Gray Days in Greytown

Did you know Greytown was New Zealand’s first planned inland settlement, in 1854? I didn’t. I guess that makes it one of the first mistake by planners because when the railway came through in the 1870s it missed Greytown out and it was in decline for the next 100 years. So when we started to value our heritage in the 1970s, it was realised that Greytown has a lot of lovely old colonial buildings. Not by planning but by neglect and ignorance i.e. being ignored.

We have had a couple of lazy days in Greytown. The weather has been gray and wet and cold. We’ve been resting up and tidying up and I’ve been gearing up for tax-return time. Wet days are good for tax returns as there’s less incentive to procrastinate. We’ve ventured out for a couple of walks under the umbrella – we’re only a couple of blocks from Main Street.

Main Street Greytown

Butchery, Main Street Greytown – and a very good butchery I reckon

Main Street Greytown

Wyn trying to avoid being sucked into a Greytown cafe

Lovely old Library building in Greytown

We’ve tried a couple of cafes and there’s lots more yet. And we went for a drive to the Waiohine Gorge – one of the many entrances to the Tararua Ranges. It has a very very big swing bridge across the river. It’s 93 metres long, and it must be close to 93 metres above the river. It’s a very sturdy bridge but jeez, it’s scary.

Waiohine Gorge Suspension Bridge, Tararuas

Wyn and tree, Waiohine Gorge Tararuas

Wyn on Waiohine Gorge Suspension Bridge, Tararuas

Looking down on tree fern from Waiohine Gorge suspension bridge, Tararuas

Waiohine Gorge from suspension bridge, Tararuas

Broccoli and blue cheese soup for tea and now it’s a starry starry night. We had to run the generator tonight to have enough power to watch Coro Street. Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow and fill up them batteries. And hopefully we’ll get to the beach.

Gallery of photos – Wairarapa June 2013

Click on thumbnails to see full size. (And then you can click through them)