Cobblestones
Museum
Learn About Us
History comes alive at Cobblestones
Cobblestones Museum is a working historic village run almost entirely by volunteers. The museum is named after the well-preserved cobblestone courtyard, built as a solid surface for horses, carts, and passengers who used the original stables. Six original heritage buildings (Category 2 listings with Heritage New Zealand) were either already on site or relocated to Cobblestones to recreate how Wairarapa’s early settlers lived in the 1800s. Exhibitions, artifacts, tours and education programmes help visitors understand settlers’ stories and how they’ve influenced our modern world.
The Museum
The museum explores the relationship between people and the land that defined their daily lives. The Hastwell Stables stand on their original cobbled site (1857) and were the anchor for the other heritage buildings moved on site, setting the tone and time of the village. The museum is thoughtfully and professionally curated and has a fine collection of agricultural machinery, medical equipment, furniture, cups, plates, clothing, carriages, and the stories behind them.
Cobblestones Museum is managed by the Cobblestones Charitable Trust. Thanks to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer work of the Friends of Cobblestones, the museum has been welcoming visitors for 50 years.
Just over an hour north of Wellington, Cobblestones is easy to find and is only a ten-minute stroll from the center of Greytown. There are plenty of places in town to stay, eat, and shop.