The Rugged Rural

Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get your hands dirty as this road trip takes you into the heart of the Southland backcountry. Dust your Swanndri off and immerse yourself in an authentic farm experience: shoot a gun, crack a stock whip, work with horses, and so much more. After all that hard work, head to New Zealand’s most inland food truck to refuel & recharge. Next, hike, bike, jeep, or sleep at Welcome Rock - a working high-country farm with spectacular views of layered hills. And that’s all just in a day’s work. Over the next two days, get close-up & personal with alpacas, saddle up for a horse trek, stay in an iconic luxury lodge overlooking Lake Manapouri and pour yourself a beer at the southernmost distillery in the world.

Day 1

Start your day in Northern Southland at Real Country for an authentic and bespoke New Zealand farm experience guided by a local southern girl. See and do activities that are off the beaten track and "real". Nestled between the Eyre Mountains and Lake Wakatipu, Real Country provides a variety of thrilling activities. Ever wanted to channel your inner Robin Hood and learn how to shoot a bow and arrow? Keen to hone your skills with some clay target shooting? You can’t leave without giving the whip cracking a go, either. This is a one-of-a-kind, out-the-gate farm experience.

Travel down State Highway 6 and stop in Garston. For our coffee fans, the Coffee Bomb's gleaming silver bullet is not to be missed! New Zealand’s most inland food truck serves freshly Southland roasted coffee, and its Bacon & Egg Muffin will satisfy the appetite you've built mustering sheep.

Make your way into the mountains to High Country for a visit to the remote, exhilarating and unforgettable Welcome Rock. 

Welcome Rock is a hand-built, stunning, private, single-track trail on a high country station just 45 minutes from Queenstown. You can hike it, bike it, jeep it, sheep it or sleep overnight at it – a visit to Welcome Rock is a unique opportunity to see a real working High Country farm in action.

Stay the night at The Mud Hut at Welcome Rock

If it’s an adventure you want and a memorable experience, stay right up the top of the mountain. The Mud Hut offers a truly unique place to spend the night, with the original fireplace, an outdoor bath and panoramic views of the Garvie mountains and native forest below.

Day 2

Make your way to Five Rivers Café for breakfast. This rural café, bar, art gallery and farmyard is located along the popular tourist route halfway between Queenstown, Invercargill, Te Anau and Milford Sound. The perfect stop before making your way to Fiordland.

Want an experience with a touch of cuteness overload? Then head off to Kepler Mountain View Alpacas in Manapouri. It’s an alpaca stud farm and quite the one-stop shop. Not only can you go on a farm tour with the adorable alpacas, but you can also shop and stay overnight at the farm. Passionate owners Ray and Jessie have filled the Wild Wool Gallery with beautiful hand-crafted accessories of felted alpaca, silks and merino fibre. 

It's time for a good night's sleep in luxury, head on over to Cabot Lodge, where you will be welcomed by hosts Breidi and Brad Alexander with an arrival drink and a tour of the property. Each evening guests enjoy cocktail hour with a drink and canapés before savouring a set-menu evening meal showcasing the property's fresh paddock-to-plate produce. Wake to a cooked breakfast with home baking and seasonal fruit. You may not want to leave the property as there are several walking trails, a private jetty, an extensive library, massage services, and a spa pool to enjoy alongside 4WD farm tours and beekeeping excursions.

Day 3

Saddle up for an Orepuki Horse Trek adventure. Follow bush trails into backcountry and be captivated by mountain views and rich history of years gone by or enjoy the farm-to-beach loop track with unforgettable views of Te Waewae Bay. With a little luck you might even get to see the rare Pahu Hector dolphins.

Head on over to the Orepuki Beach Café for some well-deserved nourishment, a true example of southern hospitality. Situated on 8 hectares of pastureland overlooking Te Waewae Bay and the Longwoods Forest, the Café serves fantastic paddock-to-plate food, including scrumptious house-baked bread and homemade cakes. Their commitment to providing fresh farm products includes growing their own herbs and seasonal greens as well as rearing their own beef and lamb. The cafe is in a grand old house which was built back in 1885 by an English military captain.

Visit the southernmost distillery in the world!  Offering both farm and distillery tours, the site of Auld Farm Distillery has been growing grain since 1883. By combining grain from paddocks and pure water from their own spring in the onsite distillery, their whisky truly embodies the grain-to-glass philosophy.