Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entertainment
Circus
( movieline 06-306 9434;
www.circus.net.nz
;
34 Jellicoe St; adult/child $16/11; 3pm-late Wed-Mon)
Lucky
old Martinborough sports its own art-house cinema, and a stylish one it is too. This mod-
ern, microsize complex has two comfy studio theatres and a cafe opening out on to a
sunny, somewhat Zen garden. Reasonably priced food (mains $22 to $32) includes bar
snacks, pizza, mains with plenty of seasonal veg, and gelato.
CINEMA
Information
Martinborough i-SITE
( 06-306 5010;
www.wairarapanz.com
;
18 Kitchener St; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri,
10am-4pm Sat & Sun)
This small office stocks wine-region maps, including one produced by
the folks behind the useful site
www.martinboroughnz.com
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cape Palliser
The Wairarapa coast south of Martinborough around Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser is re-
mote and sparsely populated, and a trip to its landmark lighthouse is a must-do if you can
spare the time and have your own wheels. The drive to the Cape is just over an hour, but
depending on stops you could take half- to a full day.
From Martinborough, the road wends through picturesque farmland before hitting the
coast along
Cape Palliser Road
. This section of the drive is intensely scenic as it hugs the
coast between the vast, wild ocean and black-sand beaches on the shoreside, and sheer
cliffs on the other. Look for shadows of the South Island, visible on a clear day.
In these environs lies a significant wilderness area,
Aorangi (Haurangi) Forest Park
, which
offers backcountry tramping, camping and a DOC cottage for rent. Detailed information is
available from Martinborough i-SITE. Within the park are the
Putangirua Pinnacles
, accessed
through the Putangirua Scenic Reserve where there is a DOC campsite and car park.
Standing like giant organ pipes, these 'hoodoos' were formed by rain washing silt and
sand away and exposing the underlying bedrock. It's an easy 1½-hour walk to the lookout,
or take the 3½-hour loop track past hills and coastal viewpoints.
Heading south further along the coast is the wind-worn fishing village of
Ngawi
. The
first things you'll notice here are the rusty bulldozers on the beach, used to drag fishing
