Business Rural North Autumn 2021

| 13 RURAL PEOPLE » Ranui Farm Park Farm lays out welcome mat for schools Kim Newth I s it the giant water slide, the flying fox, the miles of trails and tracks or opportunities to see sheep shearing in the shed that schoolchildren and families love the most about Ranui Farm Park? Fun is always on the menu at this family run working 400-hectare sheep and beef farm in Central Hawke’s Bay, which first started opening to the public in 2007. Many recreational activities have since been developed to transform the farm into a magnet for outdoor adventurers of all ages. Farm manager Trevor Ennor says the project evolved pretty naturally from the original seed of an idea. “It grew in part out of my mother’s love for families and children – she started a local childcare centre in Waipukurau30 years ago – and also out of a shared passion in our family for mountain biking and running. We started marking out a few courses and inviting friends over to give it a go. They were so positive and that’s what encouraged us to take the next step, plus it gave us a nice opportunity to diversify.” From October to May, they began offering ‘Sun- day Fundays’ along with track days on weekends for people wanting to explore the farm’s scenic trails. Over the years, the original farm tracks have been joined by an extensive network of hand cut trails through paddocks, pine forest, and stands of eucalypt and kanuka. “We’re now starting to morph towards something a little different again: we trialled school camps for the first time in 2019 for primary and intermediate age schoolchildren. It went really well and these Trevor’s bother Russell, a trained physical educa- tion teacher, now manages the farm park and visits schools to let them know what’s on offer. While some children like to sleep in tents, two 40-foot containers are also available as bunk ac- commodation. Another 20 foot container was added a few years ago to provide additional showers, toilets and a washdown station for mountain bikes. School groups pick what they want to do. Many children from the region’s urban centres enjoy being shown around the woolshed, having rides on the farm’s 6-seater buggy, or netting for eels in the farm dam. “Others like to try a learner version of orienteer- ing or take to the trails. They bring their own bikes and we also have hire bikes. One of the big hits here, weather permitting, is our 70-metre downhill water slide and our 80-metre flying fox. We also offer archery and paintball targets and a golf chal- lenge. All our activities are well-supervised. Sack rides down the hill are really popular too – the kids love it.” As well, the farm has a playground – equipped for volleyball, basketball or badminton – and an old style barn for indoor activities. Trevor says his father Rob, 83, helped his parents Rae and Jean to break in the farm in the 1940s and ‘50s. Rob and his wife Jean still live on the land and remain actively involved. “We all love seeing the kids out on the farm, challenging themselves and trying things they would never normally do.” STEVENS ON &TAYLO R LTD info@sntltd.co.nz 2294 Takapau Road, Waipukurau, Hawke’s Bay stevensonandtay lor.co.nz STEVENSON & TAYLOR LTD 2294 T akapau Road ,Waipukurau. www.stevensonandtaylor.co.nz PH: (06) 858 6041 • E : info@sntltd.co.nz Proud to support Ranui Farm For over half a century, Hatuma has proven that productivity and the environment can co-exist. Now with organic certi ed products, let’s talk sustainable fertiliser for your autumn and spring requirements. Servicing Hawke's Bay with locations in Waipukurau and Hastings 068588983 & 068783289 Farm Materials • Building Materials Electrics • Stock Feed • Water Tanks Culverts • Hardware Proud to support Ranui Farm We now stock Rural Direct products ~ more than just fencing ~ Phone Ross 06 374 8193 or email ross@turtons.co.nz camps are now starting to be a real focus for us.” For the last term of 2020, Ranui was fully booked by schools for day trips and three-day camps and the first term of 2021 is booked out too. PHOTOS: Ranui Farm Park’s Russell and Trevor Ennor with parents Rob and Jean. School camps are now a focus for the working sheep and beef farm.