Stop browsing, close those other tabs you have open, and book this special place right now! I lucked into it as a last-minute booking near the end of my visit to New Zealand, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of my entire trip.
The farm itself is not hard to find given Pam’s directions. The cottage is a beautifully appointed old police station that was moved to the farm (get the whole story from Pam & Malcolm). It’s comfortable and peaceful, surrounded by gardens and looking out on the tennis courts (the owners will lend you rackets if you want to play). Beautifully soft Gloria might also be looking in from the veranda—the visitor’s book is filled with lots of love notes to this sweet cat (although she’s not allowed in the cottage, so don’t worry if you’re allergic).
Inside is everything you might need: filtered water at the sink, a cozy electric blanket on the very comfortable bed, towel warmer in the lovely bathroom, maps and guides to local sights and “tramps,” and all the supplies you need for simple cooking. On top of that, Pam left me a gorgeous spread for breakfast. Definitely take advantage of your hosts’ knowledge of the area – I wish I had been staying much longer so I could follow their suggestions.
Touring the farm with Malcolm was one of the most interesting things I did in New Zealand. It was a mini-master class in ecology, history, animal husbandry, politics, and of course the hard work it takes to keep a farm as prosperous and vibrant as this one. Learning about all the decisions farmers in New Zealand (or anywhere, really) have to make and the commitment they bring to their care for the land was eye-opening, and Malcolm was a generous guide. He kindly even let me feel like I was helping a bit as we fed out the cattle and moved some temporary fences. I learned about New Zealand herding dogs, and got to give lots of head scratches to Jess and Scott when they weren’t working. The whole experience was so, so worth it!