Winery to Winery on bike

Martinborough Wineries

New Zealand

Only an hour train from Wellington, Martinborough is the perfect escape for a weekend. On arrival to Featherstone station, there was a shuttle man charging $5 to get into Martinbourough. He must just meet all the trains that arrive as there are only 2 a day. 

We stayed in an airbnb which worked out super cheap for 4 of us sharing a 3 bedroom home complete with outdoor jacuzzi. The town is small so our home ended up being a 5 min walk to the centre. 

We visited the main cycle shop next to the tourist centre, hired some bikes, got a map and were on our way. We chose some wineries that had beer too, or had food or that we liked the name of. 

Starting at Palliser Estate winery, this is one cool winery! I was impressed with the bike parking, but realised every winery had this. So convenient! Most wineries charge you to taste then it is redeemable on wine, perfect. Palliser’s rose was amazing, also their dessert wine - wow! We bought one of each bottle. Their winery had a giant chessboard, so many places to sit and eat and drink and be merry. 

Next up was Brodie Estate which was really far cycle from Palliser but worth the ride, Ann was such a great host, and their dog Rove greeted us on arrival and lead us to the cellar. Their vineyards are uncovered and there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy. Again i loved their dessert wine and everyone else loved one of the reds. We enjoyed a cheese platter outside, and this cheese platter will go down as one of the best cheese platters i have ever had. The quality of the cheese was next level, crowd favourite was the aged Edam. I would love to find a cheese in Sydney like it - challenge accepted! 

Another big cycle to Poppies which closed by the time we got there at 4pm, so we rushed to Cambridge Road winery which was open till 5pm. Loved their beautiful bottles with butterflies on them and cute names like “dirty little pinot”, they also had a beautiful house we could see in the distance. 

What was also super convenient is you could leave your wine at the winery and the bike company would come and pick it up for you, just have to fill out a form and text them. It can’t get much better than that. I have only been to wineries in Hunter Valley and Sonoma in California, and Martinborough is by far my best winery experience because it is all so close & convenient. 

Every future visit to New Zealand, has to include a trip to Martinborough <3