Wharekauhau Country Estate
Wairarapa, near Martinborough, New Zealand
Location
Above Palliser Bay
Wharekauhau sits on a working sheep-and-cattle station high above Palliser Bay in the Wairarapa, near Martinborough and framed by the Remutaka Range — around ninety minutes from Wellington, in the capital's wine country.
Transfer
From Wellington
Around an hour and a half by road from Wellington International Airport, above Palliser Bay in the Wairarapa.
Villas
Cottage suites & villa
Around sixteen Cottage Suites set near the main lodge, plus the three-bedroom Foley Villa with its own heated pool and the cliff-top Wharepapa Cottage.
Best For
Who it suits
Families and couples who want a genuine working farm with luxury comforts — kids' menus, babysitting and farm experiences alongside fine dining and a spa; mobility access is limited beyond the lodge ramp.
Board Basis
Lodge-inclusive
A lodge-inclusive basis — breakfast, pre-dinner drinks and canapes and a four-course dinner; meals are not included at the Wharepapa Cottage.
Overview
A working-farm country estate
Wharekauhau is a grand Edwardian-style lodge on a working sheep-and-cattle station high above Palliser Bay in the Wairarapa, near Martinborough and framed by the Remutaka Range, around an hour and a half by road from Wellington. Farm-to-table here is literal — the estate's own Romney lamb, Angus beef and honey, with local crayfish and snapper. There are around sixteen Cottage Suites set a short walk from the main lodge, each with a gas fireplace, walk-in wardrobe, underfloor heating, marble floors and a double spa bath, plus the three-bedroom Foley Villa with its own heated pool and the cliff-top Wharepapa Cottage, a family retreat about four kilometres away where meals are not included. Dining is at communal grand tables in the formal dining room, with a four-course dinner from estate produce, an open country kitchen and a sunlit conservatory. The Hauora Spa and a 24-metre indoor heated pool round out the comforts. The experiences are the real thing: sheep mustering, shearing and spring lambing, 4WD and quad-bike farm tours, horse riding, clay-pigeon shooting and archery, Palliser Bay coast walks, and Wairarapa and Martinborough wine tastings. It is strongly family-friendly, with kids' menus, high chairs and babysitting; mobility access is limited beyond the main-lodge ramp.
Accommodation
Cottage Suites & Villa
Around sixteen Cottage Suites a short walk from the lodge, each with a gas fireplace, underfloor heating, marble floors and a double spa bath, plus the three-bedroom Foley Villa with a private heated pool and the cliff-top Wharepapa Cottage.
Suite
Cottage Suite
Sleeps two, super-king. A gas fireplace, walk-in wardrobe, underfloor heating, marble floors and a double spa bath, with Palliser Bay and pasture views.
Bay viewFireplace
Villa
Foley Villa
Sleeps up to six across three bedrooms. Around 4,500 square feet with a private heated pool, firepit, full kitchen and living and dining, a short walk from the lodge.
Private poolThree bedrooms
Cottage
Wharepapa Cottage
A three-bedroom family cottage with open-plan living and a large terrace, on a cliff top with Palliser Bay views, around four kilometres from the lodge — self-catered.
Cliff-topSelf-catered
Food & Drink
Farm-to-table dining
Communal grand tables and farm-to-table menus from the estate's own produce — a four-course dinner of Romney lamb, Angus beef and honey in the formal dining room, with an open country kitchen and a sunlit conservatory.
Main
The dining room
A four-course dinner from the estate's own Romney lamb, Angus beef and honey, served at communal grand tables in the formal dining room.
Country kitchen
Country kitchen & conservatory
An open country kitchen and a sunlit conservatory.
Wellbeing
Hauora Spa
The Hauora Spa offers treatments in a country setting beside a 24-metre indoor heated swimming pool, with the working farm itself the real draw outside, from mustering and quad tours to riding and clay-pigeon shooting.
Hauora Spa
Treatments in a country setting at the Hauora Spa.
24-metre indoor pool
A 24-metre indoor heated swimming pool.
On the farm
Mustering, quad tours, riding and clay shooting.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
A real working farm, in luxury. Join the muster, shearing and spring lambing, take a 4WD or quad-bike farm tour, try clay-pigeon shooting or archery, walk the Palliser Bay coast, and taste Martinborough's wines down the road.
Join the muster
Join the daily work of the station, from sheep mustering and shearing to spring lambing, alongside the farm's own team.
Quad-bike the station
A 4WD or quad-bike tour across the working station, high above Palliser Bay and the wild south coast.
Clay-pigeon shooting
Clay-pigeon shooting and archery on the estate.
Taste Martinborough
Wairarapa and Martinborough wine tastings.
Walk Palliser Bay
Coast walks and cycling above Palliser Bay.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By road
About 1.5 hours from Wellington
Around an hour and a half by road from Wellington International Airport to the estate above Palliser Bay.
The setting
Wairarapa, near Martinborough
Set in the Wairarapa near Martinborough, in the Wellington region's wine country.
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Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- Lodge-inclusive — breakfast, drinks and canapes and a four-course dinner; Wharepapa Cottage is self-catered.
Families
- Strongly family-friendly — kids' menus, high chairs, babysitting and interconnecting cottages.
Access
- Mobility access is limited beyond the main-lodge ramp.
Getting there
- Fly to Wellington (WLG), then a road transfer to the estate.
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Dates & party
Date flexibility
Adults
2
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
Villas Preference
Flights
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