The Retreat

Welcome to The Retreat. 

The Retreat is an 842ha sheep and beef property located in Dunback, Otago, that has extensive areas of endemic native forestland. The property is ecologically significant, with the local headwaters of Trotters Creek running through the property, protected, and purified by the land’s native forestland. Local indigenous fauna, such as eel, fish, invertebrates, and birds, all call this place home. 

Currently, there are 61ha of secondary regenerating native forestland registered into the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as a permanent forest. Primarily, this compromises of pioneering, secondary successional forest species, kanuka (Kunzea erisodes), manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), as well as variety of mixed podocarps, such as mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), broadleaf (Griselinia littoralis), ngaio (Myoporum laetum), karamu (Coprosma lucida), and younger climax species, such as mountain beech (Northofagus solandri). The forest is 17 years old and growing, sequestering approximately 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year as of current. 

The owners are driven to protect and enhance the native flora and fauna of The Retreat and maintain the prosperous future of the land for their next of kin. They are driven by a vision of sustainable, regenerative farming, and enhancing New Zealand’s biodiversity, which is evident in the way they’ve protected and enhanced the natural ecology of their property . A large part of their vision is succeeded by their pragmatic and proactive approach to running their own conservation program. Shane and his sons run annual trapping and hunting programs to eliminate introduced pests. Carcasses are sold to local pet food companies and the revenue is recycled back into the conservation management plan of the property. 

The Retreat is also a recognised local amenity to trampers and local scout groups with the owners opening it up to the local community for use. 

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