Hen’s venue: Martinborough, Wairarapa
When considering a weekend away with the girls in lieu of a raucous hen's night, the destination selection can be yet another item on the wedding planning list. As part of our Destinations series, we bring you a variety of venue profiles, honeymoon styles, getaway locations and tips every Monday to help you narrow your options down to somewhere truly amazing.
This venue is located in the Wairarapa’s wine capital, the boutique country town of Martinborough. The Martinborough village can offer a hens group any style of weekend getaway whether is be wine and pampering, or adventures. The town, only 65 kilometres from Wellington, is known for its 20-odd vineyards many of which boast international recognition. The small town has many thriving fine-dining restaurants based around the town square.
When staying in Martinborough, the options are endless with accommodation including spa resorts dotted across the town and rural area. For a girls only trip such as this, hiring a house will likely be the most convenient option.
The Martinborough Villa is a luxury private home offering the ideal setting for a ladies weekend. The villa is an architecturally-designed luxury retreat located in Martinborough Estate, adjacent to the Martinborough Golf Course - a full 18 hole golf course with beautiful mature trees. The purpose-built holiday accommodation is modern with underfloor heating. The house sleeps eight people and is complete with two bathrooms. The lounge, dining and kitchen areas are open plan, with floor to ceiling glass to make the most of the outlook over the golf course and countryside, and provide indoor/outdoor flow to the BBQ area and heated swimming pool. The house is situated on the outskirts of the town and is only a short walk for dinner and shopping.
Martinborough is not short of resturants for dining out. Just off the main square is Pinocchio Martinborough, a family-owned fine-dining restaurant. The restaurant has recently been named in the country’s top 100 restaurants by Cuisine magazine for 2017. Or try Circus Cinema, Bar and Restaurant before treating yourselves to a movie.
Stopping by one of the many wineries to try some exclusive and award winning wines is a must. For a lunch out, Poppies Martinborough is a locally owned winery where their platters are good, and their wine is even better. Afterwards, relax at one of the villages renowned spas, Brackenridge Country and Spa. The Day Spa offers a complete range of therapeutic beauty treatments and massages.
The areas surrounding Martinborough provide easy day trips for picnics and exploring. The coastal villages of Lake Ferry and Ngawi are the epitome of classic New Zealand small towns. Walks to the Cape Palliser lighthouse or a horse-riding adventure on Patuna Farm could suit for daytime excursion as could the opportunity to discover one of the region's most spectular limestone chasms.
Martinborough: so close to Wellington city and yet overwhelms with the feeling you've transported to Napa Valley, if only for weekend.