Just bear in mind that the top of the hill is now a building site. You can still get some nice views, but you ar esurrounded by container crates, concrete and bulldozers. Its quite amazing seeing where they are digging half the hill away though!

We’re definitely taking the car over, but won’t all be able to fit it with suitcases etc. (have boot seats for running around once we’re there). Half of us will take the train and the other half the drive – think we’ll take it in turns one way and then swap on the way back. I’ve never taken the train before and I reckon the girls would enjoy it.

Would be nice for my folks to experience both ways – and the walk at the top of the drive of the hill is always magic for the sweeping views of the Wairarapa.

Many thanks

That is what really makes me mad. Why do they do it???? For the sake of not returning a call they miss out on showing not just thier garden but the rest of the town off.

I filled in one of thier online request forms the other day – for the Topiary Bay Trees (the Herb garden WILL get done this year!). I got a response within a day (unfortunatly it was that the prices start at $250 so the herb garden will have to do with a normal scruffy tree in teh middle).

You could try contacting them through that if you still have the patience.

I was at first going to say “Take the Train!” but the problem is that then you cant really get about and explore. Its a beautiful ride – but just not feasible for a day or weekend out Theres not much other public trasport in the area, and you would probbaly end up having to hire a car in Masterton anyway. So my advice would be to drive – just take it slow over the hill if you arent used to it.

The trick is to just pull over if someone comes up behind you fast, and dont feel hasseled to go faster than conformtable.

And – stop at the Caltex Garage just before Akatawara road for a loo stop Next ones Featherston – and its a LONG way when you are busting and have a baby squishing yoru bladder