Driving Times

Driving times to the Wairarapa...
If you’re coming from further away, Masterton and the Wairarapa are an easy 2.5 hour drive from Hawke’s Bay and 4 hours from Taupo. Best to enjoy a few days here if that’s the case - there are plenty of things to do in the Wairarapa and we’d love to have you!

Getting to Masterton:
Masterton is the Wairarapa’s main centre and is located near the top of the Wairarapa valley. Only 10 minutes from Carterton, and 20 from Greytown, Masterton is the region’s key service town. State Highway 2 runs right through the centre – you can’t miss us! A train service daily to and from Wellington, and a bus service from Palmerston North make getting here super easy - so there's no excuse really!

Getting to Carterton:
Artistic hub Carterton is the heart of the Wairarapa valley, sitting ten minutes south of Masterton and ten minutes north of Greytown along SH2. Continue from here through Gladstone and along the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail to Martinborough, a short fifteen minutes south-east.

Getting to Greytown:
Twenty minutes south of Masterton is Greytown only ten minutes south of Carterton and ten north of Featherston on SH2. Out to the east is Martinborough Wine Village another short, ten minute drive!

Getting to Featherston:
Steeped in wartime history is Featherston, only a 45 minute drive from Wellington and ten minutes south along SH2 from Greytown.  Featherston is a gateway to Ocean Beach (40 minutes), Lake Wairarapa (10 minutes) and the esteemed Wharekauhau Lodge (45 minutes). Driving from Masterton to Featherston takes around half an hour.

Getting to Martinborough:
From Masterton it's a 25 minute drive to Martinborough; ten minutes east of Greytown and fifteen minutes south-east of Carterton. Heading from Carterton takes you past Stonehenge Aotearoa, whereas the road through Greytown is a bit straighter and slightly wider.

Getting to Castlepoint:
Castlepoint is just an hours drive from Masterton and is the home of some of the Wairarapa’s most stunning coastal scenery. Head off SH2 at the northern end of Masterton and continue past Henley Lake and out into the country side. From here it’s just a matter of following the signs, at the T intersection in Tinui make a right and keep on this road until it ends at the sand. 
Mataikona is also well worth a visit, turn off to the left just after the Castlepoint Hotel.

Getting to Riversdale:
Riversdale is just an hours drive from Masterton and is a real swimmers beach. Acres of sand and a surf life saving club make for a fantastic day in the sunshine. Head off SH2 at the Northern end of Masterton and continue past Henley Lake and out into the country side. From here it's a twenty minute drive before you come to the Riversdale Beach turn off, just follow the signs and you’re away laughing.

Getting to Cape Palliser:
Cape Palliser is at the bottom of the North Island with fantastic views across Cook Strait to the South Island. The drive from Masterton to Cape Palliser is an hour and 50mins with plenty of places to stop along the way. Heading via Martinborough or Kahutara the road to the Cape takes you through Pirinoa, past the Lake Ferry turn off, through the small fishing village of Ngawi and past the Putangirua Pinnacles; all great places to stop and stretch your legs.  
Please note the road out here is largely gravel and you will need to cross a ford when travelling between Ngawi and Cape Palliser Lighthouse.