Masterton

New_Zealand

Masterton is the main town in the Wairarapa region of the North Island of New Zealand.

Masterton and nearby Greytown were established in 1854 by the Wairarapa Small Farms Association. The association was led by Joseph Masters, after whom the town is named. Masterton gained borough status in 1877, and the railway from Wellington arrived in November 1880. Today the town is home to 21,800 people, with another 3,400 living in the surrounding rural areas.

  • Masterton i-SITE Visitor Centre, cnr Dixon & Bruce Sts, Masterton, +64 6 370 0900. Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00, Sa-Su & holidays 10:00-16:00.

Masterton i-SITE Visitor Centre, cnr Dixon & Bruce Sts, Masterton, +64 6 370 0900. Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00, Sa-Su & holidays 10:00-16:00.

  • Aratoi, Bruce St. Daily 10am–4pm. Gold coin donation.
  • The Wool Shed, National Museum of Sheep and Shearing, 12 Dixon St, +64 6 378 8008. Daily 10:00-16:00. Adult $8, child (5-14) $2, family (2+2) $15.
  • Queen Elizabeth Park. Park with cricket oval. Minature train rides at weekends, boating pond and children's playground.

Aratoi, Bruce St. Daily 10am–4pm. Gold coin donation.

The Wool Shed, National Museum of Sheep and Shearing, 12 Dixon St, +64 6 378 8008. Daily 10:00-16:00. Adult $8, child (5-14) $2, family (2+2) $15.

Queen Elizabeth Park. Park with [[cricket]] oval. Minature train rides at weekends, boating pond and children's playground.

  • Mt Holdsworth - Jumbo Circuit. A 24km 2-3 day tramp (walk), with accommodation in DOC huts. The route climbs through forest to open high top tracks, climbing from an altitude of 313m to 1448m. huts $5 - $15 per night.

  • Golden Shears, War Memorial Stadium, 2 Dixon St. New Zealand's premier sheep shearing and wool handling competition, held annually in the first weekend of March.
  • Wairarapa Balloon Festival. Dozens of hot air balloons from New Zealand and the world congregate on the Masterton area for an annual 4-5 day festival held in March-April. The major highlight of the festival is the Night Glow, held at Solway Showgrounds.
  • Wings over Wairarapa, Hood Aerodrome, South Road. A biennial air show and festival featuring dozens of vintage WWI and WWII aircraft. The last festival on 17-19 February 2017 was washed out; the next is due in 2019.

Golden Shears, War Memorial Stadium, 2 Dixon St. New Zealand's premier sheep shearing and wool handling competition, held annually in the first weekend of March.

Wairarapa Balloon Festival. Dozens of hot air balloons from New Zealand and the world congregate on the Masterton area for an annual 4-5 day festival held in March-April. The major highlight of the festival is the Night Glow, held at Solway Showgrounds.

Wings over Wairarapa, Hood Aerodrome, South Road. A biennial air show and festival featuring dozens of vintage WWI and WWII aircraft. The last festival on 17-19 February 2017 was washed out; the next is due in 2019.

Mt Holdsworth - Jumbo Circuit. A 24km 2-3 day tramp (walk), with accommodation in DOC huts. The route climbs through forest to open high top tracks, climbing from an altitude of 313m to 1448m. huts $5 - $15 per night.

  • Wairarapa Farmers' Market, The Farriers Carpark, 4 Queen St (entrance off Chapel St opposite fire station. Sa 09:00-13:00. Local produce including fruit and vegetables, honey, cheese, wine, eggs and olive oil.

Wairarapa Farmers' Market, The Farriers Carpark, 4 Queen St (entrance off Chapel St opposite fire station. Sa 09:00-13:00. Local produce including fruit and vegetables, honey, cheese, wine, eggs and olive oil.

All three major supermarket chains have a presence in Masterton: Pak'n Save (cnr Queen & Crayne Sts, Kuripuni), Countdown (cnr Queen St & Worksop Rd), and New World (cnr Dixon & Bruce Sts). Most of the national fast food chains have presence in Masterton: Burger King, Domino's, McDonald's, Pita Pit and Subway are within a short distance of each other on Chapel Street between Lincoln Road and King Street, while Hell Pizza (276 Queen Street), KFC (cnr Chapel & Crayne Sts, Kuripuni), and Pizza Hut (89 Chapel Street) are also present.

  • Cafe Strada, 232 Queen Street (cnr Jackson Street, +64 6 378 8450. Daily 07:15 to late. $18-$32.
  • The Farriers Bar & Eatery, 4 Queen St, +64 6 377 1102. Daily 09:00 to late. $21-$37.
  • Lone Star Restaurant & Bar, 49 Dixon St (cnr Church Street, +64 6 377 7308. Mo-Th 15:00-late, Fr-Su 11:00-late. Texas-themed restaurant known for its large meals. $24-$38.
  • Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery Cafe, 180 Queen St, +64 6 377 4551. Mo-We 07:00-16:30, Th-Fr 07:00-21:30, Sa 08:00-16:00, Su closed. Multiple award-winning bakery.
  • Mr Chips Takeaway, 22 Chapel St, +64 6 377 3697. Daily 11:00-21:00. Fish and chips and Chinese takeaway, with large Chinese smorgasbord daily from 17:00. Won the 2017 Bidfood People’s Choice Best Chips Award.

Cafe Strada, 232 Queen Street (cnr Jackson Street, +64 6 378 8450. Daily 07:15 to late. $18-$32.

The Farriers Bar & Eatery, 4 Queen St, +64 6 377 1102. Daily 09:00 to late. $21-$37.

Lone Star Restaurant & Bar, 49 Dixon St (cnr Church Street, +64 6 377 7308. Mo-Th 15:00-late, Fr-Su 11:00-late. Texas-themed restaurant known for its large meals. $24-$38.

Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery Cafe, 180 Queen St, +64 6 377 4551. Mo-We 07:00-16:30, Th-Fr 07:00-21:30, Sa 08:00-16:00, Su closed. Multiple award-winning bakery.

Mr Chips Takeaway, 22 Chapel St, +64 6 377 3697. Daily 11:00-21:00. Fish and chips and Chinese takeaway, with large Chinese smorgasbord daily from 17:00. Won the 2017 Bidfood People’s Choice Best Chips Award.

Accident & emergency is located at Wairarapa Hospital. on Te Ore Ore Road, Lansdowne. In an emergency, dial 111 for an ambulance.

  • Masterton Medical, 4 Colombo Road, Lansdowne (behind the hospital, +64 6 370 0011. Weekdays 08:00-18:00 (except We 09:00-18:00). The sole medical centre serving Masterton. Beware due to the large patient base, a routine appointment can involve a 7-10 day wait. The Wairarapa After Hours Service for urgent after-hours appointments operates out of Masterton Medical on weekends and public holidays 09:00 to 17:00 and at other times by arrangement. Medical $67-85; Accident (ACC) $35-45.

Accident & emergency is located at Wairarapa Hospital. on Te Ore Ore Road, Lansdowne. In an emergency, dial 111 for an ambulance.

Masterton Medical, 4 Colombo Road, Lansdowne (behind the hospital, +64 6 370 0011. Weekdays 08:00-18:00 (except We 09:00-18:00). The sole medical centre serving Masterton. Beware due to the large patient base, a routine appointment can involve a 7-10 day wait. The Wairarapa After Hours Service for urgent after-hours appointments operates out of Masterton Medical on weekends and public holidays 09:00 to 17:00 and at other times by arrangement. Medical $67-85; Accident (ACC) $35-45.