Expand your horizons, experience another way to be...
Want to learn more or see things up close and personal? Come visit, relax, learn and enjoy. We offer a number of different options for people looking to visit, stay, learn and work.
Learn more about sustainable living and organic gardening, energy efficiency and permaculture design. Explore, discuss and take part in practical, land based activities. We offer a selection of informative and educational activities and workshops for individuals and small groups.
Come to Blockhill for the day! Bring a picnic and your gumboots. Explore our young food forest, meet the Kune Kune pigs, free-range chooks, and Muscovy ducks. A great place to enjoy the country with the birds and bees. Suitable for groups of 1 - 8 people.
Adults $10 - Children $5 - (Children under 5 yrs - free)
Since 2012 we have been sharing our knowledge, produce and lifestyle with eager and willing participants. If you'd like to come and stay and help out with our day-to-day activities, we happily exchange some of your time and efforts throughout the day for education, inspiration and comfortable accommodation surrounded by the permaculture food forest garden.
A peaceful holiday retreat surrounded by gardens and native bush. Relax in the hammocks during the sunny days or soak in the fire-bath under the night sky. A cosy cottage on a rainy day with beautiful private views looking out over the beech trees. Get back to nature and unwind while you enjoy the sights and sounds of country-living. A great place for a memorable holiday! Perfect for a romantic honeymoon or anniversary getaway, or a private artist's or writer's retreat.
Per night - $115 for up to 2 guests Additional guests - please enquire (Our accommodation is not suitable for young children)
We enjoy getting visitors as a welcome social break from the isolation of rural living.
First internship
Another first for blockhill, hosting an overseas intern / student for 3 months. Zach joined us in September for a deep immersion permaculture internship and learning experience as part of his agronomy studies. As anticipated he participated in a wide range of activities and events.December 19, 2017
Knowledge tours
Details Students from the Kaikoura Creation Care Study Program spent an afternoon at Blockhill touring and learning about forest gardening, water catchment and other aspects of sustainable land use.Date May 09, 2017Tags education
A student of 'the way'
Kim was studying organic horticulture at the Lincoln BHU and wanted to get some real life experience by helping out in our garden and working on some permaculture projects. Together we collected materials and constructed a decent sized hugelkultur mound.March 15, 2015
Liz and Andy
We couldn't have hoped for a better first WWOOFing experience. It was great to learn about your farming approach, I'm encouraged to try more. Loved the cool fire bath too - a real novelty.Ireland & South AfricaJanuary 14, 2014
Our short stay on Blockhill Farm was the highlight of our NZ holiday. The place was wonderful. Our hosts were generous with their time, knowledge and produce. The food was delicious. The studio accommodation was beyond expectation. Very comfortable and beautiful. Thanks to Olmec and MelisaAustraliaJanuary 02, 2014
Inspiration for the future
We were delighted to host Chris and Sherry for 3 days at the end of their New Zealand adventure. Together we extended garden cover, pruned trees and processed branches into future raised planting beds and discussed the various approaches and techniques for fruit tree propagation.Our visit with you provided exactly the kind of inspiration we were hoping for as we wrap our heads around our own ideas for our future home. Blockhill is a special place and will stand out as a highlight of our travels this year.December 14, 2013
Hitch-hiking through
Ben and Anna spent a productive few days helping around the garden, pruning trees and processing firewood while finding plenty of time to relax and enjoy the food, coffee and comfort.Living out in the wee cabin was a perfectly peaceful and rustic experience. We will remember our time here with the utmost fondness.United StatesOctober 30, 2013
The in-depth experience
Soni & Kyle have the dubious privilege of being the first paying guests to stay with us. We shared an enjoyable two days discussing and exploring our permaculture inspired planting and water catchment systems as well as an introduction to scything.A special thanks for the food, super delicious... also very colourful, loved the use of herbs. May there always be enough water, sunshine and bees to compliment the labour and love you put into the land. Soni & KyleOctober 04, 2013
A day with the bees
Simply appreciate what you've done for us with warm heart. You and your wife are amazing people who live the nature. We have learnt a lot from you. Hope to see you again one day! With a bunch of thanks In Suk & 2 friendsOctober 01, 2013
The work-a-thon
Jules creating some 'dutch fireworks' with the angle grinder. Among (many) other things Jules helped trim back a section of the shed roof so we could install an improved rain catchment system.I have had such an amazing time here the past week! You are such a great young couple full of energy and ideas, which has made the experience loads of fun. -JulesApril 27, 2013
Basket weaving
Theo and Marie spent five hot summer days working with us and sharing their French recipes.February 03, 2013
Willi from Germany
Our second WWOOFer, Willi helped out on a large number of jobs despite the frequent rain. Besides all the digging there was tree cutting, rock work, concreting and construction.This is an amazing place for wwoofing. I love the view and the nice bush walks with Olmec. The food from Melisa is awesome! :) -WilliAugust 10, 2012WWOOF
It's WWOOFer time
We had our first WWOOFer, a lively young American, who was most helpful. During her stay she helped process a large amount of firewood, puttied the windows in the guest building, organised the workshop and quite a bit more.July 16, 2012
Keith came to stay with us in October and enjoyed sitting in the sunny garden. He also attended a friend's wedding an hour south of Blockhill and got to enjoy the pleasant back country roads of North Canterbury and the scenic Cheviot area.October 31, 2010
A fresh outlook
Jesse spent a weekend with us, escaping from the wind of Wellington. Our approach to life and a soak in the outside bath gave Jesse a new perspective on rural living.September 12, 2010
Of motorcycle and fiddle
Kerry stopped in on her way south, spent a couple of days enjoying the nice autumn weather and entertaining us with her fiddle before packing her motorcycle and continuing on.April 18, 2010VisitorFiddleMotorcycle
Tamara
Tamara visited us as a WWOOFer (Willing worker on organic farms) and spent several days helping out in the garden and cleaning bricks.February 23, 2010WWOOF
Steve
It's been a year since Steve stopped in and planted a tree to offset his flight home to New Zealand.
Returning to the new and improved Blockhill, Steve made use of the hammock and stretched his legs with a cycle ride. www.stevemarksphotography.comJanuary 06, 2010Stevevisitor
Emily
Emily came to stay between Christmas and New Year and was able to do a short day trip to the Hot Pools at Hanmer Springs. During her stay at Blockhill she explored down into the gullies of native bush and also got to enjoy the early season plums that had started to ripen in the orchard.December 30, 2009Emilyvisitor
Aaron and Eric from California
Aaron (right) and Eric (left) hung out on a hot and sunny southern hemisphere Christmas.December 25, 2009
Lisa and JoAn (California)
Friends of the family on holiday down under. Lisa and JoAn spent Kiwi Christmas with us.
Big thanks for the pepper mill!December 25, 2009
Bunny time
Having recently returned from a 'round the world' trip. Deschia decided to hang out with us and re-acclimatise.
Deschia is holding a baby rabbit that Gibson caught and was slowly playing to death.
Thanks for bringing us a hammock from Thailand!December 07, 2009Deschiarabbit
Cycling by
Elisabeth stopped in on the first leg of her ambitious cycle tour of New Zealand.November 15, 2009
Visiting nephews
Mason and Samuel enjoy the river and sandpit when they come to visit.masonSamual.mp3November 09, 2009
Your session will expire soon
Your session has been idle for some time and will expire shortly if no action is taken.
