Farm Tour, Tupe Tupe Farm.
Ohaeawai Bay of Islands
Northland Historic Places Trust Cultural & Historical Site
Rua Hoanga Pa, Taiamai

Ludbrook House Farm Tours and Walks

Roger with his farm dogs.

Roger Ludbrook,
Farm Manager and Farm Tour Guide.

Roger Ludbrook is fifth generation Ludbrook and manager of Tupe Tupe, the farm.

Roger is involved with the Northland branch of Federated Farmers, is on the board of Trustees at Kerikeri High School and serves on many other local community organisations.

Join him for an update on the farm activities and learn about the challenges and opportunities of managing a farm in New Zealand.

As custodian of this land he willingly shares his lifetime knowledge of the ancient and present day farming calendar and his efforts to sustain this land for future generations.

The 418 hectare farm is currently run as a beef breeding and finishing property, with some calf rearing in autumn and spring.

Mustering and drenching or attending the local livestock sale is also part of the farm routine that you may enjoy experiencing.

Farm Walk

It is our privilege to welcome you to Tupe Tupe, purchased in September 1860. We have set up some farm walks, and hope you take the opportunity to visit the old house site in the orchard or wander to the Tupe Tupe water fall on the Peka Peka stream that runs through the middle of the farm.

• To the site of the Original House. 10 mins.

The original Tupetupe behind the stone fence & horseman

Samuel Blomfield Ludbrook (1825-1884) came to New Zealand with his mother in 1840 as a sixteen year-old. He married Caroline Elizabeth Williams (1832-1916) on the 15th December 1858. It is known that Samuel and Caroline moved to Tupe Tupe shortly after they purchased the farm, Tupe Tupe.

When Samuel and Caroline went to Tupe Tupe, their first home was part of Prospect, the house previously owned by George and Martha Clarke, Samuel’s uncle and aunt. The house was moved by bullock train from Waimate North to their chosen site, close to the village of Ohaeawai.
By adding to this they established a new nine-roomed home.

Early winter-cheer planted by Caroline Ludbrook

Arum lilies at the site of the first homestead

The old homestead has gone. The only signs that anyone lived there is a clearing, surrounded by daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells and arum lillies and old fig, plum and lemon trees amongst the sycamores and oaks.

Farm Tours

Tour of Tupe Tupe, the beef farm set within the historic Taiamai plain.

• Tours start at Ludbrook House.
• Offers a variety of tour options according to client interest.
• Make a booking by phoning 09 4059846 or email info@ludbrook.co.nz
• Duration one hour and up to three hours.

Itinerary

• Lunch or take tea/coffee at Ludbrook House.
• Stroll through the extensive gardens at Ludbrook House – NZ Garden Trust registered Garden *** 3 stars.
• An introduction to Northland's colonial and Maori history.
• A visit to and study of the Maori pa – Rua Hoanga and other archeological sites.
• View modern farming practice.
• Learn of sustainability and other farm ecological practices.
• Test the gourmet Ludbrook House Fine Food products manufactured on-site as seen here (link to Gourmet foods).

Explore the many archeological sites within the farm and discover the rich visual evidence of early Maori habitation.

Follow the main Tupe Tupe stream to the waterfall and beyond to ponds to observe the water birds. Find on our back boundary a beautifully formed stone wall built by foot soldiers before the battle of Ohaeawai in 1845.

Rua Hoanga Pa built by Chief Te Morunga, great friend in New Zealand of Samuel Marsden.