There are many parallels between the European settlement of Canterbury and that of Hawke’s Bay with significant numbers of settlers starting to arrive into both areas in the 1850s. And whilst Hawke’s Bay’s early settlement was, like much of the North Island at this time, a rather haphazard affair, the settlement of Canterbury was a much more planned enterprise. Fortunes were made and, as a consequence, grand houses were built and gardens created. On this tour we will visit a number of these properties, most of which are now much reduced in acreage, with some still in the hands of the same settler families and others benefiting from the enthusiastic care of new owners. Our visits over this 9 Day tour will span from the Hurunui district in the very north of the province, to Geraldine at the southern end of the great plains. Most of these properties will be first-time visits for Bay Tours and we’re very excited to be given access to them. Here’s a summary of the itinerary;
Day 1: We depart Hawke’s Bay and head to Wellington where we overnight at our favourite Copthorne Oriental Bay Hotel before our Interislander ferry to Picton the following morning.
Day 2: After our morning ferry we head south on SH1 to Kaikoura where we overnight in the new, sparkly Sudima Hotel with dinner at the newly refurbished Pier Hotel.
Day 3: Today we take the Inland Road through Mt Lyford to the town of Waiau and our first historic property – Lyndon. Begun in 1880, Lyndon homestead was the centre of a 70,000 acre sheep run. In 2018 Jude Flintoft and Steve Smith purchased the derelict homestead and set about restoring the house, and in doing so honouring the original craftmanship achieving detailed work using hand tools only. Today Jude will host us for a cuppa and show us around the homestead and the progress made on the gardens to date. We then head to another property just down the road in Rotherham where Doreen and Mike Dryden have created one of the great gardens of North Canterbury at Loch Leven. Doreen will put on lunch for us and show us around this stunning garden. In the afternoon we continue south into the Hororata area to one of the oldest homesteads still remaining in Canterbury – Terrace Station. Kate Foster, great grand-daughter of the station founder John Hall, will meet us and tell us all about the homestead and gardens which she and her late husband have put into a charitable trust. Tonight we stay in Methven.
Day 4: The story of the Hall family continues this morning as we visit another homestead built by the family in 1912 as part of the huge Terrace Station – Gunyah. We’ll have morning tea here whilst the owners tell us about its own history before showing us around. From here we head south into the foothills around Mt Somers where our first stop is Rangiatea, a hill country farm where Sara & Blair Gallagher have a stunning garden and Sara has created a range of jewellery featuring Agate quartz mined on the property. Sara will show us around the property and we’ll be able to look through her gallery. Just down the road we visit another Sara, this time it’s Sara Grigg at Surrey Hills Station. The Grigg family have a huge farming history in MidCanterbury and Sara will tell us all about it as we wander the beautiful woodland garden. For the next 3 nights we stay in Ashburton.
Day 5: Today is special as we get to visit with Rose & John Acland at Mount Peel Station up the Rangitata River. Not only is there the 1865 homestead and beautiful gardens, but the exquisite family stone church is another must see. Rose is originally a Nelson from Hawke’s Bay and John’s grandmother was an Ormond from Wallingford. So, lots to talk about here. After lunch we travel south across the Orari River to Orari Gorge Station. Wintering 25,000 head of stock, the station has been in the same family for 170 years and is currently home to the 4th, 5th & 6th generations. Our host, Rosa Peacock’s greatgrandfather settled the property in 1856. Rosa will tell us all about the history and guide us around the many restored 19th century farm buildings, the homestead and gardens.
Day 6: This morning we’ll head to Geraldine for a little free time to wander the excellent Farmer’s Market in the churchyard, maybe check out the wonderful rose garden in the Domain or just settle down with a cuppa in a café. In the late morning we turn towards the coastal plains and Akaunui, a homestead and farm that was originally part of the massive Longbeach Estate owned by the Grigg family, but has long been in the family of our hosts today, Di and Ian MacKenzie. They will host us for a classic farm lunch created largely from produce on the property before showing us around parts of their magnificent 30 (yes, that’s right) acre garden. Our last destination of the day is a property that was originally part of the enormous Ashburton Run but, since 1877 has been called Coniston. The 1918 homestead is surrounded by 6 acres of woodland, lake & formal gardens and our hosts, Carol and Donald Williamson, will welcome us and show us around.
Day 7: We begin our homeward journey today, but we couldn’t leave Canterbury without a visit to the original seat of the pre-eminent Deans family, Riccarton House. Built in stages from 1856, the house is truly magnificent and we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the house and grounds before we have lunch here. Then we’re on the road in the afternoon and return to Kaikoura for the night.
Day 8: We wend our way up the Marlborough coast to the outskirts of Blenheim to Welton House where owner Wendy Palmer and her garden designer brother, Ross, have created something special. Wendy lives in the 1901 homestead with her daughter Maia and will show us around and give us lunch before we head to Picton and our afternoon ferry. We overnight in Wellington tonight.
Day 9: We make our way back to Hawke’s Bay today, via Palmerston North where there will be time for lunch and no doubt shopping, before we head home.
This tour encompasses 12 properties and more importantly we’ll meet some amazing people. Some are custodians of their familys’ rich history in Canterbury, others having lovingly restored landmark properties to their former glory. And all with a strong desire to preserve a physical presence of past generations. Come and be part of this wonderful exploration of some of Canterbury’s finest heritage properties.