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Rural New Zealand Experience

Gisborne, New Zealand

Rural New Zealand Experience

DETAILS

  • 31/2
    hrs Estimate Duration
  • Age
  • Meal

OVERVIEW

Discover the joys and challenges of rural life at the Waipura Station, whose owners will candidly share their experiences. Sprawling over 2,100 acres of rolling farmland on the outskirts of Gisborne, Waipura, which means “plentiful water” in Māori, is an idyllic spot that the fifth generation of the Maclaurin family owns. Your local hosts will happily show you around the station. After watching sheep being sheared in the woolshed, you will see a muster demonstration, in which herding dogs show off their prodigious skills by following their shepherd’s commands, whistles and body language to round up the sheep. You can’t help but be awed by their teamwork as the shepherd and dogs work in perfect sync. During tea in the century-old homestead, the family will share personal stories about farm life and how it continues to evolve. You will come away with a much deeper understanding and respect for rural living.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the Waipura sheep station, whose owners will show you around the farm.
• Watch a sheep-shearing demonstration in the woolshed.
• See herding dogs masterfully round up stray sheep in the fields.
• Hear stories about farm life as you share tea and pastries with the owners.


HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Need to Know:

Note: Minimum age to participate is 10 years of age. Not suitable for guests using wheelchairs or with significant mobility limitations due to uneven ground and farm infrastructure. Guests must be able to walk short distances over uneven surfaces and board/disembark the coach unaided. Guests will experience a mix of terrain typical of a working hill-country farm. Surfaces include flat and uneven grassy paddocks, gravel farm paths, and a few gentle inclines. Access to the woolshed and garden areas involves a few steps. After rainy conditions, muddy patches are more frequent, so appropriate footwear is essential.

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ACTIVITY ATTRIBUTES

Excursion Type:

Adventure
Wildlife Tours

Activity Level:

Image Title
  • 1
    Easy
  • 2
    Moderate
  • 3
    Challenging
Tours with this activity level involve a considerable amount of physical activity such as substantial walking over cobblestone streets, uneven or steep terrain, climbing stairs, or extended periods of standing. Not recommended for guests with physical limitations. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are recommended.
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1.866.625.1167
First Light, First Stories: A Gisborne Walk
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