Those of you who have been following me for a while on Instagram Stories will know that I often LOVE to visit Greytown during my weekends.

Greytown is one of those places where you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It is a destination for people who are seeking that countryside experience. But because wellington is such a compact place, you really are never far away from anything.

For those of you who haven't yet made the trip over the Rimutakas, and need a little bit more persuading, allow me to give you my top 5 reasons why you should explore Greytown.

1. The Fabulous Foliage

This is a bit of a weird one but I am in LOVE with the deciduous trees that adorn Greytown’s country lanes. In Wellington, most of our trees are evergreen. The reason for this I believe is that we are right next to the sea, so trees tend to keep their leaves all year around. When I am in Greytown, I can imagine that I am in a little French countryside town. When I wander down the lanes of Greytown, it always feels like I am a million miles from the stress of the city and that the words to 'Les Marseilles' is running through my brain. Viva la Greytown!

2. The Vibrant Village

Greytown is the shining star, in my opinion, of the Wairarapa. While Martinborough is the talent when it comes to vineyards, Greytown Village boasts the best cafes, restaurants and shops this side of the hills (with the exception of the Clareville Bakery). My favourites include Deluxe, La Panchetta, Forrest Food Organics and the old school looking Greytown Butchery. There’s everything to make this little slice of heaven feel like a Sylvanian Families community (we can save my confessions about my obsession with Sylvanian Families to another day - however, comment if you know what I mean). If you feel like a pint, why not stop by The White Swan Pub. You may also choose to treat your inner child at the local sweet shop or enjoy a coffee at Two Short Whites. Greytown is the perfect place to slow the pace and appreciate the good things in life.

3. It's A Dog Walkers Dream!

The long lanes of Greytown mean that you can literally walk for miles in a straight line without encountering a hill. This makes it a great place to take old fido to stretch their paws. I love to take Matt’s dog, Ruby, out for a trot whenever we go to Greytown. To the one direction, there are wide hills, stretching into the sky and straight ahead, endless road. Walking is the best way to clear the mind. At the end of a long walk, you might just appreciate a stroll down one of the streets of Greytown. Make sure to nod knowingly and raise your hand in acknowledgement to any fellow walkers, with a single, grunted “How ya?” as you pass.

4. The 'Good Life' Lifestyle

If you’ve ever dreamed of literally living ‘The Good Life’, Greytown is the place to do it. While up the other weekend, I was kindly invited to a friends lifestyle block, or as I would call it as a child ‘mini-farm’. Kunekune pigs, chickens, vegetables, fruit and cows: you can have it all in Greytown. From pickling to making cordials, if you have land and the time (and money) to invest, Greytown is the land of milk and money. We were shown around this paradise like a commune and shown where the couple is planning to build a life together. For those of you who feel you aren’t cut out for city life (or can’t afford it - thanks, Baby Boomers!), Greytown is a wonderful place to prosper. You can fully imagine settling down here and living in a self-sufficient manner. Whether you have the practical skills to achieve this lifestyle land-girls project, or whether it is best left as a divine daydream, is really up to you!

5. It’s A V. Friendly Place

Greytown is just one hour from Wellington driving over Rimutakas - or by train - but it very much feels like another place. People wave and say hello on the street to each other. There is pleasant and unhurried pace, and locals (aka Matt’s parents) say there is a real sense of belonging. They feel connected to the community, with a sense of belonging, because there is a genuine love of the place. If you ever visit Greytown or the surrounding Wairarapa community, you’ll understand why James Cameron, film director of such hits as ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ and Sir Peter Jackson decided to make it their homes. Personally, when I visit Greytown it is like I get to turn off the ‘Go’ button in my brain and adjust my personal speed. Greytown is a town where you can truly relax. It truly is one of the best things about the wider Wellington region!

Ps. Sorry there was supposed to be a video to go with this but I Ieft my external hard drive at home and so I couldn't edit the footage. I'll try and edit it later this week as a bonus post! Keep a look out for it this week and subscribe to my channel.