A Southland farmer-turned-tourism entrepreneur is now making a substantial investment into a new Te Anau farm tour operation and function venue, complete with sunflower and maize maze, and a new food and coffee trailer.

Fiordland Jet co-owner, Woodstone developer and entrepreneur Chris Adams plans a major new agritourism venture on the outskirts of Te Anau. Photo: Supplied

From November, tourists and locals will be able to stop by to enjoy petting and feeding friendly animals, or a full-on Kiwi sheep shearing and dog trial display in the fully restored historic woolshed on the 40.4ha (100-acre) farm, 6km from Te Anau.

Fiordland Jet co-owner and Woodstone developer Chris Adams says that while it’s largely an agritourism venture targeting overseas visitors, they’ve planted fields of sunflowers and maize to create a fun environment that will likely appeal to local families as well.

A wedding and event venue catering for up to 200 is being developed on the site, with a lavender field, 3400 tulips and a vineyard all creating the perfect atmosphere and photo backdrop.

“We’ve recently taken delivery of 20-year-old pinot noir vines from Cromwell,” Adams says.

While they’re open to an operator keen to re-open a rebrand of what was formerly The Joshwood Restaurant on the site, Woodstone Farm’s food truck will be serving up delicious Fiordland lobster rolls and homegrown Southland beef and lamb from Adams’ Brightview Farm in Wairio.

He met with a potential chef recently to discuss the future locally sourced food offerings and some unique menu ideas.

Woodstone Farm is located just minutes from Te Anau on SH96. Graphic: Supplied

Feedback has been extremely positive already with operators viewing this as an excellent, much needed additional toilet and refreshment-entertainment stop on the drive to Milford.

“People are often queueing with quite a wait in Te Anau to get to a toilet so we’re trying to enhance the experience, not only for coaches but independent travellers as well,” Adams says.

Bookings are already rolling in with Southern Discoveries committing to a daily Milford day trip combo product that will include a stop at Woodstone Farm.

“We’ve already got bookings for next year for Fiordland Jet jetboat-farm tour combos – a boat trip in the morning, then the animals and a farm-cooked meal and off to Queenstown,” Adams says.

“We’ve got a tour company representative flying over from the USA who’s looking to bring multiple groups of overseas students touring New Zealand as part of their series.”

Adams says Woodstone’s main focus is on the farm experience.

Woodstone Farm will offer visitors the opportunity to get up close with farm animals. Photo: Supplied

“It’s an opportunity to chat with a real Southland farmer, pat and feed friendly farm animals as well as see how a true working southern farm operates,” he says.

“We plan to open The Woolshed for tour groups in October and for the public by November with the Farm Shed wedding and function venue coming onstream as consents come through and the new structure is built.”

He says it’s a much-needed gap that needs filling in the local tourism market and has been developed in response to requests from overseas companies wanting to visit his own Southland Brightview Farm.

“I’d be overseas in the likes of China, the US, England and Australia marketing Fiordland Jet and they’d say, ‘We want to come to your farm’, so I saw an opening.”

He bought the Woodstone property in March this year.

“It’s the perfect location with roughly one million tourists going passing the gate each year to Milford both ways,” Adams says.

No New Zealand farm experience would be complete without watching a sheep being shorn. Photo: Supplied

“There aren’t many places doing agritourism and it’s the big new buzz. I enjoy farming and tourism so combining the two is the ultimate for me,” he says.

His third venture - Brightview Farm Luxury Stays and Tours – at his home on the 3500-acre Wairio dairy farm – has been developed into a high-end, whole-house private farm stay venture for the well-heeled, who are “seeking tranquil, rural Kiwi settings”.

Complete with a spa, all-inclusive bar and stunning views of surrounding farmland and the Takitimu Mountains, sleeping up to 10, Adams has only just begun formally marketing that venture but is confident judging by the response from the market so far.

“There’s a desire among overseas people to experience real, rural New Zealand.”

Woodstone Farm is now looking for semi-retired farmers, shearers and others to join the new team and run daily operations.

Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.