Staying at The Martinborough Hotel

The Martinborough Hotel was restored in 1996 to a five-star level. Photo / Supplied

Shandelle Battersby checks in to a charming hotel in the Wairarapa's wine district.

Location: You can't miss this charming historic hotel, which is on the main street of the quaint Wairarapa town it is named after. Built in 1882, it sits at the entrance to the central town square developed by town founder John Martin a few years before. The hotel was restored in 1996 to a five-star level, and complementing the elegant colonial architecture are nods to its rich heritage with old photos, paintings and sketches throughout.

Check-in experience: We arrived early and the room was ready, so we could stash our bags before exploring.

Room: The Henry Bunny room, named after a former Wairarapa MP (1865-1881) with a chequered past, which opened up on to the hotel's wrap-around veranda. We liked the fresh flowers in the room and its elegant, historic-themed furnishings with modern touches. The hotel's cosy Kitchener Library on the ground floor has an inviting fireplace, and books and games you can borrow during your stay.

What's in the neighbourhood? Martinborough is just over an hour's drive from central Wellington. The main reason you come here — apart from the lovely scenery and relaxed vibe — are the area's 20-plus wineries specialising in pinot noir. Many of them you can walk, or even better, cycle between (check out Green Jersey Cycle Tours next to the i-Site for bike tours and hire). There's also a healthy artisan food scene in the Wairarapa but if wine and food isn't your bag, choose between golf, walks, fishing, horse riding, mountain biking or road cycling. Second-hand shops also do a roaring trade.

Exercise: Hire a bike so you can exercise both your legs and the arm that lifts a wine glass.

The bed: A comfy queen with an impressive headboard.

Bathroom: Lovely, with old-style fixtures.

Toiletries: The Koha Spa luxury range, which has New Zealand locations as themes for each of its products.

Noise: Being an old building, you get the odd clank and bang — not from ghosts, but from the kitchen and bar down below. All part of the experience.

Price: If you're quick, $233 for two in a veranda or garden room in July. Includes breakfast and 500MB internet.

Food: The onsite Martinborough Hotel Bar and Grill serves up fresh, seasonal produce — much of it local — with an extensive selection of local wines. We caught the end of the Super Rugby at the hotel's buzzing bar, and our included Continental breakfast the next day was over the road at The Village Cafe.

What's so good about this place? This is the kind of accommodation you'll always remember. Bonus: You might see The Bachelor — Arthur's dad Mark is the owner.

Would I return? For sure. Martinborough is cool — there are great cafes, shops, wineries and bars in its tiny parameters. And if you want a genuine local experience with a heritage twist right in the centre of it all, this is the place for you.

CHECKLIST

The Martinborough Hotel is on The Square in Martinborough. Phone: (06) 306 9350.

The writer was a guest of Heritage Hotels Group.