Station also has tourism, honey income

A beautiful coastal sheep and beef farm property, which also sustains eco-tourism and commercial honey-production, is for sale at the far south-eastern tip of the North Island.

Kawakawa Station — at Ngāwi, near Cape Palliser — is a 1379ha waterfront property traditionally capable of carrying about 5115 stock units over winter.

The multi-faceted station is now to be sold through Bayleys Masterton — by an international tender process, closing at 4pb on November 27.

Bayleys Masterton salespeople Lindsay Watts and Rob Deal say the station, at 2631 Cape Palliser Rd, is one of the Wairarapa's oldest sheep farms, with roots going back to 1847.

"As with many New Zealand farms, the business model here utilises primary production as the foundation, adding on additional revenue streams based upon their assets," Watts says.

"In this case, eco-tourism, commercial accommodation and apiary activities are part of the mix. This is financially sensible, as diverse revenue streams help to smooth-over any periodic reduction in earnings from traditional pastoral farming activities such as sheep and beef farming."

Deal says the property is subdivided by post-and-baton wire fencing, being served by a well-maintained network of tracks and access lanes.

These are also utilised as part of the property's tramping network. The pastoral side of the operation is kept well up to the mark, the land being fertilised bi-annually.

Farm building infrastructure includes a four-stand woolshed and adjacent covered yards, with a 1000-animal capacity; a 1000-bale hay shed; a concrete-floored equipment and machinery storage shed; plus the farm hands' hut, fitted-out to house up-to-four workers.

"The homestead comprises of a solid three-bedroom-home with views over Cook Straight, plus a comfortable separate four-bedroom manager's residence," says Deal.

As well as running the freehold block, Kawakawa Station leases some 785ha of adjoining hillside grazing land to feed the Romney herd. Breeding records for the farm show ewes have delivered a lambing rate of 115 per cent, with cattle calving at 90 per cent. Sheep are shorn every six months.

"Significantly, they have also tapped into New Zealand's latest 'liquid gold' food source, honey," says Watts.

"Honey production from the farm generated $67,000 worth of revenue in 2016, and while last year delivered lower honey yields nationally to all apiarists, the forecast is for the 2018 year to replicate a return similar to 2016. Data from the Ministry for Primary Industry's Apiculture Monitoring Programme shows the bulk per kg rate for light clover honey last season ranged from $10 to $14, while first-class manuka-grade honey commanded a premium of $10.80-$127a kg."

Kawakawa Station's tourism operation is well established, featuring a three-day cross-country hike, with fully catered accommodation in rustic, yet comfortable trampers' huts.

"Guests may also opt to stay in a self-catered cottage, or in a separate glamping accommodation," says Watts.

"For those wanting something a wee bit more luxurious, the station's canvas Mongolian yurt tent comes with a queen-size bed, luxurious sheets and hotel-quality natural wool duvet.

"There's solar-powered refrigerator to keep the champagne and salmon cool and an outdoor wrought-iron lion's paw bath. The yurt has a rack rate of $250 a night, with a box of self-catering breakfast ingredients left in the fridge for $45."

The station's three-day walk uses formed tracks running from the rugged surf of Palliser Bay, through to the natural bush of Haurangi Forest Park.

Hikers can book stays in any of three converted shepherd huts, configured in bunk-room style. These are kitted out with fully-equipped kitchens, toilets and bathrooms.