Holiday escape to Wairarapa
Hokimai is in the friendly, provincial Wairarapa town of Carterton, in the heart of the Wairarapa between Greytown and Masterton, 10 minutes from the popular vineyards and restaurants of Martinborough. At Hokimai you are close to all Wairarapa attractions. It is about 75 minutes by car to Wellington and about 90 minutes to Wellington airport.
About Carterton
Carterton is in a region of spectacular natural beauty and extends to the Waiohine River to the south and the Waingawa River to the north, from the western Tararua Ranges to the Pacific Ocean to the east. Carterton has an area of 1,145 square kilometres, comprising hills and flat plains.
Mt Holdsworth in the Carterton district is the main entry into the Tararua Forest Park which is popular for tramping and hiking. The Waiohine Gorge in Carterton provides access to the Tararuas and has the longest swing bridge of its type in New Zealand. The town is an increasingly popular destination for Wellington people and many people choose to live there and commute to Wellington for work.
To the east and northeast are Gladstone and East Taratahi rural communities where grape and olive growing thrives. East between the Maungaraki Ranges to the sea, forestry is increasingly predominant while rural land on the western side of Carterton's urban area is mainly traditional pastoral farming land.
Daffodil Carnival
Carterton is the "daffodil capital" of New Zealand where each spring at Middlerun a field of daffodils is opened to the public for picking. A steam train runs on a special schedule to the Wairarapa so visitors can pick the daffodils for a day excursion and attend the carnival.
Carterton's Daffodil Carnival usually features daffodil picking at Middlerun and a street fair.
More testimonials from out guests
"I would just like to thank you for a lovely weekend we had at your house a couple of weekends ago, it was just wonderful. Thank you very much." - Danette
"We loved the house. If we come back to the Wairarapa, we'll be back." - Christina, Auckland
"We went to Hokimai again and took some friends and they loved it. We got to Hokimai on Friday night after work, relaxed, had some wines and nibbles, then walked into town for a really nice dinner at the Buckhorn Bar and Grill and then we went to The Lounge Tapas bar for the live music and walked back to Hokimai after that.
"On Saturday we went to the Farmers' Market and bought some really nice goodies. The guys took their golf clubs to the driving range at the Copthorne Hotel at Solway near Masterton, and we girls went shopping at that great plant nursery nearby. Then we all met up again and went to the Gladstone Country Inn for lunch. There was a blacksmithing competition on and Clydesdale horses out front so that was fascinating seeing all the young guys burning hot making and molding the horsehoes in the furnaces.
After lunch we went to the private Richmond Gardens, pretty much in the middle of Carterton, down the street by the firestation. The garden is amazing. Formal. Italian. A 17th century style garden with a reflection pool and a fountain. So impressive. We did the loop walk round Carters Senic Reserve the next day which is really lovely, and walked down to the river. We saw quite a few jet boats. It was so great to get away from Wellington and from work. The Wairarapa is just so different. We had a lovely time."
There is a large park and children's playground in Carterton.
