Towns

Carterton

The historic town of Carterton was first known as Three Mile Bush. It was founded in 1857 to provide a base for men working on the road between Greytown and Masterton. The town has styled itself as the ‘Daffodil Capital of New Zealand’, so it’s a joy to visit in spring. The Daffodil Festival, held every September since the 1920s, is an invitation to pick armloads of daffodils from a large flower-packed field. Carterton has a collection of antique shops, a good choice of cafes and an interesting paua shell factory. For an outdoor adventure, you can hike in the Tararua Forest Park and the Waiohine Gorge, which has an impressive swing bridge.
Functional facts: Approx. population 4100, railway station, information centre.