Masterton - North Island, New Zealand

Masterton, located 30 kms south of Pukaha Mt Bruce, is the largest town in the Wairarapa region.

It is bounded on its east by the Queen Elizabeth Park. Aratoi is famous for its art exhibitions showing a deep insight into the history of the Wairarapa region.

The pride of Masterton is its annual Golden Shears shearing competition, a three day event based around everything related to wool, held in the first week of March. This competition attracts participants from all over the world.

Masterton Activities

The centrepiece is the shearing competition where the best shearer is judged on his speedy and smooth wool removal prowess. To attend the finals, you are well advised to book your ticket in advance.

There is an excellent museum in the Shear Discovery on Dixon St. This is housed in a couple of century old sheds and is a marvelous collection of anything and everything woolly in the form of sheep pens, shearing handpieces and pressed bales of wool with stencil marks of various sheep stations.

The local shearing legend is David Fagan, New Zealand's five time world champion and winner of the Golden Shears a record sixteen times.

Masterton has a Department of Conservation (DOC) field centre where tickets can be bought for some exciting tramping trips in the Tararua Forest Park to the west of the town.

For serious trampers, the Holdsworth Jumbo tramp is a twelve hour trek which can be split into two or more blocks, with DOC maintained huts along the way. There are also 1 to 2 hour riverside walks available for walking enthusiasts.

The Masterton Visitor Centre is on Queen St and is the point where visitors are dropped off by Tranzit buses from Wellington and the Tranz Metro rail services from Wellington.

The Masterton railway station is a 15 minute walk from the visitor centre. The DOC office is an extension of Queen St 3 kms away at the end of South Rd.

Masterton Accommodation

Masterton has a good range of accommodation facilities in the form of an attractive motor camp, motels and good quality budget B&Bs (bed and breakfasts).

There are many good quality cafes providing decent eating choices in the form of snacks and meals and there are a couple of good drinking spots within easy access of the town.

LooknbookNZ can take care of your Masterton accommodation and Masterton activities bookings to give you and your family/friends a wonderful time in this historic town of the Wairarapa region.