More than 50 varieties of lavender plants
Born in the Netherlands, Corry and Jan Zeestraten have taken with them their spirit of sustainable development, their agricultural know-how and knowledge of lavender growing which they put into practice since 5 years on their 5-hectare farm with more than 50 varieties of lavender plants in Kaikoura. It is important to note that the lavender fields are weeded mechanically and manually. The couple themselves extract essential oil from the flowering tips and keep the floral water after distillation in the most traditional way. The essential oils from different varieties of lavender are guaranteed 100% pure and natural. Creams, lotions, oils and perfumed waters are produced by Corry, who can thus enhance the active ingredients of lavender, whose properties have been recognised since ancient times.
Ian and Corry conduct visits of the farm and gardens for a better understanding of the different facets of the various aspects of lavender farming, especially the distillation of lavender and rosemary, a process leading to the production of 100% pure essential oils. Visitors can directly ask for information at the point of sale about the various possible uses of essential oils. In addition to lavender cultivation, the couple rears a flock of sheep, which are peaceful ruminant neighbours.
Guest rooms in bucolic landscape
The Mahoe & Kowhai guest rooms are simple and comfortable for a totally independent stay on your own, as a couple or with the family only 5 minutes away from the city centre. Each unit has a bedroom and a small balcony with scents of jasmine where you will wake up to the singing of birds in the morning. Each room has its own en suite bathroom and a kitchen with all necessary utensils. The ultimate luxury is that the Mahoe even has an outdoor bathtub allowing you to enjoy a bath under the stars and the foliage of fruit trees with an optional flower petal and champagne package. Every morning, Corry delivers homemade organic breakfasts to your room for healthy and multivitamin meal after getting up. Guests can enjoy a picnic, relax at leisure or play with their children in the private gardens. Private parking is also provided.
Special mention for organic breakfast with muesli and homemade organic breads, free-range eggs, organic honey, coffee and tea and jams made with fruits from the garden. Guests are encouraged to use the herbs, fruits and vegetables from the garden for their personal consumption. The tireless Corry produces her own lavender tea as well as the shampoos, creams and soaps made available in guest bathrooms.
The couple bought the farm in 2007 and even if the guest rooms were not built in an ecological manner, local wood was used for the renovation of the stairs and furniture. Waste sorting is strictly performed and the waste collected is sent to ultramodern sorting centre of Kaikoura. Compost, of course, allows the recovery of all natural waste while wastewater is reused for watering the gardens after natural filtering through successive basins.
