The neighbouring districts of Horowhenua, in the south, Manawatu, and Rangitikei, to the north, were among the first parts of New Zealand colonised by Europeans from the 1840s. Over the subsequent decades, these regions have produced many industry leaders in agriculture and horticulture. The rich history and the vibrant communities in this part of NZ are incredibly diverse. Over 3 days we’ll wander these districts discovering distinctive buildings, stunning country gardens, quirky museums, thriving farming operations and more. And we’re excited about how many of these places we’ve not been to before. If variety is your thing, this is the tour for you! Here’s a feel for the itinerary;
Day 1: Heading south we’ll cross into the Manawatu at Ashhurst and take the scenic route up through Cheltenham to Hunterville, in the northern Rangitikei. After a visit to the charming Settlers Museum there, we’re into the hills at Tutaenui to visit Andrew and Kylie Stewart who farm at ‘Tyrone’, a 1,560-acre hill country property that has been in the Stewart family for over 120 years. Andrew and Kylie will host us for lunch, show us around the place and introduce us to some of their wide range of pet animals. Later we take another lovely drive down through Marton and Halcombe to Feilding and the amazing Coach House Museum. This has to be one of the best rural museums in the country. From the arrival of the first settlers to the area still covered in dense forest, to wandering replica country town streets and admiring the massive collection of restored farming vehicles and equipment. This place tells the stories of the pioneers of the region brilliantly. And our accommodation for the next two nights is just down the street.
Day 2: Our day begins with a drive to the southern end of the Horowhenua district to look around the beautiful historic Rangiatea Church in Otaki that was originally built, under the supervision of legendary Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha, in 1849. Then, as a complete contrast, we’ll visit ‘De Molen’, NZ’s only fully operational stone-grind Dutch windmill at Foxton. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of this amazing structure, have lunch in the café, and learn about the huge flax harvesting and processing industry that used to dominate the district a century ago. Our last visit of the afternoon is to the shop at Lewis Farms, a huge berry grower in the area, for a fresh berry ice cream. What a day we’ve had!
Day 3: Our final day begins with a visit to Villa Candotti, a captivating Tuscan villa and formal Italian Renaissance-style garden at Colyton near Feilding. Owner Peter Cranstoun will show us around this magnificent former sheep paddock and give us morning tea. Then we’re off to visit a very different garden on the outskirts of Palmerston North. Longwood is a breathtaking garden of nearly nine acres created by Yvonne and Peter Long. We’ll be hosted by Yvonne who will tell us about the journey of creating this garden over 20 years and show us around. We’ll spend time in the centre of Palmerston North for lunch before beginning our homeward journey in the afternoon.
We’re so thrilled at the incredible variety of experiences we’ve been able to uncover across this fascinating part of the North Island. The common thread is the pioneer spirit that’s still alive and strong in these welcoming and hospitable communities.
Join us on this unique journey through a less trodden part of New Zealand’s heartland.
