Abel Tasman National Park at the top of the South Island is the smallest National Park in New Zealand. It more than makes up for its size with stunning beauty, golden beaches, coastal walking track, pristine forest, and sea kayaking in clear, calm water.

Marahau, the eastern gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, is the ideal base to explore all that the area has to offer. Many tourists and free independent travellers visiting Marahau stay at Old MacDonalds Farm and Holiday Park. This 13 hectare tourism business is located just 400 metres from the entrance to the National Park. It offers accommodation, camping grounds, natural fresh water swimming holes, farm park, and bush walks.

View looking down Old MacDonalds Farm to Tasman Bay.
The property being sold extends from the centre of the image towards the right hand side.

Old MacDonalds Farm and Holiday Park has come on to the market because the owner wishes to retire. This is a significant tourism business in Marahau with a wide appeal to travellers, backpackers, tour groups, and families. It is being offered on a walk-in walk-out basis and includes all plant, fittings and chattels needed to successfully operate from day one.

The ideal base for exploring Abel Tasman Park and Tasman Bay

Old MacDonalds Farm and Holiday Park offers a range of accommodation units plus an enormous campground.

Office Area:

• 1 x Self-contained Studio Unit, sleeping 4 people and including a king size bed with ensuite spa bath, shower and toilet.
• 4 x Twin Share Cabins sleeping up to 5 people with 1 queen and 3 single beds.
• 3 x Backpackers Cabins.

The Office Area caters for free independent travellers wanting accommodation with beds. Cabin occupants share dedicated laundry, showers, toilets and kitchen facilities.

Cowmans Cottage Area:

• 1 x Cowmans Cottage Backpacker Dormitory with two bedrooms, each with 4 beds.
• grassed area for tenting

The Cowmans Cottage Area was setup for Backpackers Tour Groups. Currently, 5 tour groups arrive per week, each staying for two nights. Tour Groups use dedicated facilities with laundry, showers, toilets and kitchen facilities.

Camping in the Bull Paddock:

• 40 powered caravan sites
• 40 tent sites

The Bull Paddock is a large open space surrounded by shady trees.

The Bull Paddock campground

Bull Paddock Facilities

• a large open plan kitchen cleaned daily, complete with gas hobs, refrigerators, tables, microwave oven toasters and freezers. There is also a covered dining area and barbeques.
• shower and toilet block with 7 toilets and 7 showers.
• laundry with coin-operated washing machines and dryers, and clothes lines.
• outdoor volley ball court.

Guest Services available to all who stay at MacDonalds Farm

• email, internet fax or phone (available at the office).
• office shop for beer and wine, food and supplies, local crafts.
• swimming holes in the Marahau River.
• secure car parking for guests walking the Abel Tasman.
• free pick-up and set-down at the Water Taxi landing.
• dump station, LPG gas filling station.
• camping equipment hire out - everything needed for camping in Abel Tasman National Park from sleeping bags and tents to cooking equipment and packs.
• independent Guides to assist with set up and kayaking the waterways of the Abel Tasman.

Owners house and secure car parking area

Additional attractions provided by Old MacDonalds Farm

Farm Park
The Farm Park houses a range of wildlife from peacock and pea hens, guinea fowl, chickens, ducks and pigeons to deer, sheep, donkeys, cows, bulls, llamas, Alpaca, pigs and rabbits. The Farm Park is ideal for children who can feed and pet the animals.

United World Friendship Grove
A habitat enhancement project established by visiting students from around the world, with over 8000 native seedlings already planted.

Beautiful Bush and Farm Walks
The bush walk includes towering rimu trees (400 years old) and lots of native birds. This is New Zealand almost as it was when the first people arrived. Guests can take a walk around the farm to enjoy the views out into Tasman Bay, into the National Park and into the heart of the Marahau Valley. Or guests can wander through the farm to golden sand beaches.

Freehold property

The owners are selling the freehold title to 13.3 hectares of farmland and all associated buildings including accommodation for the owner. The property extends in a narrow strip from the end of Harvey Road and comprises three separate areas linked by private roading. Guests come first to the Office Area with Office and Shop, Farm Park, secure parking and accommodation for free independent travellers. The Cowmans Cottage area is midway up the property and the Bull Paddock campground is furthermost from the entrance.

The Marahau River flows down one side of the property and Abel Tasman National Park borders with the other side.

Map of Marahau and MacDonalds Farm extending from the entrance at Harvey Road

Advertising and Promotion:
Old MacDonalds Farm advertises through signage on the roadside, a listing in the Yellow pages, advertisements in Travel Guides and through the business web site http://www.oldmacs.co.nz. This is a very popular stopping place for backpackers and its reputation has spread all over the world.

Call Craig on +64 3 527 8288 (day) or +64 3 527 8381 (evenings)