Featherston is the first Wairarapa town en route from Wellington. Twisting through the Rimutaka Hills it’s easy to see how the advent of the railway in 1878 opened up the Wairarapa Valley to early settlers.
The Rimutaka Incline and Fell Engine were a feat of Victorian engineering - their significance and technology are interpreted at the Fell Engine Museum in central Featherston. Visit the sole surviving engine, enjoy the unique museum and short film.
Browse antique shops and galleries or walk the Featherston Heritage Trail. Explore pioneer life and aspects of World Wars I and II at the neighbouring Featherston Heritage Complex.
Stop for lunch or picnic at the stunning, historic Tauherenikau Race Course. Add a ‘race day’ to your social calendar, the festive atmosphere will prove a winner.
Wander the shores of nearby Lake Wairarapa, an important wetland for some rare native and migratory birds. Access the rugged Palliser Bay from Featherston.
Click on a town or region to discover what makes the Wairarapa unique.
