The White Swan Country Hotel — known to locals simply as The Swan — is an iconic country hotel in the heart of Greytown, Wairarapa. Run by a team of passionate locals, it celebrates the best of the region through its food, drink, accommodation and warm rural hospitality: produce is fresh and locally sourced wherever possible, and the wine list is proudly, entirely Wairarapa.
The bar is a destination in itself, with a rotating selection of locally-crafted beers, a small collection of gins made right in the Wairarapa, whiskies and spirits from around the world, and a 100% local wine list handcrafted by regional vineyards who prioritise terroir, sustainability and flavour. There are spaces for every occasion — people say no visit to Greytown is complete without a drink on the deck, the main bar is perfect for get-togethers and casual meals, and the dining room suits something a bit more special or intimate. The Gin and Garden Bar adds its own garden-side gin experience.
Rooms are available seven days a week, from individually themed suites to garden rooms overlooking the neighbouring park, with the Dark Skies Suite offering a boutique stargazing escape. The Swan also hosts functions, conferences, weddings, workshops and an annual Christmas party package.
The name honours the S.S. White Swan, wrecked on a reef near Greytown in 1862, whose passengers were welcomed with legendary generosity by local farmers John and Mary Moore — a spirit of hospitality the hotel still strives to uphold. Its commitment to sustainable tourism was recognised with Qualmark Gold in 2025. Open Monday to Thursday from 12pm and Friday to Sunday from 11am, both until late.
The White Swan has an origin story most hotels would envy. In 1862, the steamer S.S. White Swan sailed from Napier to Wellington carrying members of parliament and trunks of national documents for the country's first parliamentary meeting in the new capital. Rounding Uriti Point east of Greytown, she was caught by a storm and struck a reef. Passengers and crew rowed for shore and sheltered in a nearby woolshed, where local farmer John Moore and his wife Mary fed them, poured them beer and put them up for four nights — such a grand show of warmth that it was a struggle for the parliamentarians to move on. A century and a half later, the hotel that took the steamer's name counts the Moores as founding fathers, and aims to welcome every guest with something of that same generosity. You might not arrive shipwrecked, but you'll be looked after just the same.
Today, locals simply call it The Swan. It's an iconic country hotel on Greytown's Main Street, right in the heart of the Wairarapa, run by a team of passionate locals who are proud to share their patch with visitors.
The clearest sign of that pride is in the glass. The wine list is 100% Wairarapa: every bottle and glass comes from local vineyards who prioritise terroir, sustainability and flavour, so each pour tells a story of the region. The taps keep pace with a rotating selection of locally-crafted beers from the area's vibrant micro-brew scene, the gin shelf holds a small collection of gins produced right there in the Wairarapa, and whiskies and spirits are sourced from around the world. Coffee is on hand for slower, social moments.
The kitchen works the same way. Produce is fresh and locally sourced wherever possible — the Wairarapa is bursting with artisan producers, and The Swan loves them all. Whether it's lunch or dinner, the aim is the best of the region on a plate.
Where you sit shapes the visit. The deck is the social heart of the place — people say no visit to Greytown is complete without a drink on it, ideally on a weekend away. The main bar is built for get-togethers and casual meals, while the dining room is the pick for something a bit more special or intimate. There's also the Gin and Garden Bar, The Swan's own garden-side celebration of local gin.
Hours run Monday to Thursday from 12pm until late, and Friday to Sunday from 11am until late, so there's room for lunch, dinner or a nightcap.
The Swan is also a place to sleep. Rooms are available seven days a week, from individually themed suites to garden rooms that overlook the neighbouring park. The newest chapter is the Dark Skies Suite, a boutique stargazing escape that makes the most of the Wairarapa's big night skies.
Staying over turns a visit into a proper escape: the hotel sits right in the centre of a region packed with events, artisan producers, trails and scenery, and the team is happy to share the inside knowledge that helps you make the most of your time here.
From a casual visit on a weekend away to an intimate conference, wedding or workshop, The Swan has plenty of spaces to suit the occasion, and functions and conferences are a core part of what it does. There's an annual Christmas Party Package, a rolling calendar of events at The Swan, and gift vouchers for sharing the experience.
The hospitality has been recognised. In 2025 the hotel earned Qualmark Gold, New Zealand's sustainable tourism business award, adding to its Wairarapa business awards success, and in June 2026 its hospitality manager Anna was named Emerging Leader for New Zealand Hospitality in the Wellington Region — a nod to a team whose professionalism and passion show up in every shift.
So stop in for a drink, lunch or dinner — or stay the night — and experience the best of rural New Zealand on Greytown's Main Street. From a team of passionate locals: they'd love to see you.