Quintessential Wairarapa weekend

Celebrating the start of the grape harvest, watching hot air balloons drift through the sky and walking among Martinborough's vineyards will be top of the list for visitors to Wairarapa this weekend.

Destination Wairarapa marketing manager Barb Hyde said the region was preparing for an influx of visitors this weekend, March 19 to 21, with three key events on.

These include Saturday's Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival, Sunday's annual Martinborough Round the Vines fun run and walk, and the three-day Trust House Balloons over Wairarapa, which begins on Friday.

Ms Hyde said with autumn about to set in, it was the perfect opportunity for people to enjoy a quintessential weekend outdoors in the Wairarapa.

"Fantastic wine, delicious regional food and a beautiful setting await people attending this weekend's almost sold out Harvest Festival, while Balloons over Wairarapa will be just spectacular," said Ms Hyde.

"With such a diverse range of events on set to showcase the region's wine, food and scenery  there really is something for everyone."

The weekend's activities begin on Friday with the three-day Trust House Balloons over Wairarapa, which has attracted 20 pilots and their hot air balloons from all over New Zealand. The 12th annual event will feature a series of competitions and displays. Weather permitting, balloons will launch each day at dawn when the breeze is gentle and drift over the region's characterful towns, farms and vineyards. Some early evening flights will also take place.

The programme includes a mass ascension launch from Clareville Showgrounds, a "Splash 'n Dash" at Masterton's Henley Lake, flights over Masterton and the festival highlight, and the Trust House Night Glow at Masterton's Colin Pugh Sports Bowl. This will see tethered balloons light up in a dazzling display choreographed to music,with a fireworks finale.

Because ballooning is dependent on the right weather conditions, decisions about each flight will be made each morning with live updates broadcast on 89.3 MoreFM and updates posted on nzballoons.co.nz.

For those wanting to sample some of the region's sensational wines and fresh food in a relaxed and unpretentious riverside setting in the popular Gladstone wine growing area, then Saturday's Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival is the place to be. The event  almost sold out  celebrates the beginning of the grape harvest and will feature 16 local wineries, 10 high-profile restaurants and local food producers.

"Visitors to the Festival will have the opportunity to sample wines from not only the larger, better known wineries, but also from some of the smaller boutique wineries in the region," said event manager Liz Pollock.

"Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the wine makers from the vineyards involved, giving them an insight into the wide variety and styles of wine available in the region."

The weekend's events conclude on Sunday with the annual Martinborough Round the Vines fun run and walk. The 10 and 21 kilometre courses start and finish in Martinborough's picturesque village square, crossing normally inaccessible vineyards with stunning views of the famous Martinborough Terrace edge and surrounding country side.

While the three events are expected to draw thousands to the region, the much anticipated Castlepoint beach horse races had to be cancelled after recent high seas stripped the entire beach bare of sand.

Castlepoint Racing Club secretary Jo Blyth said she was disappointed the historic races, which date back to 1872, and were planned for March 20, would not go ahead.

- Wairarapa News