New Zealand Accommodation – Historic Ludbrook House

New Zealand accommodation in Northland at historic Ludbrook House on land bought by pioneers whose descendants still live on this hands-on 407 hectare farm

Just out of Oheaewai between two oceans in New Zealand’s winterless Northland region, Sam Ludbrook’s great grandparents bought a 407 hectare farm in 1860. Originally they moved an existing building, Prospect House, from Waimate onto the property but in 1920 Prospect House was replaced by Ludbrook House, which was built by Sam’s grandparents.

Luxury Accommodation in Northland, New Zealand

Sam and his wife, Chris, have converted their 16 room home into a luxury accommodation experience while Roger, their son, runs the farm utilising up to the minute farming technology. Ludbrook farm runs drystock but it offers much more than beef. Established on the Taiamai Plain, the land was originally used by Maori to grow food in the fertile volcanic soils. Maori had access to plenty of fresh spring water on this land for their gardens and the area was an important source of food.

Travellers Experience a Working Drystock Farm

Chris and Sam wanted to retire from farming as they grew older and their son took over, so they decided to open Ludbrook House as a luxury lodge. Travellers loved it, and loved being able to spend time on a working farm. As time progressed, Chris recognised that fine foods would be a perfect addition to their activities and at the same time would make use of much of the fruit-fall around the area. She started by making panforte which a delicatessen was delighted to add to their range in Auckland. Later Air New Zealand produced a contract for Christmas Cakes and a major department store in Wellington, Kirkcaldies, also began ordering cakes.

Fine Foods from fresh orchards

Today Chris supplies many fine food shops and delicatessens around New Zealand with specialty foods made as they have been made for centuries, with simple, fresh ingredients. Pickled Lemons, grape syrup, orange syrup, fig syrup, desert figs, jams, vinegars, cakes, and condiments of many types. She isn’t the first Ludbrook to produce fresh food and sell it to markets outside. Butter was produced for sale under the Ludbrook mark as early as 1860.

Ludbrook House now has orchards to supply the kitchen and adding to the one huge fig tree which existed on the property from early years, Chris has planted another 50 which are all bearing fruit, sufficient for the first time to sell it fresh from the tree.

Northland History, Art, and Registered Gardens

As well as lush orchards, Ludbrook House is surrounded by gardens which are listed with the NZ Garden Trust. As avid collectors of art for years, the Ludbrooks display it throughout the house for the pleasure of guests and maintain a room with purpose-designed lighting also as a gallery for casual visitors.

For the traveller who enjoys a rural setting, Ludbrook House and farm provides plenty of interest.

©Theresa Sjoquist