Wairarapa
Delightful events and great family fun set in the pretty-as-apicture towns, parks, gardens and orchards – you’ll ease into autumn with a Wairarapa escape. Just a short drive from Wellington over the Remutaka Hill, and an easy drive from Palmerston North and Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa sits at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.
Calling all Booklovers!
The Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival lights up the Wairarapa with a weekend of fantastic literary events every May. The Festival (held this year 10 – 12 May) brings together top New Zealand authors, journalists and booksellers for lively panel discussions, engaging workshops, vibrant kids events, buskers and a bustling bookfair.
You can also take a guided tour of the Wairarapa’s many bookstores year-round with the Booklover’s Trail Te Ara Kai Pukapuka Audio App.
Hear the stories of the booksellers as you travel the region, taking in the literary sites of interest along the way. Look for the app in the Apple & Google Play stores. www.booktown.org.nz
A Freshingly Curious Gin Festival
Described as a refreshingly curious gin fiesta, the all-new Hendrick’s Hootenanny will include soirees, terrarium-making classes, lawn bowls, afternoons filled with jazz and high teas, and cricket matches, all accompanied by a Henrick’s classic gin and tonic or cocktail – with special edition options available at the ‘Hendrick’s Hootenanny HQ’, the iconic White Swan Country Hotel.
The Hendrick’s Hootenanny runs all through March, culminating in the National Tweed Ride on Easter Saturday 30 March. Greytown’s charming leafy byways will once again resound with joyous hoots, bubbly bonhomie and tinkling bicycle bells as tweed clad riders take part in the fourth annual National Tweed, now an Easter tradition the region. www.greytownvillage.com/hendricks-hootenanny
The Great Gladstone Plant Fair
The change of season is the ideal time to get stuck into the planning and planting of your garden for the year ahead, and the Great Gladstone Plant Fair will have you inspired (and well stocked!). Happening Saturday 13 April, this brand-new fair sees four diverse gardens in and around Gladstone, open their gates to the public with gardeners sharing their knowledge and selling some rare plant beauties not often available.
Three of the gardens that make up the fair are private, the fourth is four-star Garden of National Significance, Longbush Cottage. Tickets are available to purchase online. www.longbushcottage.co.nz
