collection of exotic and local taxidermy that you would not have expected to find in rural Wairarapa.
Simon's favourite things to do
A gin & tonic while taking in the sunset and enjoying the peace and quiet
Cambridge Road winery, on Cambridge Road, Martinborough. Interesting wines. Good platters.
Petuna Chasm walkway - amazing scenary, a great adventure for most ages. Be prepared to get a bit wet depending on the season.
Scotty’s Meats butcher in Martinborough. Old fashioned butcher selling high quality sausages. And often has good cuts at great prices. Seasoned butterfly lamb cooks on the bbq in about 25 minutes.
The French Baker in Greytown for the best chocolate almond croissants in NZ, and Allpress coffee.
For craft beer, Simon goes to 4 Square in Martinborough.
Visit the Boggy Pond wetlands reserve. Less than ten minutes drive down the road, this is part of the conservation reserve surrounding Lake Wairarapa.
Follow the walking track over the Waiohine Gorge swing bridge (an experience in itself) and enjoy the fantastic twisted ancient native forest trees (30mins is enough for a flavour) then take an icy swim in the river afterwards (path back at the carpark).
