About Greytown Honey
Greytown Honey is run by Alex and Karly Polaschek from The Honey Stables, their factory shop on Moroa Road at Tauwherenīkau, just off State Highway 2 about five minutes south of Greytown. Beekeeping runs back five generations in the family, and their hives sit on native bush blocks and farmland across the Wairarapa, which is why the shelves carry several single-source honeys: mānuka, kāmahi, kānuka, rewarewa, native, wildflower and clover.
The beekeeper experience is the reason to plan ahead. Tours leave at 10:30am on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and run for about 75 minutes with a capped group. Everyone wears a bee suit, the hosts lift a hive lid to show the worker bees and hunt for the queen, explain how each batch of honey is traced back to its hives, and then walk you through the factory before a full tasting of their honeys. What you see in the hive changes with the season and weather.
The tour is described as suitable for all ages, which makes it an easy family outing. Closed shoes are required, long pants and sleeves are recommended, and anyone with a bee allergy needs to tell the team before arriving. Book online ahead of time so the hosts know to be on site; cancellations more than 96 hours out are refunded in full. The shop itself is open Friday to Sunday 10:30am to 2:30pm, with Wednesdays for tours only.
Lavender Abbey near Carterton opens its shop on weekends, about 15 minutes north up State Highway 2, so a Saturday hive tour can be followed by lunch in Greytown and an afternoon among the lavender.
What to do
- Suit up for the 75-minute beekeeper tour, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday at 10:30am
- Look inside a working hive and search for the queen
- See the honey factory and finish with a full honey tasting
- Compare mānuka, kāmahi, kānuka and rewarewa honeys in the factory shop
- Pick up honey gift boxes
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Tours and shop run year-round; what you see in the hive varies with season and weather
- Hours
- Listed October 2026: shop Friday–Sunday 10:30am–2:30pm; Wednesday tours only; closed Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; tours depart 10:30am Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Good to know
- Reservations
- Recommended (book tours online ahead)
Tips for your visit
- Wear closed shoes; long pants and sleeves give extra protection.
- Tell the team in advance about any bee allergy.
- Cancel more than 96 hours ahead for a full refund; inside 48 hours the full fee applies.
- Other visiting times can be arranged with the owners.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Abbey · about 15 minutes away
Lavender Abbey near Carterton is about 15 minutes north and opens its shop on weekends, a natural follow-on to a Saturday or Sunday hive tour.
Getting there
Questions
When do beekeeping tours run?
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am, for about 75 minutes.
Are bee suits provided?
Yes, suits are supplied; closed shoes are required.
Is the tour suitable for children?
The hosts describe it as family friendly and suitable for all ages.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Wairarapa & Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
