.png)
Having always loved travelling, exploring big cities and being surrounded by things to see and do, I honestly never imagined I'd enjoy living in a small town quite as much as I do.
But here we are, five years later, raising our two little kids in the countryside, and I can confidently say it's one of the best decisions we've made for our family.
There are definitely a few things I miss about city life, but the things we've gained from living here far outweigh what we've left behind.
Here's what I love about living in the Wairarapa, what I don't miss about Wellington, and a few things I still wish we had!
Goodbye traffic, Hello sheep!
There aren't even any traffic lights here!
Instead of sitting in traffic surrounded by cars and buses, our drives through the Wairarapa countryside involve spotting sheep, cows, horses, alpacas and ponies. The kids absolutely love it, and even after five years, I still appreciate how peaceful it all feels.
Driving to Masterton to do our shopping is actually quite lovely. Rolling green hills, farmland and beautiful scenery along the way. It's a pretty big change from busy Wellington highways!
And while we might not have every big-name shop, most of what we need is right here. Between Greytown, Carterton, Masterton and Martinborough, we've got plenty of shops, cafes, supermarkets and everyday essentials.
I don't miss sitting in traffic one bit.
The friendly small-town community
One of my absolute favourite things about living in the Wairarapa is the people.
It's pretty nice to live somewhere where people are genuinely friendly.
The local supermarket workers, the bus driver, the lovely ladies at the pharmacy who greet you by name and know your whole family - it's those little everyday interactions that make this place feel like such a friendly place to live.
There's also a real sense of belonging here, and I love that our kids are growing up surrounded by it.
We also feel incredibly safe.
Beautiful countryside and nature
If there's one thing the Wairarapa has plenty of, it's beautiful scenery.
Rolling hills, farmland, rivers, native bush, beaches, big open skies and fresh country air. It's honestly good for the soul.
I love that we can head out for a walk, explore somewhere new or simply enjoy being outside without having to travel very far.
Everything feels a little slower and more peaceful here, and I think that's something I've come to value more and more as I've gotten older.
One of my favourite things is getting to enjoy the changing seasons and all the little traditions that come with them.
Every summer, we can head out to beautiful lavender and sunflower fields right in our own neighbourhood. I love taking the kids flower picking, surrounded by gorgeous colours and countryside scenery. It's one of those little things that makes living here feel so special.
.png)
And when the weather gets really hot, we're spoiled for choice when it comes to cooling off. We have beautiful beaches at Castlepoint and Riversdale, and we love heading out to Lake Ferry or finding a lovely spot along one of our local rivers to dip our toes in the water.
Come autumn, we love picking fresh apples at Molewood Orchard and visiting Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, where the trees turn gorgeous shades of gold, orange and red. The kids love running around and playing in the fallen leaves.
It's those simple little seasonal traditions that I look forward to every year.
It's those simple little seasonal traditions that I look forward to every year.
The food and wine scene is incredible
For a relatively small region, the Wairarapa really punches above its weight when it comes to food and wine.
We're incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful restaurants, cafes, wineries and local food producers here.
From delicious brunch spots and cosy country cafes to beautiful vineyard restaurants and special occasion dining, there's no shortage of places to treat yourself.
And the quality of the food is fantastic. Fresh, seasonal ingredients, locally produced goodies and genuinely lovely service.
Martinborough is obviously well known for its wineries, particularly its Pinot Noir, but the food scene throughout the wider Wairarapa is just as worth exploring.
I have to admit though, Martinborough is probably my favourite! With its beautiful countryside, vineyards, incredible food and wine, and relaxed atmosphere, it sometimes reminds me of Tuscany in Italy.
Except it's practically on our doorstep!
I have to admit though, Martinborough is probably my favourite! With its beautiful countryside, vineyards, incredible food and wine, and relaxed atmosphere, it sometimes reminds me of Tuscany in Italy.
Except it's practically on our doorstep!
A wonderful place to raise young kids
This is probably the biggest reason why I love living here so much.
The Wairarapa is such a wonderful place to raise a young family.
There are playgrounds in every little town, plenty of family-friendly cafes, beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, and so many opportunities for kids to get outside and explore.
I love giving our kids a childhood filled with fresh air, animals and nature.
We're never short of things to do, there always seems to be something happening around the region.
And there's certainly no shortage of extracurricular activities. From swimming, dancing and gymnastics to karate, football, rugby and horse riding, the list goes on. There are so many opportunities for kids to try new things, learn new skills and make friends. Too many options and not enough time to fit them all in!
Life with two young kids is busy enough as it is, so I really appreciate not having to deal with big-city traffic and crowds every time we want to leave the house!
What I still miss about living in a city
As much as I love living in the Wairarapa, there are a few things I wish we had.
An Airport!
This is easily the biggest one.
As someone who absolutely loves travelling, I would LOVE to be able to fly out of Masterton!
This is easily the biggest one.
As someone who absolutely loves travelling, I would LOVE to be able to fly out of Masterton!
Whenever we fly, we have to make the drive to Wellington Airport, which usually adds on an extra 1.5 hours to an already long travel day.
It's not the end of the world, but when you're travelling with two young kids, it definitely adds another layer of effort.
Being able to pop down the road and catch a flight would be a heck of a lot more convenient.
Vietnamese Food
I love Vietnamese food. It's probably my favourite cuisine, and it's one thing I really miss having easy access to.
Give me a big bowl of pho, a delicious bánh mì or some fresh Vietnamese spring rolls any day!
I'd be very happy if someone opened a fantastic Vietnamese restaurant in the Wairarapa.
That said, we do have a new Japanese restaurant Mr Katsu in Carterton, which I'm absolutely loving.
The sushi is delicious, the ramen is fantastic, and I'm a huge fan of their katsu chicken and rice bowls.
So while my Vietnamese cravings aren't quite being satisfied, at least we've got some great Japanese food!
Kmart, Obviously!
Okay, this one might sound ridiculous, but I really miss having a Kmart nearby.
Sometimes you just want to pop in for a few things and somehow come out with an entire trolley full of stuff you didn't know you needed.
These days, I do a lot of online shopping instead...
Which is probably better for my bank account. Or maybe not, considering how often packages arrive at our house!
Right now it feels like the Wairarapa will always be home for us. For now at least, until the kids get bored of it!
Ten years ago, I never would have imagined saying that. I've always loved big cities, travelling, exploring new places and having endless things to see and do. And I still do!
In fact, we're pretty sure that in a couple of years, we'll pack our lives into a suitcase each and head off travelling for six months or more!
It's something we're both really excited to experience with our kids. We just want to wait until our youngest is a little older and ready to handle such a big adventure. So it might still be a couple of years away, but the dream is definitely there.
We can't wait to explore places like Japan, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Thailand together, introducing the kids to different cultures, incredible food and all the amazing experiences that come with travelling the world.
My husband also always has an eye out for job opportunities overseas, so who knows? Perhaps one day we'll pack up and move to Bangkok for a year! We're certainly open to the idea of living abroad and experiencing somewhere completely different as a family.
But the one thing we're pretty certain about is that we'd keep our home here in the Wairarapa and return when our adventures come to an end.
I think that's what I've come to realise over the past five years. I absolutely love travelling, exploring big cities and experiencing new places, but I don't necessarily need to live in the middle of all that excitement every day.
The Wairarapa gives us the best of both worlds. A beautiful place to raise our children, surrounded by nature, friendly people and a wonderful community, while still having the freedom to head off and explore the world whenever we can.
Okay, this one might sound ridiculous, but I really miss having a Kmart nearby.
Sometimes you just want to pop in for a few things and somehow come out with an entire trolley full of stuff you didn't know you needed.
These days, I do a lot of online shopping instead...
Which is probably better for my bank account. Or maybe not, considering how often packages arrive at our house!
Will we stay in the Wairarapa forever?
Right now it feels like the Wairarapa will always be home for us. For now at least, until the kids get bored of it!
Ten years ago, I never would have imagined saying that. I've always loved big cities, travelling, exploring new places and having endless things to see and do. And I still do!
In fact, we're pretty sure that in a couple of years, we'll pack our lives into a suitcase each and head off travelling for six months or more!
It's something we're both really excited to experience with our kids. We just want to wait until our youngest is a little older and ready to handle such a big adventure. So it might still be a couple of years away, but the dream is definitely there.
We can't wait to explore places like Japan, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Thailand together, introducing the kids to different cultures, incredible food and all the amazing experiences that come with travelling the world.
My husband also always has an eye out for job opportunities overseas, so who knows? Perhaps one day we'll pack up and move to Bangkok for a year! We're certainly open to the idea of living abroad and experiencing somewhere completely different as a family.
But the one thing we're pretty certain about is that we'd keep our home here in the Wairarapa and return when our adventures come to an end.
I think that's what I've come to realise over the past five years. I absolutely love travelling, exploring big cities and experiencing new places, but I don't necessarily need to live in the middle of all that excitement every day.
The Wairarapa gives us the best of both worlds. A beautiful place to raise our children, surrounded by nature, friendly people and a wonderful community, while still having the freedom to head off and explore the world whenever we can.
Five years in the Wairarapa, and no matter where our future adventures take us, I think this little corner of New Zealand will always be home.