Paua Pearl Farm

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an exclusive insider’s tour of a farm that grows rare paua blue pearls for exquisite jewelry that is available at the homestead. To reach the farm, you will cruise cross Queen Charlotte Sound and on through Whekenui Bay, where you will disembark on Arapawa Island, a former whaling hub. Today, the Radon family cultivates lustrous blue pearls there in special tanks that they invented to re-create an aquatic environment that mirrors a natural habitat. While following some of the family members around the property, you will see firsthand how the blue pearls are sustainably produced, harvested, and graded for quality. You will also learn unusual facts such as how the color of the pearl is affected by how the paua – a species of abalone – is fed and where the seeding insert is placed. Later, you can see the blue pearls set in exquisite earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and other jewelry.

HIGHLIGHTS

•See how rare paua blue pearls are raised and harvested in tanks on Arapawa Island.
• Meet the owners for an insider’s look at their innovative farming process.
• Browse a collection of jewelry that features the lustrous blue paua pearls.
• Admire the gorgeous coastal scenery while cruising a catamaran to and from the island.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. • Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.