Tui Glen Farm

View the German Language version here

On Thursday we went out to Tui Glen Farm, a Horse Trekking business that also offers farm experience and Dirt Kart rides. ....




It’s 30 minutes drive inland from Whakatane, just out of a small town called Kawerau. The farm is gorgeous, surrounded by forest and pastures, and the terrain is hilly with a river running through it, which the horses enjoy.

The owner of the farm, Pauline, has been running the business since 1985 and has everything very well set up. There are fenced areas for training riders, a small obstacle area for jumping, extensive stables, and of course, a huge wilderness area for horse trekking.
We watched and took photos as Pauline and her staff prepared some kids who were camping at her farm for riding. Many of the kids were inexperienced riders, but there was no anxiety at all as the horses were all incredibly calm, and there were a lot of staff to help the kids mount the horses. Some of the kids chose to go dirt-karting, while those who were riding horses also had a variety of activities. Some had jumping lessons, some had basic riding lessons, while the larger group went trekking.

Pauline commented that customers who have visited from Germany in the past have been amazed at how free and easy the riding and trekking experience is at Tui Glen. It seems that many people who come from Germany haven’t had the chance to ride in such a wild environment before, or seen such a relaxed way of riding.
The farm also offers simple accommodation, mostly bunks in a dormitory, and Pauline also welcomes campers to stay on the farm. I noticed that she has a shuttle service, and will happily pick travelers up from the Rotorua airport, or even Auckland, if there is a group of people coming together.

There are several different kinds of treks offered to independent visitors: the normal trek crosses farmland and bush, and crosses a stream. There is also a picnic trek, and a cattle muster.
You can go also fishing for eel, swimming, tubing or rafting on the river, and you can learn to build a raft. Also, they can take you spotlighting for nocturnal animals.

Here is a copy of their price list:

Horse treks

1 hour: adults $50, children $40
1.5 hour: Adults $70, children $50
2 hours: adults $90, children $40
Picnic trek: adults $75, children $45
Cattle muster: adults $150, children $100 (minimum of 2 people)

Pony rides (parents lead children)

1/2 hour: $15
1 hour $30

Children’s individual lessons: $50
Adults’ individual lessons (45 minutes): $50

Driving to Kawerau:

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If you are in Whakatane, drive back out across the bridge that you came in on (state highway 30). Soon after you leave Whakatane, there is a turnoff to Tauranga(state highway 2, the way you came). Instead of turning off to Tauranga, go straight ahead (stay on state highway 30).
After about 20 minutes drive, there will be a turn-off signposted for Kawerau (state highway 34). To get to Tui Glen Farm, simply continue past Kawerau a short distance and there you are!