Another new month-long spring festival for Wairarapa is expected to bring around 1000 tourists and about $170,000 to the region.
Destination Wairarapa general manager Peter Wilson, who was keen to see the region become Wellington's "spring capital", said calculated estimates of the Wairarapa Spring Festival '09 already projected a 10-fold return.
"About
80 percent of our visitors are from Wellington and we'd now like to see them come earlier in the season."
The festival kicks off with the Carterton Daffodil Festival on September 13 and runs until October 11.
"With the return of the good weather, spring is a fantastic season to visit and stay over in Wairarapa.
"The blossoms are out and new-born lambs and calves are everywhere. It's a perfect time to enjoy a relaxing country break," Destination Wairarapa festival coordinator Gretchen Bunny said.
Children will be able to dress up for Stonehenge Aotearoa's Spring Equinox Fair on Sunday, September 27.
"This old fashioned country fair with musicians, stalls and classic family sports and games such as egg and spoon races and tug-of-war will be set in front of the breathtaking stone circle."
She said art lovers would also be delighted by the "Awesome Art in Martinborough" exhibition with works from Aratoi Museum and the Ian and Elespie Prior and Rutherford Trust Collections at the local Town Hall on the weekend of October 3 and 4.
"On the same weekend visitors can savour 'Palate to Palette', an art and wine trail around the Martinborough cafes and vineyards incorporating delicious food, stunning wine and inspiring works of art."
The festival runs through the school holidays with an entertaining holiday programme of both open-air and indoor activities, she said. These range from "Park Ranger for a Day" at Pukaha Mt Bruce Wildlife Centre, through to arts and crafts workshops and mountain biking with Wairarapa Outdoor Pursuits.
"There are lots of free and 'nearly-free' activities across the region too, such as forest walks, lakeside cycling and the traditional mini-golf and bumper boats. To help make our visitors feel even more welcome there are great accommodation offers and discount vouchers for activities, cafés and restaurants." Full festival details are available at the www.wairarapanz.com.
