Focus Weekend: Wairarapa, 14th - 15th November 2026

With our Focus Weekends, you can enjoy a whole range of fascinating, nearby heritage events in a single weekend by minimising travel time and maximising your experience. Whether you’re interested in walking tours, creative heritage, or unique historical insights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

You can read our Pōneke, Hutt Valley, and West Coast Focus Weekend blog posts here.

Discover the Heritage of the Wairarapa

With over 30 events taking place in the Wairarapa during the closing weekend of 14 – 15 November, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy a busy and vibrant weekend in the Wairarapa! Below are just some of the many events taking place in the area – to find out everything that’s happening in the Wairarapa for this year’s festival, go to the events page on our website and filter your search by region.

Saturday 14th November 2026

• Kuratawhiti Heritage Loop 9-11am | Kuratawhiti Street, Greytown | $30 + BF | Booking required – Book now View countless significant buildings in this guided walk, stretching between urban and rural settings. Skirt churches, parks, memorials, and settler houses, with volunteers from the Greytown Heritage Trust sharing insights along the way.

• DUAL EVENT – Rototawai Historic Homestead: A must visit in South Wairarapa Open Day 10am-4pm | Kahutara Road, Kahutara | $30 – Find out more Come and explore this stunning Category 1 heritage listed homestead and art gallery, and the beautiful gardens surrounding the homestead. Rototawai is a tranquil landscape and a restored historic homestead in South Wairarapa. Shakespeare in the Courtyard 10-11am | Kahutara Road, Kahutara | $45 (includes entry cost for open day) | Booking required – Book now Be thoroughly entertained by performances of some of Shakespeare’s favourite scenes, songs and sonnets, including the Sir Thomas More soliloquy ‘A Strangers’ Case’ in support of refugees, taking place in the Courtyard.

• Wairarapa and the New Zealand Wars - Peace and Portents 2-3:30pm | Bell Street, Featherston | $20 | Booking required – Book now Discover why Wairarapa became a place of refuge for those seeking safety during the New Zealand Wars, how peace was maintained, and the lasting consequences for local Māori communities and the district's history.

• Stonehenge Aotearoa: Heritage Tour & Sunset Stargazing 7-10pm | Ahiaruhe Road, Ahiaruhe | $5-$35 | Booking required – Book now Gather at Aotearoa's own Stonehenge for a heritage presentation exploring Māori and European astronomical traditions, then watch the sun set across the stones as the southern night sky comes alive and begins to reveal its stars.

• Featherston Ghost Stories 10-11:30pm | Fox Street, Featherston | $20 | Booking required – Book now Dare to spend an evening with the ghosts of Featherston as chilling local tales are brought to life by Denver Grenell and fellow writers in the atmospheric surroundings of the Dickensian Bookshop – where fact, folklore and imagination intertwine.

Sunday 15th November 2026

• Money Makes the Rooms Go Round 2-3pm | Longwood Road East, Featherston | $15 | Booking required – Book now Discover how wealth shaped the design, layout and use of rooms in New Zealand's grand homes during the 1890s. Adrian Humphris explores how wealth, status and changing lifestyles influenced domestic architecture during the 1890s.

• Old-Fashioned Family Fun and Games 10am-4pm + one other time | Clifford Square and the Squircle, Featherston | Free – Find out more Challenge your parents to an egg and spoon race, hop faster than the Easter bunny in the sack race, and hang out in the Squircle grabbing an ice cream. Enjoy games, Mini Fell train rides, food vendors, and family activities.

• Dead Rabbits Run Experience 3-4:30pm + one other time | Underhill Road, Featherston | $15 | Booking required – Book now Visit Dead Rabbits Run, a remarkable landscape restoration project where nature, history, and creativity have transformed a former paddock. Discover the story behind this remarkable restoration project, and view the landscape in recovery.

• 20th Century Sounds with the Featherston Vinyl Club 4:30-8:30pm | Fox Street, Featherston | Free | Booking required – Book now Enjoy an evening of classic twentieth-century music presented on vinyl by the popular Featherston Vinyl Club! Nod your head to music from the last five decades of the twentieth century at Featherston's iconic RSA.

Make the Most of Your Weekend

With so many excellent and varied events in the Wairarapa, enjoying a weekend of heritage-themed activities is easy. Here are some tips to make the most of your time:

• Plan ahead: Check the event timings and locations to plan your day. Many events are nearby, making it easy to move from one to the next.: Check the event timings and locations to plan your day. Many events are nearby, making it easy to move from one to the next.

• Secure your spot early: Some events in our festival require bookings and are selling out fast! Book your tickets to make sure you don’t miss out. You can see which events require bookings on our events page, filtering by bookings.

• Stay engaged: Don’t forget to share your experiences on social media using our festival hashtags (#whf26) and check out our website for more information about the full festival lineup. Between events, take time to explore other attractions – including the many cafes and shops.

Please note the Remutaka Hill road is closed from Sunday 15 November 9pm – Friday 20 November 4am. Escorted crossings are available during this time. Please see the Waka Kotahi website for more information.

Looking Ahead

This marks the final weekend of the Wellington Heritage Festival 2026! Be sure to make the most of it with a jam-packed schedule of exciting heritage events and activities.

To see the full schedule of 160+ events across the Greater Wellington region, visit our events page. Be sure to stay in touch throughout the rest of the year and keep an eye on our blog and social media for more fun updates and information. We appreciate your support!