All Hail the Hakataramea Valley
I am about to expose a secret place so dear to my heart and the hearts of my fellow community members. A place so isolated, climatically brutal at times, yet powered by the warmth and support of a group of people who, just like me, call the Hakataramea Valley home. This valley has so much to offer. Smooched between Dunedin, Wanaka, and Christchurch, it boasts mountain views on either side thanks to the Kirkliston Range and the Hunter Hills. It’s only a thirty-minute jaunt to some of the most amazing lakes New Zealand has to offer, and through winter, there’s ski slopes a plenty. A place where the pace is regulated, the community is tight-nit, and the response is always `yes, no worries’.
Historically the Hakataramea Valley was a rail terminus on the Waimate Branch railway back in 1881. Sixty kilometres west of Waimate, the valley is home to a small number of settlements and communities, with sheep farming the main industry. The Hakataramea is part of the South Canterbury high country and the Hakataramea River runs through the valley, meeting with the Waitaki River at Kurow. Established by primarily English settlers in the early 19th Century, a public school, community hall, post office, Catholic church, the Terminus Hotel, and a store were built in subsequent years. Nowadays Kurow is the servicing township to the valley, but that doesn’t stop a disproportionate amount of creative and outstandingly talented people thriving through business in the valley.
Hamish, my husband, grew up right in the valley and myself in Kurow. The sense of community and family bond as well as our love of farming keeps our roots firmly planted here. Our children get to grow up in a beautiful place, allowing them the freedom to learn and grow at their own pace. The remoteness encourages helping hands and a willingness to be involved in the surrounding community because you never know when you might need them. Our love of wool and farming, the ability to be a cog in a sustainable and biodiverse industry, and to feed and clothe our wider community all while creating a financially viable business is something we don’t take lightly, and we are immensely proud of our contribution. What can we say, we love the Haka and what it allows us to do!
With such a supportive community and so many attractions, it would be amiss to not mention a few. Come visit and bring your explorational vibe with you, as the Hakataramea Valley is on the verge of one of the largest geo-parks in the world. Stay at the beautiful Nest Tree Houses and enjoy exploring the vanished world in Duntroon. Experience the un-beaten tracks with Sole to Soul Hiking or take in a small part of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. After a huge morning, rest up at River-T Winery for a platter and wine with a view. And when the snow arrives, bring your gear for some club-field fun at Awakino Ski Field. If a slower pace sounds like you, learn about the district at the Kurow Museum and enjoy the atmosphere of the district.
Our valley breeds creativity like no other: Whistle and Pop and Nikki Ross Jewellery (online), Running Wolves Boutique and Hyde Boutique are not to be missed.
The Hakataramea Valley is really quite something; a place to enjoy a mountain walk, a river swim, or a delicious meal. A place where heart meets home, and everyone is welcome.
Come explore, we can’t wait to show you around!