Wairarapa

🐶 WIN a double pass to W**e Dogs at Luna Estate! 🍷

W**edogs is back at Luna Estate on Sunday 25 October, and we’re giving you the chance to win a double pass.

Treat your four-legged friend to a trail with beautiful vineyard views, treats for your pal and w**e stations for the humans along the way. Then kick back with music, food trucks and, of course, more w**e.

TO ENTER: Tell us your dog’s name in the comments and who you’d bring along.

Entries close this Friday 16 October 2026, with the winner contacted via our page. Good luck!

* This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. *

Celebrate Bookshop Day NZ this Saturday 📚

Wairarapa bookshops are celebrating Bookshop Day with a range of events and in-store specials for readers of all ages:

• Hedley's Books Little Yarns: Family Read-A-Thon - Bring the kids, your books and a picnic and read together in the sunshine with treats and a grand prize this Saturday 11am at Town Hall Park.

• Get Out! Outdoors that is! - A family event focusing on getting outdoors and adventuring into nature this Saturday 11am at Chicken and Frog bookstore, Featherston.

• Mrs Blackwell's Village Bookstore - pop in and score some bookish goodies, with freebies including a Bookie, fabric Book Envelope or tote bag when you spend, plus a Golden Ticket worth a year of audiobooks hidden somewhere in the shop.

• Creator Talk: He Wrote / She Wrote - hear two of Wairarapa's most talented storytellers, husband and wife team, Noelle McCarthy and John Daniell in conversation about her memoir, Stakes, and his hit podcast, The Agency, this Saturday 3pm, Hedley's Books.

Little Yarns - bringing some of Aotearoa’s best children’s authors including James Russell, Sam Smith & Airana Ngarewa to Masterton for two free, action-packed afterschool events on Tuesday 13 & Thursday 15 October 3.30pm at Masterton District Library.

🎉 Week 2 of the school holidays, and we’ve got you covered for things to do - from outdoor adventures and space exploration to art, markets and plenty of ways to burn off some energy, there’s heaps happening across Wairarapa.

• Queen Elizabeth Park – Climb, swing, slide and fly at the Kids Own Playground - hours of fun for adventurous kids!

• Wairarapa Skateparks - Skateboard, skate, scooter, and cycle your way around the Wairarapa at each town’s fabulous skateparks for all levels of ability.

• Go-Zone Wairarapa – Let them burn off some energy with climbing, bouncing, sliding and plenty of indoor play in Carterton.

• Carterton Space Week – On until Saturday 10 October, with rockets to build and launch, a digital planetarium, telescopes and astrophotography.

• Breadcraft Wairarapa Schools’ Art Exhibition – See the work of more than 600 students from 24 local schools at Aratoi Museum of Art and History on until Sunday 18 October.

• Gather Wairarapa Kids Market – Head to Solway Showgrounds this Saturday 10 October for stalls, treats, activities and entertainment for the whole family.

• Little Yarns: Family Read-A-Thon – Kick off Hedley's Books Little Yarns with a family reading session at Masterton Town Hall Park this Saturday from 11am - 1pm.

There’s plenty more to discover! Check out our Wairarapa School Holidays page for more ideas - link in the comments.

🎻 Experience a spectacular fusion of fine music, food and w**e at the Palliser Symphonic Feast: The Art of Evolution on Saturday 10 October at Palliser W**e.

Featuring an exclusive performance by a large ensemble of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a sumptuous four-course dinner by chefs Norka Mella Muñoz and Nick Arnold and beautifully matched Palliser Estate w**es.

Tickets are strictly limited — book now. Link in comments. 🍷

What’s on in Wairarapa for the School Holidays? Heaps! Check out these fun family events:

Junior Rangers at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre - become a Junior Ranger and spend the day exploring the forest, with different themes each class. Catch the FREE supervised bus to and from Masterton each day.

Cobblestones Museum Fair - Saturday 3 October. Family fun at a good old-fashioned Spring Fair with cute farm animals for kids to cuddle, traditional games, and live shearing alongside fresh produce, plants, and delicious food.

The Wool Shed - National Museum of Sheep and Shearing Free Open Day - Saturday 3 October. Step back in time and experience the rich history of sheep farming and wool production with shearing demonstrations, a spinners & weavers demonstration, and a sausage sizzle.

Carterton Space Week - Sunday 4 October to Saturday 10 October. Kids and families can build and launch rockets, travel from Earth into space inside the Mars Blueberry digital planetarium, and meet telescopes and astrophotographers.

Sonic Boom - a Concert Experience for Families! Sunday 4 October at Te Huinga Tāngata Wairarapa Events Centre. A high-energy family concert packed with singalongs and plenty of rockstar fun, featuring hits from K-Pop Demon Hunters, Taylor Swift, Queen, Bruno Mars, & Michael Jackson.

Gather Wairarapa Kids Market - Saturday 10 October at Solway Showgrounds. A fun-filled day for kids and families, with stalls, treats, activities, and entertainment—from plants, baking, and crafts to jewellery, lollies & more.

There's heaps more activities on our Wairarapa School Holidays page - link in comments. 👇

🎨 🍽 This weekend, the Wairarapa Art Trail takes you on a self-guided journey through the region’s creative heart, with more than 70 artists opening their studio doors and creative spaces to visitors.

And while you’re out exploring the Art Trail, make the most of your day with a stop at one of Wairarapa's many cafes, restaurants and eateries.

From Featherston and Greytown to Martinborough, Carterton and Masterton, you'll find plenty of great spots to enjoy lunch, grab a coffee, or treat yourself along the way.

Check out our website for inspiration on where to eat. Link in comments.

What’s On in Wairarapa this week? Heaps! 🌹🎨🍺

Plenty is happening across the region, from tulips and art to classic cars, live music, local makers, and more.

• Longbush Cottage 10 Days of Tulips – starts this Friday. A colourful day out for families, photographers & plant lovers, with thousands of tulips bringing the gardens to life.

• Wairarapa Art Trail – this Saturday & Sunday. Take a self-guided journey through the region’s creative heart, explore local studios and meet the artists behind the work. Pick up a programme from Greytown Art Gallery, Heart of Arts in Carterton and Aratoi in Masterton.

• Beats, Bites, Beers & Bubbles at Martinborough Brewery – Saturday from 12 pm. Cold b**r, sparkling rosé, pork belly bites and beats from the Featherston Vinyl Club.

• Spring Fling at Horseshoe Taproom – Sunday from 10 am. Browse market stalls featuring local goodies, talented makers and delicious treats.

• Mangatainoka Motors Two Wheels Day at Tui Brewery - Sunday from 9 am. Bring along your vintage classic, modern machine, scooter, trike or custom build.

Check out our What’s On page to stay in the loop - it's the best place to find out what’s on in the region: https://bit.ly/4gOWLco

GIVEAWAY! WIN a DOUBLE PASS to Longbush Cottage's 10 Days of Tulips Festival 🌹

The popular festival returns from Friday 25 September – Sunday 4 October, with thousands of tulips bringing the gardens to life. It promises to be a floral experience perfect for families, photographers, plant lovers and springtime wanderers.

TO ENTER: Let us know in the comments who your flower friend is.

Entries close next Monday 21 September 2026, with the winner contacted via our page. Good luck!

*This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook.*

Have a Wairarapa Spring Day Out at the Carterton Daffodil Festival NZ this Sunday 🌼

Bring the family to Carterton, catch a free bus to Middlerun and pick your own bunch of daffodils. You can also shop from more than 140 stalls at the High Street markets, with delicious food and live entertainment.

Ride the Daffodil Festival Flyer on beautifully restored heritage carriages between Carterton and Masterton — a fun activity for the whole family.

While you're in Carterton check out Wai Art 26 showcasing a diverse collection of artwork from local artists and across NZ at Te Huinga Tāngata Wairarapa Events Centre.

This Sunday 9am, Main Street, Carterton.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/3ViRyB9