Farming in New Zealand

New Years Eve. At the Beach

nzfarming — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:44:40 +0000

Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: Picture: Kate Smith

: What a Beautiful Day

Holiday Cottage at Omamari

nzfarming — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:40:37 +0000

The Shearers Quarters is available for holiday let.

Ideally suited to groups or families wanting to spend time on the Kauri Coast

Ripiro beach: Vehicle access is just a short drive at Omamari Gap. Ideal for the Omamari fishing contest or Kumara Triathlon.

Kai Iwi Lakes about 15 min drive. Enjoy time at the lakes boating, fishing, swimming etc. then return to comfortable beds and warm showers away from the crowds.

Verandah

: From Verandah

Located on the dry stock farm at Omamari. Affectionatly known as the Shearers Quarters it was constructed in the mid 1970′s to cater for the shearing gang which visited twice a year to shear 2000 ewes plus hoggets and lambs.

Most of the sheep are long gone and the farm now grazes mostly Dairy Grazers and a small herd of Beef breeding cows and calves

Kitchen

The living area/kitchen has stove, microwave, kitchen utensils, dinner ware, glasses, cutlery, fridge and a large table where the shearers would sit around after a hard day in the woolshed.

Three bedrooms

First with double bed
Double Room

Second with queen and two singles

Queen and two singles

Third with three singles

Two showers, laundry and washing machine

Two toilets.

Rates and conditions:

Minimum Stay is two nights

Two nights – $140.00

Four night stay – $250.00

Seven night stay – $350.00

No linen, towels or tea towels supplied.

Vacuum cleaner, brooms and other cleaning equipment are part of facilities.

Please: The Shearers Quarters are to be cleaned and left as they were found upon arrival.

All floors to be vacuumed. Washed where necessary.
Tables to be wiped down and left clean
Kitchen to be cleaned and tidy
Toilets cleaned and floor areas mopped and washed.
Showers to be cleaned and floor areas mopped and washed.
Any pillows and light duvet belonging to cottage to be left neat and tidy
All rubbish to be left in sacks provided.

We hope that you enjoy your time at the Shearers Quarters.

: Three singles

Mangamuka Gorge. Kaitaia to Kaikohe

nzfarming — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:34:11 +0000

The drive from Kaitaia to Kaikohe along State Highway 1 is a twisting, uphill and down dale affair, but absolutely beautiful.

We were a bit late leaving Kaitaia on Sunday afternoon, the winter sun was all ready dropping quite low. However here are a few shots of the drive through the “Mangamukas”.

Picture:Steve Smith

Picture:Kate Smith

Picture:Steve Smith

: Picture:Steve Smith

It’s about 13kms through the Mangamuka range.

Take your time. Enjoy the ride.

Have the windows down.

Listen to what’s happening in the bush.

It’s a beautiful trip.

Picture:Kate Smith

As you get nearer to Kaikohe, Lake Omapere is on the West side of the road, but sun had all ready gone down.

Rainbow over Dargaville

nzfarming — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:29:38 +0000

Picture:Kate Smith

5.00 pm tonight. Heading out of Dargaville along River Road we spotted this beautiful rainbow on the other side of the Northern Wairoa River. Also gives you an idea of just how big this river is.

Picture: Kate SmithPicture:Kate Smith

Walking Maungaraho

nzfarming — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:03:27 +0000

Maungaraho Rock - 222 mtrs.

11kms south of Dargaville.

It can be reached easily from the Mititai – Waiotira Road.

There is a 45 min. walk around the base of the rock and you can also ascend to the top from the bottom track, though some climbing is required and it takes about 30 mins. You will need suitable boots and clothing. Great views.

Maungaraho Rock

Please see http://www.nzliving.wordpress.com for more pics

Before the second cyclone

nzfarming — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:16:41 +0000

Here are a few pics taken along Babylon Coast Road and closer to Dargaville during a fine spell this afternoon and just before the second cyclone for the week is due to reach us.

Twin Coast Mizone Cycle Challenge

nzfarming — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:02:06 +0000

This years Twin coast Mizone Cycle Challenge is 13th – 16th March 2008

This is another event when accommodation in Dargaville fills up really fast.

We have a couple of rooms still available for the evening of 13th March after the Whangarei – Dargaville leg.

Breakfast is provided.

Dinner is also available that night at $25.00 per person.

Give Kate a call on 09 439 5927 or email her at info@kaurivale.co.nz

You also might like to check out these books available from Fishpond

Fishing

nzfarming — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:49:44 +0000

Sun, sea and fishing!

That was the order of the day, for yesterday, 30th December. A beautiful day – weatherwise.

Steve and I had a bit of a late start! After guests all over Christmas and a late night tidying up, we had a well deserved “lie in”. Even though it was a beautiful morning, we still got moving very slowly and then – decided that it was a good day for the beach and some deferred fishing.

The beach was beautiful (as usual). The sun was warm. The breeze was a bit cool at times. But never mind. The boys got the net out and dispite the less than perfect conditions for netting caught thirteen nice mullett.

We had a bit of a cook up on the beach, which is always the best way to eat seafood and the rest will be smoked. A wonderful afternoon.Thankyou boys!

Maybe we’ll do it again tomorrow. You never know your luck!

Dargaville to Paihia

nzfarming — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:11:53 +0000

We have just spent a lovely couple of days in the beautiful Bay of Islands.

Stayed in Paihia this time.

Didn’t do anything too exciting. Didn’t go para-gliding, or go for a trip on the Excitor or even go on a steady boat trip around the bay. No we were quite happy just to laze around, relax and have a good rest.

Well they say a picture speaks a thousand words so here is what we did one day, after a very late breakfast -

We took the ferry over to Russell

Had a walk over to Long Beach.Sat on the beach for a while, enjoyed the view, chilled out.

Had fish and chips here on the Russell Waterfront. Lovely.

Ferry back to Paihia, had a cider in cafe/bar.

A Perfect Day.

No time for Dargaville

nzfarming — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:28:40 +0000

We ran out of time for Dargaville today. We’ve had a busy day on the farm.

Shifting stock, mustering the sheep – drafting lambs.

I was going to take a few pics of the sheep drafting for you. Sorry – got so busy I forgot.

So here are one or two pics taken from along the Babylon Coast Road that I took on the way back to Kaurivale