Tarras Village

Just 30 minutes from Wānaka and 20 minutes from Cromwell, Tarras Village is a delightfully unique and unexpected stop that has become a destination in its own right. Set against the rugged beauty of Central Otago, you’ll find a collection of boutique businesses showcasing local artisan products within historic buildings, as well as a petrol station and post office adding an extra dollop of charm.

Christina and Callum Grant are the second-generation caretakers of Tarras Village, continuing the legacy of Christina’s parents, Heather and John Perriam. In the 1980s, the Perriams purchased Bendigo Station, a merino sheep station, after their original farm was impacted by the Clyde Dam project. They soon launched The Merino Shop in 1984 to promote the beautiful wool garments they were producing at the station. Fun fact: Bendigo Station was also famously home to Shrek, New Zealand’s most iconic sheep, now immortalised as a bronze statue atop a large rock in the village. Do make sure you say hello!

Sharing a love for the land, merino, and fashion retail, Christina inherited The Merino Shop after Heather’s passing in 2010. A few years later, she launched her own luxury merino brand, Perriam, which now sits proudly alongside a curated selection of woollen clothing, accessories, and homewares.

Over the past several years, Christina and Callum have poured their hearts into revitalising and expanding Tarras Village. The former local Four Square is now the Village Store, where travellers stop for specialty pantry items, unique gifts, a hot Sanga’s pie, and a swirl of magic from Heather’s Real Fruit Ice Cream window. Behind the store, in a schist stone building, a new wine cellar offers bottles from Bendigo Station and Quartz Reef. While the Tarras Country Café is run by the lovely Paul and Antonia, Christina and Callum have exciting plans to further grow the village’s food and wine offering. Watch this space.

Tarras Village is far more than a place to stretch your legs on the way to Queenstown or Wānaka. It’s a destination that celebrates its land and people, with a growing array of experiences that will keep you coming back, not just as a visitor, but as a friend.