A visit to the Wairarapa is not complete without a trip to Castlepoint! The iconic lighthouse is seen on so many postcards that you have to see it in person. A picnic on the beach, a swim in the sea or a walk down the beach is the perfect way to spend the day in the Wairarapa!

This is the Wairarpa's best kept secret! The East Coast is famous for it's beaches and I think Riversdale Beach is one of the best. Their are rocks to climb, rock pools to discover, great swimming and friendly locals. If your visit the Wairarapa you need to visit Riversdale Beach!

My sister-in-law was visiting from Auckland and this was the only place she was dying to visit! Their homemade pies are world famous in New Zealand and what could be more iconic than a pie on a road trip!

I loved visiting Mount Bruce as a kid and I think I love it even more now! Seeing the Kiwi up close is a real treat and something everyone should do at least once if you live in New Zealand. I can't wait to visit again soon!

We stopped here on our road trip through the Wairarapa, located on a heritage site it really is unique to the Wairarapa. We got to see someone making horseshoes, the kids got to have a turn at printmaking and I loved seeing the old hospital. A definate must see!

If you are a tourist to the Manawatu the gorge is a must see. There is nothing else in the country like it. The river flows right in the middle of the ranges and the surroundings are just spectacular. You can take one of the bush walks or just drive through and stop to take a picture.

This is such a fun way to see the city, riding around on vintage bikes complete with little baskets on the front! Even if you stay within the square it's a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon. Pack yourself a picnic and eat under a shady tree!

This is a truely unique expeirence to travel down the Whanganui river on the origional PS Waimarie! This paddle steamer boat will take you on a trip that you and your family won't forget. Don't forget to take your camera because you will see some fantastic views! This is a great family day out.

If there is one farmers market you visit in the area, this one has to be it. See what the local producers in our area are all about. Even Prince Charles and Camilla came for a look so if it's good enough for them!

If gardens, good food friendly locals and beautiful handmade gifts are what you are looking to discover in our region, you'll love it here. Out of the city, family friendly and so many local delights to savor. You can take a piece home from the gift shop too. There are so many beautiful spots to take pictures in the beautiful gardens.

This is a great skate park no matter your skill level. There are so many ramps, bars and obstacles to make use of. Great for skateboards, scooters or bmx riders alike it's a great place to meet people with similar interests!

This is our regular park and my daughter loves it! There is a great playground, plenty of room to run around and lots of shady trees. We enjoy picnics there in the summer time and there is even some free fitness equipment if you need to get your body moving in the middle of a long drive!

We stopped here on our way through Masterton for a picnic a couple of weeks ago and it was lovely! The trees provide shade from the sun and the park kept our daughter busy and used up some of her energy!

We love visiting this lake, it has a great walking track right around the outside. There are lots of picnic tables, some friendly ducks and beautiful swans. Heaps of room for the kids to run around in too! Sometimes you will even see the minture boat club there with their remote control speed boats!

A lovely little slice of the Kiwi bush! Go for a walk in the short loop track which is great for people of all ages and fitness levels. There is a small park for the kids to play in and the track ends at the famous Bridge Cafe where the food is amazing and there is a beautiful view of the region!

If you are visiting the area this is one of the best parks in the region. They have an awesome playground for the kids including the famous "Witch's Hat". Beautiful nature walks with mature native trees and a bird aviary full of friendly birds. I remember having countless picnics here, there's plenty of shade from the sun and lots of places for awesome photos!

A lovely park to take a walk around, the kids to play and there is even a large free swimming pool! They even have a swing especially for wheelchairs which is a first for the city. There's a place for the kids to ride their scooters and bikes and lovely trees to picnic under on your way out of town!

If there is one park to visit while you're in the Manawatu this is it! Set aside a day to walk the grounds of the Esplanade, explore the rose gardens, bush walks, duck ponds, ride the miniature train and have lunch at the onsite cafe. Cool off in the paddling pool, play at the massive adventure playground. Check out the tropical garden and the wild base recovery center. You can use the free barbecue facilities too! There is so much to do here.

We love going to this park, it's right across from the river where you can cool off, walk the dog, or build rock dams. There is an awesome BMX track, great playground and plenty of space to play some family soccer or cricket! Lots of space to picnic in under the trees too!

We have been here so many times and my daughter loves it! It's right by the river that is great for swimming, fishing and 4WD. The playground is lovely, there is plenty of shade from the sun and lots of challenging equipment for the kids to play on. There is even a sheltered picnic area. Surrounded by bush it's also a great place for birdspotting some of our friendly native birds!

So many things to love at this farmers market the fresh fish, fruit and veg, olive oils and preserves are what make this one of the top 5 farmer's markets. All the locals come out for their weekly shopping and to stock up of their favorites.

Local produce, grown right here in the Wairarapa, by the locals that live here. Supporting small businesses and getting some of the freshest produce available! I am also a huge fan of homemade relishes and jams and they always have a wide variety here, that's why this is definitely in the top 5 list of farmer's markets!

Take a picnic, or sample some of the amazing food on offer here, from fresh fruit, homemade bread and amazing coffee! There will also be live music and you can take a look at the orchard while you're there too.

This sounds delightful, music, food, produce and even French lessons! Perfect for an afternoon out with the family shopping and expirencing one of the iconic markets in the area that is celebrating it's 10th anniversary!

Think farmer's market on the grandest scale! No top 5 would be complete without mentioning this one. So much fresh produce, plants, homemade jams and preserves and handcrafted gifts, clothing and anything else you could think of! I love coming here and stocking up on fresh berries, homemade bread and a few gifts too!

Feilding Farmer's Market has even won the award for best farmer's market many times! I even saw Prince Charles and Camilla there during their NZ tour! There's fruit and veg, plants and even a stall that sells fresh bread. The atmosphere is cool and there's always plenty of people there so you know it's worth a visit.

Right on the river this farmer's market has one of the best venues, a great selection of fruit and veg stalls and other craft based stalls too. Support local growers, crafters and small businesses and find some awesome deals at the same time!

One of the best farmer's markets to get your fruit and veg from! There are quite a few sellers which keeps their prices competitive and they are always far cheaper and fresher than the supermarket too!

The market outside The Albert is a great place to shop for your fruit and veg, the local growers provide the freshest produce at very reasonable prices. It's a great way to spend your morning and a great way to support local businesses!

I used to go here with my Grandma all the time and it's still one of the best weekly farmer's markets in the region. It fills a huge carpark and I'm sure the whole town comes out to shop, have a look around and bump into friends. They also have an area of second hand goods so you can find a bargain there too!