Shenandoah Heritage Experience

OVERVIEW

Become acquainted with rural life at a historical working farm by exploring the grounds and hearing stories about the homestead’s past. Upon arriving at Shenandoah Farm, you will meet Simon, a passionate raconteur with a deep connection to this beautiful setting perched above the Pauatahanui Inlet. Besides showing you around, he will reveal how the land was once a fortified Māori village, a key battleground in the 19th-century New Zealand Wars and a U.S. Marine Corps training base during WWII. As the story unfolds, you will enjoy exclusive access to Simon’s private museum, which holds rare artifacts unearthed on the property over the past 150 years. It also contains a collection of vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles, all meticulously restored. You will also have the chance to meander through the formal gardens, interact with the farm animals and observe the birds that inhabit the surrounding reserve. A relaxing tea and snack will make the experience more enjoyable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore a working farm with a local Kiwi with a deep connection to the land.
• Learn about the land’s historical importance through the centuries.
• Browse a private museum with unusual artifacts found on the property.
• Stroll the farm’s formal gardens and observe the birds in the surrounding reserve.

HELPFUL HINTS

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