Queenstown (more)
High: 21 Low: 7 Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.
| Travel time | Km | (Miles) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martinborough - Masterton | 0.5 hr | 45 | 28 |
| Masterton - Hastings | 2.75 hrs | 216 | 135 |
| Hastings - Napier | 0.75 hr | 20 | 13 |
| Totals for Day | 4 hrs | 281 | 176 |
45 km (28 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway/Arterial
In recent years, Martinborough has become the gourmet capital of the lower North Island. It is home to over 25 boutique vineyards, several fabulous restaurants and a number of upmarket bed and breakfast establishments. From the charming town square, you can walk to most of the local attractions.
Enjoy the clean, green scenery as you drive north through the friendly townships of the Wairarapa. In Featherston you'll find an interesting locomotive museum.
Greytown has many beautiful examples of Victorian architecture and a quaint museum—take yourself on a self-guided walk. Carterton is a good place to shop for paua shell souvenirs—it's also a place to enjoy daffodils in the spring.
Every year in March, Masterton hosts the international Golden Shears competition. Sheep shearing in the Wairarapa is both a sport and an art form. The town's main park has an aviary, aquarium, deer park and a small boating lake. Or you could rediscover your childhood at the local toy museum.
216 km (135 miles)
Approximately 2.75 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway
Every year in March, Masterton hosts the international Golden Shears competition. Sheep shearing in the Wairarapa is both a sport and an art form. The town's main park has an aviary, aquarium, deer park and a small boating lake. Or you could rediscover your childhood at the local toy museum.
On the drive to Hastings, you'll encounter a wildlife sanctuary at Mt Bruce and the legendary town of Eketahuna (in kiwi slang Eketahuna is the archetypal hick town).
The Tararua Windfarm (it makes electricity out of thin air) is a little further north—to see it, follow the road to Ballance. After the antique shops of Woodville you can inspect locally made knitwear in Dannevirke, a town originally settled by Scandinavians. The rural service towns of Waipukurau and Waipawa both have historic buildings to view.
Hastings was devastated by the 1931 earthquake, so has plenty of Art Deco and Spanish Mission-style architecture to see. Fabulous parks, pipfruit and delicious ice cream are three other reasons to visit Hastings.
20 km (13 miles)
Approximately 0.75 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway
Hastings was devastated by a huge earthquake in 1931. As a result, the city has a great deal of remarkable Art Deco and Spanish Mission-style architecture.
Fabulous parks and delicious ice cream are two other reasons to visit Hastings. In the apple and pear season, there's no better place to be—Hastings is New Zealand's leading pipfruit region.
The city of Napier is only 20 kilometres to the north of Hastings. It was also levelled by the 1931 earthquake, and rebuilt in the style of the times. Napier is now considered the Art Deco Capital of the world.
To get in touch with the history of this region, visit the Earthquake Exhibition and Nga Tukemata (an exhibition which celebrates the Maori history of the East Coast) at the local museum. The vineyards of Hawke's Bay are all within easy reach of Napier. Another attraction is the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.
View more Queenstown driving routes.
Martinborough, Wairarapa:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Visitor Information
Masterton, Wairarapa:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Hastings, Hawke's Bay:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Napier, Hawke's Bay:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
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