First time festival goer?
If you are a first time festival goer, you are in for a real treat. Award winning wines, sumptuous food, superb live entertainment and a picturesque setting all add up to a memorable experience. It’s no wonder that many festival goers return to Toast Martinborough year after year!
Here are some tips on how to make the most of your time at Toast.
- Getting here (and back!) safely - As a responsible host, we recommend you use public transport to get to the festival, or have a designated driver if you’re travelling by car. Please be aware there is no carparking available at festival sites or near The Square.
- Book ahead - Book your transport and accommodation well ahead of time. Accommodation often gets booked out well before tickets go on sale and travel bookings fill up fast. Check out the travel and accommodation section for more details.
- Getting started - Exchange your ticket for a glass and programme at The Square in the centre of Martinborough from 9.30am. If you’re travelling by train, you can exchange your ticket when you arrive at Featherston Station. The festival runs from 10am-6pm.
- What’s included -Your ticket provides entry to New Zealand’s premiere wine & food festival. It also covers the fabulous line up of live entertainment at each of the participating sites, and use of the shuttle buses that travel the festival circuit throughout the day.
- Festival currency - Only 2010 festival francs can be used to purchase wine and food at the festival sites. Francs can be purchased at The Square and at each site with cash, EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Francs cannot be refunded but can be used to purchase bottles of wine from The Square from 3.30-7pm.
- Plan your day - Each of the 11 participating sites has a distinct personality and style, with live acts performing at different times. It’s ambitious to try and get around all of the sites so check out the programme and create an itinerary of your top picks. Bring your mobile to keep in touch with friends in case you decide to sample different sites during the day.
- What to bring - Martinborough’s unique microclimate means the weather is often different (ie better!) from Wellington and neighbouring towns. Wear layers to accommodate any change in temperature during the day and pack sunscreen and a hat. Drinking water is available at each site so bring a water bottle to refill during the day.
- Final details - Pack your tastebuds, dancing shoes, festival spirit, and prepare for a fantastic day out!
