A Place Worth Protecting

Tucked within the wider Waitomo landscape, our 13 hectare property is part of the Mangapū cave system and Mangapū Gorge — part of a nationally rare karst ecosystem shaped over millions of years.

Our family has been connected to this land for over four generations. Over time, we’ve come to understand just how unique — and how fragile — this place really is.

Beneath the surface, water moves through caves, sinkholes, and underground streams.

Above ground, native forest, wildlife, and waterways are all closely connected to what happens below.

It’s a fragile system, and one we feel incredibly lucky — and responsible — to be part of.

How It All Began

Small Beginnings, Long-term Vision

We’re not conservation experts.

We’re a family who lives here — and over time, we began to understand just how special (and vulnerable) this place is.

Like much of New Zealand, parts of the land had been cleared for farming. Native vegetation was reduced, waterways were exposed, and pest species were impacting wildlife.

So we started small — planting trees, protecting vulnerable areas from livestock, and learning as we went.

As we began sharing this place with visitors, our tours became a way to support the work — helping fund planting, pest control, and the ongoing care needed to restore the land.

Our goal is to restore all 13 hectares to native forest over the next ten years.

How Far We’ve come

Built Together, Step by Step

What started small has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of.

Over time, and with continued support, we’ve been able to expand our efforts across the property — restoring, protecting, and reconnecting different parts of the landscape.

So far, we’ve planted over 8,000 native trees, established ongoing pest control through a network of traps, bait stations, and monitoring, and extended fencing to protect waterways and other sensitive areas from stock — helping create the conditions for natural regeneration to take hold.

This work has been made possible with the support of partners, volunteers, and visitors who’ve all played a part along the way.

We’re especially grateful for the support of the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato River Authority, whose partnership is helping reduce soil erosion and improve water quality flowing into the wider Waikato River system.

We’re already seeing signs of recovery — healthier vegetation, more birdlife, and native species beginning to return.

This is long-term work, done step by step.
Each stage builds on the last — strengthening habitat, improving resilience, and reconnecting the landscape over time.

There’s still more to do, as we work toward restoring the entire property back to native forest.