While you're here... take the long way home.

Greytown Garage doesn't have to end when the cars leave Main Street. If you love a good road, we've put together some of our favourite drives through the Wairarapa — winding roads, spectacular scenery, country stops and plenty of places worth pulling over for.

Drive 7: Wairarapa Garden Drive

Discover Wairarapa through its gardens — from sculpted formal landscapes to expansive rural estates and hidden private retreats. This curated drive invites you to slow down, explore, and experience the region at its most beautiful, where design, nature, and heritage meet.

A scenic rural-to-coast adventure linking rolling farmland, forestry backroads and relaxed seaside charm. Travel from Greytown toward Riversdale Beach, with the option to loop back via Homewood for a more remote countryside experience. Expect open skies, winding single-lane stretches (approx. 20km through forestry one way), and a rewarding coastal finish.

The Essential Wairarapa Loop: One-Day Garden Drive
Greytown → Martinborough → Rototawai, Kahutara → Whakapuni Station & Garden → Stablehouse Garden→ Greytown
Total driving time: approx 3 hours drive time
Total experience time: Full day (with stops)

Whakapuni Station & Gardens: Where working landscape meets refined garden design

Rotowai: A Gallery, Gardens & Venue at the historic homestead of Rototawai.

Stablehouse Garden: Precision, symmetry, and world-class garden design

End or Start the day — Greytown or Martinborough with a long lunch, wine tasting or a relaxed cafe stop.

DIGITAL ROUTE (GOOGLE MAPS)

Discover Wairarapa one drive at a time.

We’ve carefully mapped out unforgettable journeys that showcase the very best of the region — from scenic backroads and rugged coastlines to charming villages and hidden gems. Along the way, this information will guide you on where to stop, what to see, where to eat, and the best places to stay, making it easy to explore with confidence and make the most of every moment on the road.

  • Make a Weekend of It

    The White Swan Hotel
    Boutique charm in the heart of Greytown village.

    Stay the night, linger over long lunches, enjoy cellar doors at your own pace, and turn this easy one-hour loop into a full weekend of indulgence.

  • Plan Your Trip

    Discover events, accommodation, iconic spots and dining across the region:
    www.wairarapanz.com

    Explore everything happening in beautiful Greytown village:
    www.greytownvillage.com

Places to Stay, Eat and Explore

  • Exterior of a two-story white building with a restaurant called The White Swan on the ground floor. There are green umbrellas over outdoor seating, people dining outside, and two people talking on the balcony on the upper floor. Two large green trees frame the building.

    The White Swan Hotel Greytown

  • Two people hiking up a grassy hill overlooking a coastal area with a beach, ocean, and a lighthouse on a small island in the background.

    Destination Wairarapa - events and attractions

  • Three women walking out of a boutique store called 'hall', carrying shopping bags on a bright, sunny day. The store is a light-colored building with decorative trim and green bushes along the sidewalk.

    Greytown Village