Greytown

This shopping gem, just an hour from Wellington, has beautifully restored Victorian wooden buildings that house stylish and interesting specialty stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Greytown offers the antithesis of big box shopping or bland and samey malls you find in many large centres these days. Yep, you need to come and check it out!

Boutique shopping
Greytown has it all - fashion, homeware, quirky antique stores, art shops and bric-a-brac, with each shop reflecting the personality of its owners. Try these for starters:

  • Designer Clothing Gallery – a specially curated selection of designer clothing and cashmere, with in-store stylists ready to help put together a versatile wardrobe.
  • Blackwell and Sons - an emporium of classic, hand-built British Pashley bicycles in what's described as the most beautiful bike shop in the country.
  • Hall Concept Store - find the very best in contemporary, NZ-made, and sustainable fashion in an inclusive size range of 10-24.
  • Mrs Blackwell's Village Bookshop - like stepping into a bookshop in a storybook albeit with modern touches and the latest in contemporary titles from arts and crafts to business, science to biographies.

Eating out
Eating out is a treat with restaurants and cafes dotted amongst the boutique shopping:

  • The White Swan - choose from the locally sourced menu at the Captain's Dining Room for a special occasion or the relaxed Gastro Pub, in the galley or on their sunny deck. You can stay there too!
  • The Offering - source their products from within a 200 km radius of Greytown and are fully licensed with great coffee ground to order.
  • The Greytown Hotel - known for its fine dining at '1860 Restaurant', bringing market fresh and seasonal dishes to your table, prepared from start to finish.
  • Main Street Deli - serving up cafe-style food, seasonal salads, and deli delights.

Artisan food & beverage
There's a real foodie vibe about Greytown. Here are some highlights:

  • Schoc Chocolates beautifully hand-crafted and deliciously smooth chocolate from fairly sourced beans with over 85 flavours.
  • Visit the Greytown Country Market for coffee, food, music, plus home, garden and local artisan products every third Sunday during summer.
  • Fresh, real fruit ice cream from Pinehaven produce market at the north end of town.
  • Try award winning Greytown Butchery for the best venison sausages you'll ever eat!
  • Shop for fine wines, local gin, and spirits at Aperitif Wine Shop.
  • Taste Alexia wines at the Urban Winery.
  • Visit Juno Olives to learn about olive oil, then taste it in their shop.
  • Pick up a gem at Greytown Wine Merchants who stock high quality wines from small scale producers.
  • Pick your own basket of fresh apples at Molewood Orchard from March to May.

What else can I do in Greytown?
As the Wairarapa's oldest town and the site of New Zealand's first Arbor Day there are plenty of ways to learn about Greytown's rich history and explore nature:

  • Step back in time at the charming Cobblestones Museum - a historic village with an old-fashioned schoolhouse, church, fire station, hospital and much more.
  • Explore the Greytown Trail - a scenic 5km walking and cycling track connecting Greytown's quieter streets to the nearest train station at Woodside.
  • Take a self-guided tour of Greytown's beautiful buildings, or do the Heritage Tree Trail. Download a map here or pick one up from the Information Centre on Main Street.
  • Explore the beautiful Soldiers Memorial Park on Kuratawhiti Street - with children's playground, tennis court, pools, and campground it's a great place to stay or play. Within the park are 117 lime trees, planted in 1922 to commemorate the 117 soldiers from the community who died in WW1.

Getting here
Greytown is just over an hour from Wellington and an hour and a half from Palmerston North – making it a great day trip. Learn more here.