Bed & Breakfast   

Bruce and Karen welcome you to Karetu Downs Farm Stay in the beautiful Waipara Gorge, South Island, New Zealand.

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Karetu Downs is not just a farm it is a way of life. The 2000 hectare hill country property is home to around 4500 Romney sheep and 120 Angus cattle and has been owned and operated for over 3 generations by the Forrester family, with our grandchildren insuring this tradition is set to continue.

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The Farm stay began in 2012 when Karen decided it was time to do something a little different. Visitors to Karetu would comment about how lucky we were to have such an idyllic place to live having been amazed at the breathtaking views from the top of the tussock-clad hills to the fascinating perfectly round boulders along the river bed. These spherical stones called concretions can be found in varying sizes dotted along the river bed that runs through the farm.

We love watching the reaction of our guests when they bottle feed lambs, experience sheep shearing or marvel at the view from the top of the farm.

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When you stay at Karetu you get to enjoy our beautiful flower gardens and grounds which are open to the public at certain times of the year. You even get to taste our delicious home grown fruit, vegetables, and berries (in season) grown right here in our farm stay garden and orchard.

 

The best part is meeting guests from all around the world and being able to share with them our love of the land and this place we call home Aotearoa - New Zealand.

 

“So come and stay with us and experience life in NZ on a real working farm”