Acknowledging accomplishments…
Greytown Trails Trust - a successful initiative
The Greytown Trails Trust has played an extraordinary role in shaping Wairarapa’s walking and cycling experiences. Formed in 2010 by local residents, the Trust transformed the disused Greytown–Woodside railway line (closed in 1953) into the much-loved Greytown Rail Trail, a 5km flat, limed path that winds through farmland, connecting Greytown to Woodside Station. Extending from there, the Tauwharenīkau Trail, including a purpose built bridge, was created to connect with Featherston. Today, these trails are known to be two of the region’s most popular and accessible routes for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
But the Greytown Trails Trust vision has always gone beyond a single trail. Over the years, they’ve created self-guided Heritage Walks, a Tree Trail highlighting significant plantings and memorials, and Heritage Cycling Routes that explore local history, nature, and Greytown’s unique character. Their work has also included partnerships with mana whenua, ensuring tangata whenua stories are embedded in the landscape, such as the Nuku Pewapewa pou in Featherston.
Supported by the community and South Wairarapa District Council, the Greytown Trails Trust has shown what’s possible when locals come together with passion, creativity, and commitment. Their legacy is not only the trails themselves but also the sense of identity, inclusion, and pride they inspire.
Now, as the Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network takes shape, we are aiming to bring these efforts together, building on the Greytown Trails Trust’s remarkable legacy while creating new connections across the region. By joining forces, we can better showcase the full network, attract more visitors, and ensure Greytown’s story is an integral part of the broader vision for walking, running and cycling in Wairarapa.
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