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"You two are the best!" Rhode Island, U.S.A. |
Sam and Chris Ludbrook introduce you to the farm's 150 year history and to the special relationship created by the Ludbrook family to this land.
 Ludbrook House seen from the farm. |
 Late evening sunset looking east from Ludbrook House. |
Sam and Chris are proprietors of Ludbrook House, exclusive
accommodation and Ludbrook House Fine Foods, a gourmet food company.
At Ludbrook House the orchard supplies the bulk of the figs and limes that are turned into two of the 34 gourmet food products handmade in the on-site commercially registered kitchen.
The kitchen garden provides fresh vegetables and herbs for the table to complement your Ludbrook House dining experience.
Chris promotes Northland's semi tropical produce in two ways; her gourmet food business and Savouring the Sauce, a food and wine festival held yearly at the Bay of Islands Pastoral & Industrial Show.
Sam has retired from farming and helps manage Ludbrook House and the gourmet food business. He is still involved with the Bay of Islands P&I Show where he has run the dog trials for over 40 years.
The Farm, Tupe Tupe
In 1860 Samuel & Caroline Ludbrook, Sam's great-grandparents, purchased 1000acres of prime farm land from Henry Williams, Caroline's brother. The land is called Tupe Tupe, and extends across the important archeological area known as the Taiamai garden.
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"This has been a wonderful experience. It will stay in our memory for many years."
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Today, Tupe Tupe the farm, is a sheep and beef unit and managed by Roger
and Carol Ludbrook and their family. (Chris and Sam's son and
daughter-in-law.)
From the beginning in 1860 this site has nurtured six generations of
Ludbrooks. Ludbrook butter, we believe to be the first butter made commercially
in the Bay of Islands traveled by horse and bullock 30km to the market
at Paihia.
Roger travels to the Sunday morning Farmers Market
in Kerikeri to cook and sell his own recipe lean beef sausages with the
fabulous Ludbrook House quality condiments.
Roger & Carol Ludbrook. Henry & Alexandra.
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"I may not pass this way again but I will never forget my stay here."
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The land
Tupe Tupe lies across the Taiamai garden plain so formed from the volcanic eruptions of the mountains Pouerua, Maungatoroto and Te Ahuahu.Evidence of these eruptions is obvious in the outcrops of the rock strewn across the landscape and the light volcanic soil mingling with patches of clay and loam. Rising deep below the soil and rocks are many springs bringing pure artesian water to the surface to form clear streams, rapids and waterfalls along with ponds and marshes.
Today beef cattle and sheep graze the pastures. Currently there are 222 bulls, 130 steers, 140 breeding cows with calves at foot, 90 heifers and 30 weaner bulls.
 Across the farm to Maungatoroto Mountain. |
 Huge rocks form the stream to rapids. |
The History
It was this pristine and wonderful land that welcomed the Maori when they first migrated to New Zealand sometime around the 12th century. Visual evidence of sculptured pa sites remain on the top most ridges to today. Maori settlers moved from the coast to the inland country with the changing seasons. It could not have taken them long to discover the nutrient rich and well watered volcanic soils of the Taiamai plain where they established seasonal gardens, burning the virgin bush and foliage and clearing the rocks to establish and work many acres of gardens. Evidence of these gardens is still visible.In times of conflict they retreated to the pa sites they established on higher clay soils choosing ridges with natural attributes for creating defensive villages. These pa sites are easily seen and recognized today as sculptured land forms. Rua Hoanga Pa is within Tupe Tupe farm and is a fascinating example of the skill and ingenuity practiced by Maori in pre- European times.
Extracts from Letters and Journals of Samuel Marsden circa 1819 re Taiamai
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‘We rose early this morning (October 20th) and prepared for our journey to Taiamai’ (from Rangihoua, Bay of Islands).
‘In the district of Taiamai we passed through a very fine plain where the soils appeared very rich though stony and there where evident traces of a former large population.’ ‘The land produces the finest potatoes. The fern upon the cultivated land in some places is 12 feet high and the roots are good to eat.’ ‘Kiterra was very urgent for some Europeans to live in his district and promised he would give them some of the best land.’ ‘The village stands in a fertile spot, sheltered by lofty pines and watered by many beautiful small streams sufficient to turn a mill.’ |
The morning light exposes the terraces
on Rua Hoanga Pa on Tupe Tupe farm.
Luxury Lodge Bed and Breakfast Accommodation - Bay of Islands New Zealand
Ludbrook House Exclusive Accommodation
7491 State Highway One, Ohaeawai, Bay of Islands NZ 0211
Telephone 00649 4059 846 - Fax 00649 4059 845 - E-mail info@ludbrook.co.nz
copyright © Ludbrook House: All rights reserved.