We all need a Savior
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
None of us can earn our way to God by being good enough. We all need mercy.
🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Wairarapa & Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand
Ranui Essentials near Martinborough opens daily in January, and Lavender Abbey runs pick-your-own days from December 19, 2026, to January 25, 2027.
10 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
✏️ Report outdated info
The Wairarapa is the farming and wine country east of the Remutaka and Tararua ranges, a little over an hour from Wellington by car or train. Its small towns sit close together along State Highway 2: Featherston, Greytown with its heritage main street, Carterton, and Martinborough, built around a village square with vineyards at the edge of town. Two lavender farms are here. Ranui Essentials on Dry River Road outside Martinborough grows more than 30 varieties and distills its own oil, and Lavender Abbey on Dalefield Road near Carterton opens its rows for pick-your-own in the summer peak.
On the other side of the Tararua Range, Lavender Creek Farm in Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast grows, distills and makes its products on the farm and sells them online, with a bed and breakfast on site. Crossing the ranges takes a couple of hours, so treat Ōtaki as its own trip. Come in January for the most lavender: Ranui is open every day that month and Lavender Abbey's picking days fall from just before Christmas to late January.
The lavender farms
- Ranui Essentials Lavender FarmLavender farm · Martinborough
Summer; harvest and distilling around mid-January
Shop and farm open daily in January and on weekends February–December, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; guided tours with the owner.
- Lavender AbbeyLavender farm · Carterton
Peak picking in late December and January
Pick-your-own on set days December 19, 2026 to January 25, 2027, 10–3; farm shop most weekends 10–3 year-round.
- Lavender Creek FarmLavender farm · Ōtaki
No regular public opening hours are published; contact the farm before visiting. B&B stays by booking.
Best time to visit
Lavender here blooms in the Southern Hemisphere summer. Lavender Abbey's 2026–27 pick-your-own days are December 19–20, December 26 to January 10, and January 16, 17, 23, 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ranui Essentials is open daily 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in January and on weekends the rest of the year, and its still may be running around mid-January during harvest. Molewood Orchard in Greytown opens for apple and pear picking on weekends from March to May. Stonehenge Aotearoa is open daily in January and Wednesday to Sunday the rest of the year. Upgrade works on the Remutaka Cycle Trail bring weekday closures near Cross Creek through spring 2026, so ride on a weekend or check first. In winter (June to August) Cobblestones Museum closes an hour earlier.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Marty Mural Trail🏘️ Town · Martinborough · about 4 mi, 10 min drive
Eight murals by different artists dotted around Martinborough village, on walls at vineyards, shops and cafés; start near the square and walk or cycle it.
- Carter Scenic Reserve (Uhi Mānuka)🌲 Preserve · Carterton · about 4 mi, 12 min drive
A 30-minute boardwalk loop through a remnant of flooded kahikatea forest and drier bush, one of the last pieces of the wetland landscape that once covered much of the Wairarapa; home to rare plants and native fish such as brown mudfish.
- Waiohine Gorge🥾 Trail · Carterton · about 10 mi, 25 min drive
A road-end entry to Tararua Forest Park, reached by following Dalefield Road (the same road as Lavender Abbey) and the park signs. A suspension bridge spans the Waiohine River beside a swimming spot, and walks range from short strolls to the two-day Totara Flats tramp.
- Stonehenge Aotearoa🌉 Landmark · Carterton · about 9 mi, 20 min drive
A stone circle designed for its own site on Ahiaruhe Road, drawing on Polynesian, Māori and other ancient sky lore. Walk it yourself in opening hours, or book a 90-minute guided tour by day or at sunset.
January daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; February–December Wednesday–Sunday and public holidays 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Cobblestones Museum🏛️ Museum · Greytown · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
Six heritage buildings on Main Street on the site of the old Cobb & Co coach stables, including an 1867 colonial cottage and a one-room school, plus horse-drawn vehicles such as a 1906 coach.
Daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; June 1–August 31, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Greytown Woodside Trail🥾 Trail · Greytown · about 9 mi, 15 min drive
About 5 km of wide limestone path under an avenue of old oaks between Cotter Street in Greytown and Woodside railway station, suitable for walkers, cyclists, prams and wheelchairs. Dogs must be on a leash.
- Fell Locomotive Museum🏛️ Museum · Featherston · about 12 mi, 25 min drive
Home of H199 'Mont Cenis', the only surviving Fell engine built for the steep Rimutaka Incline, with photos, models and a film on the railway's history. A short walk from Featherston station.
Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed public holidays
- Remutaka Rail Trail🥾 Trail · Featherston · about 17 mi, 40 min drive
A gently graded 18 km ride on the old rail line over the Remutaka Range, past old bridges and through a tunnel (bring a light). From Cross Creek car park, about 15 minutes from Featherston, the return trip to the summit takes 3–4 hours.
Weekday closures near Cross Creek during trail upgrades through spring 2026
- Wairarapa Moana🌲 Preserve · Featherston · about 20 mi, 45 min drive
The largest wetland in the southern North Island, covering more than 9,000 hectares, with easy walks of 20 minutes to two hours. Reach the Lake Shore Scenic Reserve via Western Lake Road, about 16 km from Featherston. Dogs must stay on a lead to protect threatened birds.
- Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre🌲 Preserve · Mount Bruce · about 32 mi, 50 min drive
A forest sanctuary on SH2 about 30 minutes north of Masterton, with a kiwi house, longfin eel feeding and easy forest tracks with aviaries; allow two to three hours. Ranger-guided tours run daily at 2 p.m.
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; café 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Palliser EstateWinery or vineyard (21+) · Martinborough
A Martinborough cellar door whose kitchen cooks with local seasonal produce; booking for tastings or lunch is strongly recommended.
- Schoc ChocolatesMaker or artist · Greytown
Chocolate made in a small turn-of-the-century cottage beside Cobblestones Museum, with more than 50 tablet flavors such as lime and chili.
- Juno OlivesFarm stand · Greytown
An olive grove on SH2 pressing oil from six varieties, with a shop open weekends 10 a.m.–3 p.m. and tours by appointment.
- Greytown HoneyHoney farm · Greytown
Small-group beekeeping tours that open a working hive and finish with a honey tasting.
- Molewood OrchardApple orchard · Greytown
A small orchard on Mole Street for picking apples and pears on autumn weekends, March to May.
- The White Swan Country HotelInn or B&B · Greytown
A Greytown country hotel with a bar, dining room and deck, serving food from noon Monday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. Friday to Sunday.
- Lewis FarmsStrawberry farm · Levin
A family farm shop south of Levin, about 15 minutes from Ōtaki, known for asparagus and berries, with real berry ice cream and a playground.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMRanui Essentials Lavender Farm
Take the guided walk through the varieties, browse the shop and have a lavender ice cream; about an hour. Open daily in January.
- 11:15 AMMarty Mural Trail · about 10 min drive
Walk the murals from the square in Martinborough for about 45 minutes.
- 12:15 PMPalliser Estate · about 3 min drive
Lunch at Palliser Kitchen; book online ahead and plan a designated driver if you taste. Allow 1.25 hours.
- 1:45 PMLavender Abbey · about 35 min drive
Pick your own bunches before the 3 p.m. close, on one of the listed picking days; bring a sunhat.
- 3:00 PMCobblestones Museum · about 15 min drive
An hour among the heritage buildings and coaches before the 4 p.m. close.
- 3:55 PMSchoc Chocolates
Next door on Main Street; pick up chocolate for the drive home.
- 4:30 PMGreytown Woodside Trail · about 3 min drive
Walk part of the oak-lined path from Cotter Street and back, about 45 minutes.
- 6:00 PMThe White Swan Country Hotel · about 3 min drive
Dinner in the bar or dining room in the middle of Greytown.
Tips
- Lavender Abbey's picking days are short and set in advance; check its pick-your-own page before you drive, and note it closes at 3 p.m. It takes card payments and has parking.
- Ranui Essentials closes on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day, and posts hour changes on its social pages.
- The Pūtangirua Pinnacles track and campsite near Cape Palliser were listed as closed after a slip on the access road; check the Department of Conservation before planning that drive.
- Ōtaki and the Wairarapa are on opposite sides of the Tararua Range, so pair Lavender Creek Farm with Levin and Manakau instead of Martinborough.
- Wairarapa is part of a Dark Sky Reserve; clear summer nights are good for stargazing.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I pick lavender in the Wairarapa?
Lavender Abbey near Carterton runs pick-your-own on set days from December 19, 2026, to January 25, 2027, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., at $5 entry plus $5 a bunch (NZD).
Is Ranui Essentials open every day?
Daily 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in January, then weekends 10 a.m.–3 p.m. from February to December.
How far is the Wairarapa from Wellington?
Just over an hour by car or train.
Can I visit Lavender Creek Farm in Ōtaki?
It sells its products online and runs a bed and breakfast; its website does not list visiting hours, so call ahead.
Are dogs welcome on local trails?
On a leash on the Greytown Woodside Trail and on a lead at Wairarapa Moana.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
Add your listing Get featured
