"The Eastern gateway out of Wellington" Wairarapa by stevemt

Wairarapa - pronounced "Why-ra-rap-a", (often known as "The Wairarapa") is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest. It is named for Lake Wairarapa.

The Wairarapa is a country area just an hour or so's drive from Wellington (over the Rumitukas ranges.)

There is a lot to do and see here. You can go to cape Palliser and see the sea lion colony on the beach, got to Castlepoint, or one of the other beaches, shop at the local towns and visit boutique winery's.