26 August 2026 - 11 minute read time
The South Island has some of the most spectacular farming country in the world. Tussock-covered high country stations in Central Otago. Braided river sheep farms in the Canterbury foothills. Coastal beef farms on Banks Peninsula where the Pacific stretches to the horizon. And generations of farming families who have poured their lives into these extraordinary pieces of land.
Staying on a working South Island farm is something genuinely different. The scale is bigger, the skies are wider, and the sense of being properly out in it, really out in New Zealand's famous countryside, is unlike anything a city or a tourist town can offer.
For our full North Island farm stay collection, visit our guide to the 10 best farm stays on New Zealand's North Island.
1. Lavericks Bay Retreat: Banks Peninsula, Canterbury
Why it's special: Seven generations of the same family have farmed this 1,000-hectare coastal station since the 1850s. Staying here is a connection to New Zealand farming history as much as it is to the land itself.
Perched high above the turquoise waters of Lavericks Bay on Banks Peninsula, Lavericks Bay Retreat sits on a 1,000-hectare sheep and beef farm that has been in the same family since the 1850s. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor bubble bath on the deck overlooking the Pacific, and complete coastal seclusion make this one of the most remarkable farm stay experiences in the South Island.
The farm's deep history is woven into everything here, and hosts Harriet and Lloyd are proud to share their piece of Kiwi paradise with guests. Akaroa is just 35 minutes away for a celebratory dinner.
Adults only | From NZ$540/pn | Sleeps 2 | 35 mins from Akaroa, just under 2hrs from Christchurch
2. Alpine Bluffs: Methven, Canterbury
Why it's special: A multi-generational high country sheep and beef station with NZ falcons and paradise ducks as regular visitors, and alpine river and mountain scenery that reminds you why Canterbury farming country is so extraordinary.
Perched on an elevated ridge overlooking the Rakaia River on the same high country station as neighbouring escape Braided Point, Alpine Bluffs is a beautifully designed farm stay with sweeping views across to the snow-capped Craigieburn Range. Two connected pods sit on a beautiful timber deck, with a wood-fired hot tub perfectly positioned to soak up the alpine landscape.
New Zealand falcons, fantails, and paradise ducks are regular visitors, and Mt Hutt is just 30 minutes away for ski days in winter. Children aged 4 and over are welcome.
Children aged 4+ welcome | From NZ$375/pn | Sleeps 6 | 30 mins from Mt Hutt, 1.5hrs from Christchurch
3. Foxdown Hut: North Canterbury
Why it's special: Host Andy's guided farm tours and classic car vineyard lunches offer a genuine and memorable window into life on a 1,400-hectare North Canterbury station, and rare New Zealand falcons visit the property regularly.
At 84 square metres, Foxdown Hut is one of the most generously proportioned and beautifully appointed farm stays in our collection. Set on a 1,400-hectare sheep and beef farm in North Canterbury, views of rolling farmland and the distant Inland Kaikouras stretch from every window.
Host Andy is also a qualified wedding celebrant, making Foxdown one of the most quietly brilliant elopement destinations in the South Island. As one guest put it: "Wonderful place. Best spot we stayed in NZ."
Adults only | From NZ$390/pn | Sleeps 2 | 35 mins from Amberley, 1hr 20 mins from Christchurch
4. Tawanui Farm A-Frame Cabin: Cheviot, North Canterbury
View Tawanui Farm A-Frame Cabin →
Why it's special: ATV farm tours with the Loughnan family give guests a genuine behind-the-scenes look at daily life on a 450-hectare sheep, beef and deer station in the Hurunui River Valley.
Set within the picturesque Hurunui River Valley on a 450-hectare sheep, beef and deer farm between Kaikoura and Christchurch, the Tawanui Farm A-Frame Cabin is a beautifully designed retreat with skylights positioned directly above the mezzanine bedroom for stargazing. An outdoor gas-fired hot tub, a gas fireplace, and sweeping views of the Inland Kaikoura Ranges complete the picture.
Hosts the Loughnan family offer ATV farm tours as well as Energy Jet Hurunui River experiences for those after a bit more adventure. One of the most genuinely hands-on farm stay experiences in Canterbury.
Adults only | From NZ$395/pn | Sleeps 2 | 1.5hrs from Christchurch, 15 mins from Cheviot
5. Rocky Ridge Hut: Dunback, Otago
Why it's special: Wild falcons hunting overhead, sea fog rolling through the valley below, and the dramatic ever-changing light of the Otago landscape across a working sheep and beef farm that feels completely alive.
Set high on a hill on a sheep and beef farm in East Otago, Rocky Ridge Hut is one of the most quietly spectacular farm stays in our collection. The ever-changing Otago light plays across the Kakanui Ranges, sea fog rolls into the valley below in winter, and harrier hawks and the rare New Zealand falcon hunt overhead.
A hot tub on the deck, a telescope for stargazing on clear nights, and dogs welcome complete the picture. The Moeraki Boulders are just 30 minutes away for a morning walk.
Dogs welcome | Adults only | From NZ$320/pn | Sleeps 2 | 1hr from Dunedin, 30 mins from Moeraki Boulders
6. Hawks Nest: Oxford, Canterbury
Why it's special: Wild deer spotted from the kitchen window, hawks circling the gully below, and binoculars provided so guests can take in the full wildlife spectacle across the Canterbury foothills. The farm's wildlife makes every morning here feel like something worth waking up for.
Named after the hawks that frequently circle the gully below, Hawks Nest is a beautifully appointed hut in the foothills of the Alps near Oxford. Hosts Chris and Lisa have farmed here since 2018, and the property offers that particular magic of the Canterbury foothills. Wild deer can be spotted grazing from the kitchen window, binoculars are provided for taking in the full wildlife spectacle across the farm, and guests are welcome to explore the property and take in the fresh air.
Children and horses are welcome, and the Oxford Pie Shop is just 15 minutes away for a post-farm-walk treat.
Children and horses welcome | From NZ$290/pn | Sleeps 2 | 15 mins from Oxford, 1hr from Christchurch
7. Tussock Ridge: Pyramid Valley, North Canterbury
Why it's special: Nearly 30 years of the Matthews family farming this North Canterbury land, with deer and cattle grazing in the paddocks below and the Southern Alps on the horizon. A farm stay with real roots.
Two beautifully simple pods sit on a deck on the Matthews family farm in Pyramid Valley, facing out to breathtaking views of rolling farmland, a limestone escarpment to the east, and the often snow-capped Southern Alps to the west. The Matthews family has farmed this land for nearly 30 years, and that deep generational connection to the land is felt throughout the experience.
Deer and cattle can sometimes be spotted grazing in the paddocks below, and an outdoor bath provides yet another vantage point on the view.
Adults only | From NZ$295/pn | Sleeps 2 | 30 mins from Amberley, 1hr from Christchurch
8. Hill Block Hut: Waipara, North Canterbury
Why it's special: A multi-generational family farm in the Waipara Gorge with a Rayburn coal range at its heart, panoramic views to the Pacific Ocean, and one of the very few South Island escapes that welcomes horses.
Perched on the northeast side of Mount Grey on the historic Stormont farm in the Waipara Gorge Area, Hill Block Hut has been in the same family for generations. Three bedrooms, a Rayburn coal range for proper country cooking, panoramic views across to the Pacific Ocean, and a wood-fired hot tub in the garden make this one of the most atmospheric farm stays in Canterbury.
Horses are welcome here, a genuinely rare find in our collection, and the Waipara wine region and Waipara Gorge fossil hunt are both minutes away.
Children and horses welcome | From NZ$450/pn | Sleeps 5 | 15 mins from Amberley, 50 mins from Christchurch
9. Paddy's Pod: Methven, Canterbury
Why it's special: Guests can arrange to watch the cows being milked during their stay on this 48-year family dairy farm, one of the most authentic and hands-on farm stay experiences in Canterbury.
Named after the Irish heritage of host Heather, whose parents immigrated from Ireland over 50 years ago and purchased the farm 48 years ago, Paddy's Pod is one of the most authentically rooted farm stays in Canterbury. Heather grew up on this dairy farm, returned 16 years ago with partner Allan, and has spent those years living out her childhood dream of running the property.
For the ultimate farm stay experience, guests can arrange to watch the cows being milked on the day of their stay, a genuine insight into daily dairy farming life that few escapes anywhere in New Zealand can offer. Mt Hutt is just 30 minutes away.
Adults only | From NZ$280/pn | Sleeps 2 | 30 mins from Ashburton, 1hr 20 mins from Christchurch
10. St Bathans Views: Ōmakau, Central Otago
Why it's special: Tussock-covered high country farmland, a crystal-clear creek for swimming, and hosts who have spent a decade falling in love with this dramatic corner of Central Otago and want to share it with others.
Three weathered corrugated iron huts nestled into golden tussock-covered hills in Central Otago, with panoramic views of Mt St Bathans and Dunstan Peak in every direction. Hosts Stacey and Paul have farmed this corner of Central Otago for nearly a decade, and their passion for the land, the history, and the slow pace of life here comes through in everything they've created.
Children and dogs are both welcome, a crystal-clear creek runs through the property for swimming, and the historic gold rush township of St Bathans is just minutes away.
Children and dogs welcome | From NZ$280/pn | Sleeps 2 per hut | 2hrs from Queenstown, 2hrs from Dunedin
What Makes a Great South Island Farm Stay?
The South Island's farming properties tend to be larger, more remote, and more dramatic in their setting than their North Island counterparts. Many have been in the same family for multiple generations, which means the connection to the land runs deep and guests feel it.
The best South Island farm stays give you a genuine window into how New Zealand's most famous rural landscapes are actually lived in and worked. Whether that's watching the morning milking on a Canterbury dairy farm, joining an ATV tour across a Hurunui high country station, or simply soaking in a hot tub as NZ falcons hunt overhead, these are experiences that stay with you.
Things to Do Near These Escapes
Canterbury and Methven: Mt Hutt ski field, Rakaia Gorge, Hanmer Springs thermal pools, the Waipara wine region, and Christchurch city.
Banks Peninsula: Akaroa village, dolphin and nature cruises, Pohatu Penguin Reserve, kayaking, and the Banks Peninsula Track.
Kaikoura and North Canterbury: Whale watching, swimming with dolphins, the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, and seal colonies.
Central Otago: The historic township of St Bathans, the Vulcan Hotel, the Central Otago Rail Trail, Cromwell, and Queenstown.
East Otago: Moeraki Boulders, Oamaru's Victorian precinct and penguin colony, and the Dunedin Railway Station.
FAQs About Farm Stays on New Zealand's South Island
Which South Island farm stays welcome dogs?
Rocky Ridge Hut in Otago and St Bathans Views in Central Otago both welcome dogs on working farms.
Which South Island farm stays welcome children?
Hill Block Hut in Waipara welcomes children and horses. St Bathans Views in Central Otago welcomes children and dogs. Hawks Nest near Oxford and Alpine Bluffs near Methven also welcome children.
Which South Island farm stays welcome horses?
Hill Block Hut in the Waipara Gorge area of North Canterbury and Hawks Nest near Oxford are two of the very few escapes in New Zealand that welcome horses.
Where can I find more farm stays across New Zealand?
Browse the full Canopy Camping Escapes collection — the majority of our 230+ escapes are set on working farms or rural properties across Aotearoa. See also our guide to the best farm stays on New Zealand's North Island.
About Canopy Camping Escapes
Canopy Camping Escapes is a New Zealand-owned collection of 230+ handpicked nature-based accommodation properties across Aotearoa, from the top of the North Island to the far South. Every property is chosen for its beauty, its character, and the quality of the host behind it.
Whether you're searching for a farm stay on the South Island, dog friendly farm accommodation Canterbury, family farm stays South Island, or a nature escape that puts you properly on the land, we've got a spot for you.
