Wellington Region - New Zealand's North Island - page 781

chased from Masterton's notable bakery, the Ten O'Clock Cookie (180 Queen St;

7am-4.30pm

Mon-Fri, 8am-2.30pm Sat) .
If none of this is sounding particularly rock and roll, we've got news for you. Masterton
has an absolutely ace music venue. King Street Live ( www.kingstreetlive.co.nz ; 4pm late Thu-Sat,
plus other event nights) lures a diverse range of performers to play in its properly outfitted and
professionally run, acoustically excellent, groovalicious, complete-with-garden-bar music
venue, co-owned by gentleman-player Warren Maxwell (of legendary Trinity Roots - play
catch-up where you can).
There are a few interesting sights further afield, one of which is Castlepoint , on the coast
68km east of Masterton. It's a truly awesome, end-of-the-world place, with a reef, the
lofty 162m-high Castle Rock, largely safe swimming and walking tracks. There's an easy
(but sometimes ludicrously windy) 30-minute return walk across the reef to the light-
house, where 70-plus shell species are fossilised in the cliffs. Another one-hour return
walk runs to a huge limestone cave (take a torch), or take the 1½-hour return track from
Deliverance Cove to Castle Rock. Keep well away from the lower reef when there are
heavy seas. Ask the staff at Masterton i-SITE about accommodation here.
Thirty kilometres north of Masterton on SH2, Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre
( www.pukaha.org.nz ; aduld/child/family $20/6/50; 9am-4.30pm) is not only one of NZ's most success-
ful wildlife and captive breeding centres, it's also the most readily accessible bush experi-
ence off the highway. Get a good overview of the 1000-hectare wilderness on the scenic
1½-hour loop walk which affords good vantage points. The visitor centre has various ex-
hibits including an interactive gallery, while alongside is a kiwi house with roaming adult
birds, an incubation area and nursery. A series of aviaries allows viewing of other special
native birds. The daily visitor program allows you to see tuatara being fed (11.30am), at-
tend the eel-feeding (1.30pm) and watch the kaka circus (3pm). There are also guided
walks, day time and at night (adult/child from $20/6). There's a cafe and shop on site.
The turn-off to the main eastern entrance of the Tararua Forest Park ( www.doc.govt.nz ) is just
south of Masterton on SH2; follow Norfolk Rd about 15km to the gates. Mountain
streams dart through virgin forest in this reserve, known as Holdsworth . A recreation area
has swimming holes, picnic spots, campsites and a lodge. Heading into the hills, walks in-
clude short, easy family tramps, excellent one- or two-day tramps, and longer, challenging
tramps for experienced bush-bods (west through to Otaki Forks). The resident caretaker
has maps and hut accommodation info. Check weather and track updates before setting
off, and be prepared to be baked, battered and buffeted by fickle conditions.