Tussock Ridge Farm Tours
Tussock Ridge Farm Tours
Tussock Ridge Farm Tours
5
Cultural Tours4WD, ATV & Off-Road ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view
About
Experience the unique beauty of rural New Zealand with Tussock Ridge Farm Tours located 20 minutes from Wellington city. Enjoy an unforgettable 3 1/2 hour 4WD journey across 3 privately-owned farms in Ohariu Valley, with over 6000 sheep, 400 cattle, 100 horses and 26 turbines part of our wind farm. Morning tea is served at our shepherd's cabin with stunning views of the Cook Strait & south island.
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Tussock Ridge Farm Tours
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5.0
62 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
0
Average
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Poor
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Terrible
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Kristen H
8 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Amazing afternoon seeing lots of animals up close but also learning about the economics of ranching in New Zealand. Views across Cook Straight to the South Island are unbelievable. The ride out to the cabin is full of amazing scenery with huge hills, pastures, and blue sky. A true experience! Highly recommend this for all ages.
Written 4 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marga... R
Washington DC, DC46 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
Our farm tour was a birthday gift from my daughter for her Godmother and me, and, honestly, we didn’t know what to expect. A farm tour? However, it was a fun, interesting, relaxing, educational, all around amazing experience.
Imagine some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world, now throw in more sheep than one could possibly count. Then, add some sheep who for various reasons were hand raised, including the fabulous Mr Bumpy, with whom you may interact. On top to that, there are horses, eels in a creek, and Ward, who will completely and patiently answer all your questions. Did I mention the fabulous muffins his wife Alex made for our tea break?
This is a working, family farm surprisingly close to Wellington. It is a refreshing and enjoyable half-day. We were skeptical but let me say, if Ward and Alex charged people taking the tour by the number of times they said “Wow!”, well, they’d be zillionaires.
Imagine some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world, now throw in more sheep than one could possibly count. Then, add some sheep who for various reasons were hand raised, including the fabulous Mr Bumpy, with whom you may interact. On top to that, there are horses, eels in a creek, and Ward, who will completely and patiently answer all your questions. Did I mention the fabulous muffins his wife Alex made for our tea break?
This is a working, family farm surprisingly close to Wellington. It is a refreshing and enjoyable half-day. We were skeptical but let me say, if Ward and Alex charged people taking the tour by the number of times they said “Wow!”, well, they’d be zillionaires.
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
twentyfourpostcards
Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
Feb 2017 • Family
It was so peaceful and tranquil to be the only people on 830 hectares of vast, open farm land. The wild horses were absolutely majestic and it was amazing to see them run toward us from behind the hills. All the animals roam freely so it was a really natural and special experience. During the ride, sheep would appear on the road in front of us and scoot up the hills when our car went by.
This is a highly personal(I like the exclusivity)tour when it's like spending a few hours with a friend who's showing us his work routine and favourite hangouts(We even got to play with his sheep dogs! )The view was breath-taking and we learned a lot about tending a farm and how the wind turbines work to power the whole of Wellington. We even got to see both a working turbine and a turbine's part up-close.
Ward built a beautiful cabin(See picture attached)by himself and we got to rest there while eating delicious, warm home-made scones that his wife just baked. From the cabin, there is a beautiful ocean view and there were absolutely no one else but us around.
I've been to quite a few farm tours prior to this but this was the best.
This is a highly personal(I like the exclusivity)tour when it's like spending a few hours with a friend who's showing us his work routine and favourite hangouts(We even got to play with his sheep dogs! )The view was breath-taking and we learned a lot about tending a farm and how the wind turbines work to power the whole of Wellington. We even got to see both a working turbine and a turbine's part up-close.
Ward built a beautiful cabin(See picture attached)by himself and we got to rest there while eating delicious, warm home-made scones that his wife just baked. From the cabin, there is a beautiful ocean view and there were absolutely no one else but us around.
I've been to quite a few farm tours prior to this but this was the best.
Written 4 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
We are so glad that you had such a wonderful tour...always our goal! Thanks for taking the time to write this amazing review for us, it's much appreciated.
You were a wonderful family to have met and we hope to see you again soon if you travel back to Wellington.
All the best for the rest of your world travels with your beautiful young family.
Ward & Alex
Written 7 February 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dina D
2 contributions
Sept 2019 • Friends
Our host, Ward is very knowledgeable and friendly. We ate delicious muffins prepared by his wife, took in the breath-taking views of the cliff and best of all get to meet Mr Bumpy! A really lovely experience, 5-stars all the way and highly recommended!
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChasToronto
Toronto35 contributions
Feb 2020
A unique New Zealand experience. Feed eels, wild horses, sheep and pet sheep, visit wind turbines up close, see herding dogs and learn all you can possibly think about the life of NZ farming. Host Ward is gracious and proud, and well he should be. And don't forget to try his wife's blueberry muffins.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Standu
Manitowaning, Canada30 contributions
Visit a real family on their (beautiful) real farm as you slip into the magnificent countryside just outside Wellington. Our host graciously scooped us up from the train station (could have been our cruise ship or hotel) and we were quickly meeting his delightful family, his friendly, curious dogs and picking up treats to be enjoyed later. This is a large farm with lush terrain from hilltops to the ocean so there is lots to see and photograph as you get your bearings. Wind farm towers, Cook Strait, sheep, cattle and horses surround you, but once you meet “Mr Bumpy” you will get a crash course on sheep, or rather sheep who think they are playful puppies. Mr Bumpy or any member of his gang are the perfect introduction to the world of animals with personalities. (Mr Bumpy has his own FaceBook page so look him up. Lula is prettier but a bit shyer — I can’t believe I’m describing a sheep as prettier, but this is New Zealand!) Feed these performers some arrowroot cookies and they are your friends for life. When you take your break for tea, fresh, home baked muffins, crackers and cheese at the cliff top cabin, your new arrowroot friends will probably insist on coming inside with you to check it out but they are less than graceful around furniture and best pushed back outside if you want to sit and relax with your treats. They will, however, keep an eye on you until you come back outside and one may just dance on the picnic table for your attention.
From the clifftop you can see the South Island across the strait and if you are lucky will experience the full Windy Wellington treatment. We were surprised we didn’t see any sheep or cows aloft! Bouncing along past 4-legged Angus beef who eyed us without fail and trusted us not in the least we made more feeding stops with the wild horses who liked us much more once they saw we care with carrots.
This is what a farm tour or visit should be. Suitable for anyone who has an interest in and love for nature and animals. Up close and personal it is the perfect way to step away from the city and the plastic.
Almost forgot, but one more stop was to feed the eels. If you, like me, always think of the Great Lake Lamprey-type (really ugly) eels you will be pleasantly surprised by these magnificent and graceful swimmers if you can coax them out into the stream. Don’t miss them.
Highly recommended. You won’t want to leave the farm!
From the clifftop you can see the South Island across the strait and if you are lucky will experience the full Windy Wellington treatment. We were surprised we didn’t see any sheep or cows aloft! Bouncing along past 4-legged Angus beef who eyed us without fail and trusted us not in the least we made more feeding stops with the wild horses who liked us much more once they saw we care with carrots.
This is what a farm tour or visit should be. Suitable for anyone who has an interest in and love for nature and animals. Up close and personal it is the perfect way to step away from the city and the plastic.
Almost forgot, but one more stop was to feed the eels. If you, like me, always think of the Great Lake Lamprey-type (really ugly) eels you will be pleasantly surprised by these magnificent and graceful swimmers if you can coax them out into the stream. Don’t miss them.
Highly recommended. You won’t want to leave the farm!
Written 13 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry for the late reply, your review is absolutely amazing. Hopefully you experienced what it is like to live and work on a New Zealand farm.
Our pet sheep are a definite highlight of the tour as are the wind turbines when on the day you were on the tour the blade tip speed was about 140kmh.
Thanks again.
Best regards
Ward
Written 22 December 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cruise4two
Sydney, Australia35 contributions
My husband and I (who are Americans living in Sydney) and our friends from Florida who came to visit us and go on a cruise, took this tour together after I had read the reviews on TripAdvisor. The four of us met over 25 years ago working in the travel industry, and needless to say we have been on many tours in many cities across the world together.
Our day with Ward, the owner of Tussock Ridge Farm, will go down as one of the most memorable tours we’ve ever done.
I won’t go into all the details, but we got to feed wild rescue horses, see innumerable sheep, learn about and get up close to the wind farm on the property— which was incredible, and hang out with Mr. Bumpy, the sheep who thinks he’s a dog.
The level of commitment and hard work it takes to have a farm like this was evident, and the way Ward interacted with the animals was pure love.
Today, as we toured wineries in Marlborough, we reminisced about yesterday’s tour of Tussock Ridge and all agreed we will be talking about our day there for years to come! Thank you Ward!
Our day with Ward, the owner of Tussock Ridge Farm, will go down as one of the most memorable tours we’ve ever done.
I won’t go into all the details, but we got to feed wild rescue horses, see innumerable sheep, learn about and get up close to the wind farm on the property— which was incredible, and hang out with Mr. Bumpy, the sheep who thinks he’s a dog.
The level of commitment and hard work it takes to have a farm like this was evident, and the way Ward interacted with the animals was pure love.
Today, as we toured wineries in Marlborough, we reminisced about yesterday’s tour of Tussock Ridge and all agreed we will be talking about our day there for years to come! Thank you Ward!
Written 26 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Laura,
My wife and I were reading your review and felt very emotional. Your kind words make all the hard work worthwhile. Your review is very humbling. We are blessed to be able to live here and to meet people from all over the world and show them the amazing landscape and the animals that live here.
Best Regards
Ward and Alexandra Kellahan
Tussock Ridge Farm
Written 31 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mgeorge79
Queenstown, New Zealand8 contributions
This tour was wonderful! Mr. Kellahan has a beautiful place filled with sheep, cattle and horses! He was full of information and lovely to speak to along with the other tourists. The timing of my tour was just after the lambs were born so we were able to see the babies along side their mothers. Feeding the few wild horses that came to us was spectacular. Visiting the cabin with its amazing views and having afternoon tea and muffins is something I will not forget. Of course Mr. Bumpy is someone not to be forgotten and he will definitely leave an impression on you. Was also able to meet Mr. Kellahan’s lovely family and have tea with them. Thank you Mr. Kellahan for a memorable tour!
Written 9 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Marylyn,
Was great to meet you and glad you had a great time visiting Wellington and our farm. Mr Bumpy definately isn't your average sheep. Being raised from a lamb with our Labrador "Jasper" he thinks he is a dog. He is one of the many highlights on our tour.
Thank you for your kind words.
Best Regards
Ward
Written 1 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LAGBP
Los Angeles, CA61 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
I just returned from this tour and could not get on TripAdvisor fast enough. This was the highlight of a ten day vacation to New Zealand. We started the day meeting Ward who is a kind and wonderful person. His main goal is to show you a good time and let you know what farm life is like in Wellington. He is a hard working great person and it was an honor to spend the day with him. His wife made us fresh muffins and we toured his land for the day. The scenes were right out of a book. The property is absolutely beautiful and perhaps the most beautiful I have ever see. In my life. We met his pet sheep who just wanted to be pet and fed wild horses and even eels. The whole time we got to hear about farm life and really felt like we got a great rare and unique experience. It was like going to a friends house and getting to hang out for the day. Ward made it wonderful for me and my 14 year old son. If you are looking at this experience I assure you we have done tours all over the world and there is nothing like this. I would call immediately to book and not worry. Just lol forward to one of the best times you will have in your life.
Written 3 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When we get reviews like this it makes my wife and I feel so proud to have shown visitors our farm and how we live. Getting to feed wild NZ horses and native NZ eels is definately a highlight as is meeting our pet sheep Mr Bumpy who now has his own facebook page.
We really appreciate your comprehensive review.
Best regards
Ward and Alexandra
Written 1 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew B
35 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
A wonderful family experience for everyone !
We were picked up (2 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) at our hotel. Stopped to feed the eels, took in the countless sheep, wild horses and had a superb lunch experience overlooking the edge of the South Island.
We also got up close to the wind turbines and if you like engineering, you will find fascinating.
Can't thank our host enough for giving us the opportunity to experience real New Zealand farm life.
As this is a private farm, it's not a normal opportunity for everyone to visit, so highly recommended for you and your family. Ideal for all ages !
We were picked up (2 adults, 1 child, 1 infant) at our hotel. Stopped to feed the eels, took in the countless sheep, wild horses and had a superb lunch experience overlooking the edge of the South Island.
We also got up close to the wind turbines and if you like engineering, you will find fascinating.
Can't thank our host enough for giving us the opportunity to experience real New Zealand farm life.
As this is a private farm, it's not a normal opportunity for everyone to visit, so highly recommended for you and your family. Ideal for all ages !
Written 30 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for taking the time to write this great review for us. We are so glad that you managed to come out on the tour with your young family and experience a real slice of a NZ farm. Hope to see you again in the future.
Ward
Written 7 February 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.