Part of the joy of our house sit here in Martinborough is exploring the area around this beautiful town. We have done a couple of short road trips to explore and they have been wonderful.
Schoc Chocolates in Greytown was my favourite stop there. Located in a neat old building with great staff, it is fun to check out. They have an amazing selection of chocolates that you can sample before deciding on your purchase. I thought the wine tasting was great here, but this shop now leads the way as my favourite tasting stop.
The small town of Greytown, just 15 minutes north of us is a wonderful diversion. If you love trendy little boutiques and antique shops, this place will keep you busy for hours. I am not much into those things, however the chocolate shop and cafes did the trick for me.
The main reason for our trip here was due to the fact that Greytown had been voted the most beautiful town in New Zealand (with a population under 5,000) for 2017. It is a quaint and beautiful little town. However for me I still find that Martinborough is more to my taste.
Of the two day trips we did, the one south to Cape Palliser is my favourite. The scenery is outstanding and the road is a joy to drive. A motorcycle would be heaven on these roads.
The Burnside Church, southwest of Martinborough. The biggest challenge to seeing the many beautiful sites along the road was just trying to find a safe place to stop the car. Luckily there was plenty of space here.It was suggested to us to stop at the Putangirua Pinnacles on our way to the lighthouse. A short 2 km walk brings you to these hoodoo like features. For you Lord of the Rings fans this is where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli searched for the Paths of the Dead.
We also did the short side trip to Lake Ferry. Maybe it was the weather (overcast while at the lake) or just the time of year, but I found the lake unremarkable. Cape Palliser was another matter. I loved it. (disclaimer: I have a bit of a thing for lighthouses)
If nothing else the 252 stairs to the lighthouse make for a great leg workout after the drive down.For over 120 years this lighthouse has been warning ships off the southern most point of New Zealand.The north islands largest Fur Seal colony lives off the rocks of Cape Palliser. Despite the rain it was a joy to watch the antics of these beautiful animals.It doesn’t seem to matter where we drive here there is always an epic view around nearly every corner.
I must be off now, I believe there is some more wine to sample. Perhaps coupled with some chocolate now.
What a charming place! I hope someday to see New Zealand myself. Thank you for sharing the tour – and enjoy the wine with chocolates, delightful treats to end a great day 🙂
What a charming place! I hope someday to see New Zealand myself. Thank you for sharing the tour – and enjoy the wine with chocolates, delightful treats to end a great day 🙂
It is a delightful country. The wine and chocolates were divine. We are looking forward to sharing more about this wonderful corner of the world.