Wairata Forest Farm

Sunday morning we drove further down the coast to Opotiki, the northern gateway to the large eastward jutting landmass known as Eastland. However, we turned south.  We had contacted friends of friends about staying a couple of nights on their large homestead, Wairata Forest Farm. Twenty some years ago, Murray and Anne Redpath ran a large sheep station. Now they keep only about 80 sheep and 20 head of cattle and concentrate on growing hazel trees. (They say hazel trees instead of hazelnut trees.) The property has been in the Redpath family for over a hundred years and encompasses some five thousand acres which Murray now shares with his brother Bob.

Murray and Anne were easy gracious hosts and delightful people. In the short span of two days we joined in on a family birthday party for Murray’s 83 year old mom; went on a long tramp along the river and up a bluff; enjoyed endless meals (morning tea is a great addition to the day--we felt a little like hobbits, elevensies anyone?) with lots of home grown produce and, of course, hazels and yummy hazelbutter; helped (?) in rounding up and herding some 12 head of cattle down the road and over the bridge to a holding pen for later pickup; rode up the hillside with Murray in his ute (4-wheel drive utility vehicle) to look for The Bull (we didn’t find him but got to walk back down the hill enjoying the views); took another long tramp up a pristine creek valley with a continually growing number of sheep leading the way before us; and, of course, toured the hazel groves.

Mark also managed to replace some aging springs in both the dishwasher and oven while I caught up on emails. Although I had worried about our intruding on them, the time was relaxing and most interesting. We had wide ranging conversations about many topics including children, politics, farm policies, hazels, medicine, their visit to the west coast of the States, sheep tales, etc. Late Tuesday morning, after sharing one more hearty tea with them, we bid the Redpaths goodbye and drove southeast towards Gisborne.