Mt Huia Farmstay 2.87

Mt Huia Farmstay is the ultimate escape nestled in a tranquil country valley on a real working sheep and cattle farm. Only a few kilometres from SH1 in an area renown for its peaceful isolation and variety of outdoor activities.

Hosts, Neil and Virginia, have been farming at Mt Huia for almost 35 years and have offered farmstay accommodation for over 30 years. They take pride in providing a homely, relaxed environment and enjoy providing guests with an authentic New Zealand hill country farm experience.

Mt Huia is the historical name of this sheep and cattle farm which was cleared of native trees in the late 1800's to make it possible to develop pastureland and establish production of lamb, beef and wool. With division of the property and changing ownership, Mt Huia now comprises 350 hectares (865 acres) and carries 2200 Romney sheep and 300 pure Angus cattle.

At 500m above sea level Mt Huia enjoys four distinct seasons, but as New Zealand is made up of small islands in large oceans, many variations in weather pattern can occur. The area has beautiful still Autumn days; Summers can be hot and dry but always the evenings are cooler; and it does snow at Mt Huia in Winter - usually 2 - 3 falls a year but it generally settles for only a few hours. The lambs and flowering bulbs of Spring are always a welcome sight!

The farm is named ‘Mt Huia’ after the Huia bird which is now extinct, but the last reported sightings of it were in this area. Other historical features are the sea shells and fossils found within the sandstone on various parts of the farm.

Many stands of native trees still remain, some in large reserves and others in conservation pockets throughout the farm. Along with sheer sandstone cliffs, deep river gorges, majestic mountain ranges and stunning scenery, they characterise the Rangitikei and Northern Manawatu regions in which Mt Huia is located.