Farmstays offer slice of real NZ

Meeting foreigners rather than making a large profit is the main motivation for people diversifying their farming operations to offer farmstay accommodation.

Farmstays are becoming increasingly common throughout the country, in line with what Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton describes as a search by international visitors for a "slice of real New Zealand".

"Research shows that visitors to New Zealand want to have an authentic experience," he said. "They want to experience what life is like for people living here and are less interested in contrived attractions."

As a result, from September 1998 to September last year, there was a 129 per cent increase in the number of nights visitors stayed at New Zealand farmstays.

"The move towards undiscovered or off-the-beaten-track travel regions also bodes well for this sector as a lot of the places mentioned by trade are very rural areas, like Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and the whole East Cape area," Hickton said.

The type of farmstay can vary from a converted room in an old homestead to purpose-built luxury self-contained cottages.

Accommodation is offered on virtually every type of farm, from large sheep and beef stations and vineyards to stunning gardens, lifestyle blocks and even a llama farm. Nightly tariffs range from $50 to well over $200.

In Manawatu, the most established farmstay is Bute Farm Cottage near Feilding, which Ann and Robert Campbell operated for 25 years before son Lachie and daughter-in-law Tracey took over the 450ha farm, farmstay and farm tour operation last spring.

Accommodation was initially offered inside the main house, before a purpose-built cottage was added a decade ago. The Campbells are considering converting another farm cottage to double capacity.

Tracey Campbell, who has a background in the hospitality and tourism industry, loves the change in lifestyle and says business is great, particularly during December.

The majority of the Campbells' guests are New Zealanders, particularly families from Wellington.

"We love having families here," she said. "For the families it is an opportunity for their children to see and feed farm animals and tour the farm."

When Susanna Grace of Hunterville closed her Rathmoy Garden to the public two years ago, she decided to offer farmstay accommodation.

"I was missing the people visiting," Grace said. "Opening the farmstay has been so exciting and I have met so many wonderful people."

The majority of guests at Rathmoy Farm Cottage are American and British tourists booking over the internet. One American couple loved the place so much they have booked it for two months.

In Pongaroa in the Tararua district, Brian and Heather Riddell have been offering farmstay accommodation in a wing of their 30-year-old stone farmhouse for three years.

"It has been brilliant," said Brian Riddell, a sheep and beef farmer.

"Our motivation was to get to know people and share our house with overseas visitors."

Riddell personally guides all the guests at The Point Farmstay around the 390ha farm.

- NZPA