A Weekend in Greytown Wellington

A Weekend in Greytown Wellington

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Posted 2022-12-24 by Kate Reynoldsfollow
Greytown is a gorgeous little village about an hour and a half north of Wellington in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand's North Island. Characterised by Victorian-era white weatherboard cottages flanked by darling English cottage gardens and a high street filled with plenty of cafes and boutique stores, it's easy to see why folks make the journey over the Remutakas to spend a weekend in this quaint little town.Here's how you can spend a weekend in Greytown.



Getting thereBy carGreytown is about an hour-and-a-half's drive from Central Wellington - but be aware, the car trip takes you through the winding roads of the Remutaka mountain range. It's a beautiful drive, with majestic mountains towering around you as misty clouds snake through the crevices. It's positively other-worldly, and it's worth a stop halfway at the lookout, where you can see the expanse of lush green foliage as far as the eye can see.It's not for the faint-hearted though, so if you're partial to motion sickness, the train might be a better option. Either that or stock up on some travel sickness tablets.



By trainThe train, on the other hand, takes a leaf out of European countries and barrels straight through the middle of the mountain range. Catch the train to Woodside Station and then the www.metlink.org.nz/service/WRL for the train timetable.

Saturday morningLet's get our priorities in order - coffee! You're spoilt for choice when it comes to a caffeine hit in Greytown, so make your way to Main Street Deli. If it's a nice day, walk through the cafe into the garden space out the back. If you're hungry, there are loads of options - from a breakfast menu to a cabinet full of tasty treats. The veggie breakfast with halloumi is a particular hit, as is the chef's special with chorizo (not to mention their melting moment biscuits if you're after a sweet treat).



Once you're refuelled, it's time to wander down Main Street to get a history fix at the Cobblestone Museum. It's a working historic village where you can explore how the early settlers of Wairarapa lived and worked throughout the 1800s and 1900s. If you time your visit right, you might be there for one of the Cobblestone Museum's open days, where staff dress up in period costumes and there's loads of family-friendly activities like crafts and games.


Saturday afternoonOnce you've had your fill of early pioneer history, head next door to Shoc Chocolates - a gourmet chocolate shop filled with fantastical chocolate treats. They make great gifts - especially for yourself. Shhh, we won't tell.



Now we're heading to nearby Featherstone, just ten minutes drive down the highway to continue our lessons in local history - but not before a feed. Brac and Brow is located on Revans St, inside the Royal Hotel. You'll find everything from acai bowls to char grilled tiger prawns, salads and burgers. If you're in the mood for something lighter, you can't go past C'est Cheese, a specialty cheese shop serving coffee and light meals.



Now it's time for history lesson number two - the Fell Locomotive museum, where you'll find the only train of its kind. When building a railway line through the notoriously steep inclined Remutakas, the plan for a cable car was rejected. Instead, a special kind of railway line was built and designed by engineer John Fell, and it was used up until 1955 for goods trains. It's a fascinating example of great engineering.




Saturday eveningBack in Greytown and it's time for a quick walk before dinner. Located just behind the main street is the Greytown Soldiers memorial Park, which has toilets, a kids playground and a nice short bush walk, where you can listen out for tui, wood pigeons, sparrows and finches.If you've worked up an appetite, head to the White Swan for dinner. Once an old railway building in Wellington, the building was moved piece by piece through the Remutakas, and now the building sits proudly in Greytown's main street. Expect pub classics like burgers, prawn fettuccine, salt and pepper squid, fish and chips, plus loads of wine and beer on offer.


Sunday morningRise and shine, you've got a morning of shopping (or window shopping) through all of Greytown's boutique stores ahead of you, so you'll need your energy. Pop into The Offering for a coffee and a Belgium waffle or toasted sandwich. They're ethos is to support local, and all tier produce is sourced from a 200km radius of Greytown.Now it's time to hit the shops. Whether you're looking for gifts, homewares, fabrics, lollies, a new beach read or a new outfit, you'll find it in Greytown's boutiques.
For imported and local lollies, you can't go past The Lolly Jar, with more than 150 different kinds of sweets from around the world. Looking for modern decor and furniture? Check out The Design Library. Got a hankering for haberdashery? Wander into Miss Maude's, a fabric lover's dream store. And for a new book to read, head into the cosy Greytown bookstore - the self-proclaimed 'probably best book store in Greytown'.



If you're lucky (and in Greytown at the right time of year) you might even go past the pop-up berry stall, with homegrown local raspberries, blueberries, cherries and strawberries.
Sunday afternoonIt's time to get outdoors. After lunching at Kokdeli Cafe, make your way to the Greytown-Woodside trail - a cycle and walking track that follows the original branch line that connects Woodside Station and the township of Greytown. It's 10km return, flat and easy for all ages with spectacular views of the surrounding hills. Hire a bike and tackle the entire thing, or just walk a section enjoying the dappled shade of the overhead oak trees lining the path.Before you head home, it'd be rude to leave Greytown without popping into Meeneez Sweet Treats and Gelato shop for an ice cream. The raspberry and white chocolate is divine, as is their strawberry sorbet.

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91974 - 2023-06-11 08:52:02

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