Greytown (1905)

Greytown
Heritage Cottage is located on the main street of historic Greytown (with its fine examples of Victorian architecture) and is only a few minutes walk to the many attractions that Greytown has to offer - and literally only a few metres from Heritage Cottage is the Cobblestones Museum, with interesting exhibits focusing on the pioneering days of the 1800s.

Built in Greytown (1905)

New Zealand's first planned inland town in 1853, many of Greytown's historic buildings remain to be viewed. In Greytown you can visit Papawai Marae, the site of New Zealand's first Maori Parliament.

Greytown is renowned for its antique shopping and the town is an antique lover's dream with its many shops full of a wide range of antique collectibles to browse through. Keep a look out for a bargain and maybe you'll take away a nice antique addition for your own home!

Apart from antiques, there are also some fantastic other boutique shops to explore which stock all kinds of linen, souvenirs, arts, crafts, clothes, floristry and collectible miniature toys!

There are some excellent restaurants and cafes in Greytown to sample - as well as some great takeaways to be had if you feel like taking some food to eat in, or to eat out in the lovely park on main street.

Nearby Greytown can be found some lovely scenic areas - and a spectacular spot for a picnic is the Waiohine Gorge, a breathtaking native forest area that has one of the longest swing bridges in New Zealand. Just off the Main Street can be found Greytown's Soldiers' Memorial Park, a peaceful setting with native trees to commemorate those New Zealand soldiers who died in the World Wars.

The Wairarapa Region - Wine, Coast, Countryside and much more

Greytown is an ideal base to explore the wider Wairarapa region as a whole and its attractions, such as the town of Martinborough (about a 15 minute drive from Greytown). Martinborough is home to several outstanding award winning vineyards and wineries and what visit would be complete without sampling some of New Zealand's finest wine ~ which has established itself as among the very best in the world?

We are delighted to recommend a one of a kind visit to Tirohana Estate, a picturesque vineyard located on the famous "Golden Mile" Puruatanga Road in Martinborough. Here you can sample prestige first class wines in the Cellar Door and enjoy unsurpassed views over the vines and out to the hills beyond. A Colonial House holiday home is also operated from the vineyard.

In Martinborough, a real treat is in store too at Duckback Cottage, a charming 1890s settlers cottage which is available for booking as a homestay. Duckback Cottage is the sister to Heritage Cottage in Greytown.

Other attractions in the Wairarapa include olive groves, animal sanctuaries and wind turbines and the many other wonderful Wairarapa villages to visit from Greytown such as Carterton, Featherston, Masterton, Gladstone and many more.

Why not take a drive through the countryside and enjoy some outstanding views of the Tararua mountains and countless hills? Don't forget to take your camera!

The rugged south east coast is also a short drive away and here you will encounter beautiful scenery, sandy beaches (complete with huge sand dunes), lighthouses (Castlepoint), seal colonies (Cape Palliser), fishing villages and surfing.

And if you are travelling in New Zealand from overseas, then why not go on a journey through "Middle Earth" and visit some of the locations used in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies? If you drive to/fro Wellington to the Wairarapa, you will pass through the photogenic Kaitoke Regional Park, which was the locale for many of the backdrops in the movies. See what you will recognize!

The Wairarapa is a great getaway and is an hour's drive from Wellington over the Rimutaka Hill, which makes for a beautiful drive.

The nearest train station in Greytown is Woodside station, which is about five kilometres from the heart of town.

The closest airports from Greytown are Wellington and Palmerston North.

Ferries depart from Wellington and the narest ski fields are in the centre of the North Island, roughly a four hour drive away from Greytown.