An abundance of museums and galleries, café culture and live entertainment make Wellington a great place to visit in any season. Wairarapa produces great wine and gourmet food and most wineries are open for tastings while stocks permit, although some are open year-round. The best time to visit is from late October to early March, when new wine stocks have been released.

Located on the south coast of North Island Wellington enjoys a temperate climate with a year-round absence of temperature extremes although strong winds are often experienced. Wairarapa is generally hot and dry with summer temperatures around 30°C and it the high sunshine hours and little rainfall that are the key to the success of the boutique wineries. Winter sees crisp, clear, frosty nights, but the day has generally warmed up by mid morning.