November 2024 is a particularly special month at the Wānaka Lavender Farm. As of the first of the month, we will have been open for 10 magical years!
To celebrate the milestone of a decade gone by, let us take you on a journey of where we started to where we are now... you'll soon see the inspirations driving Wānaka Lavender Farm and understand the vision behind every decision made.
If you haven't crossed paths with our family yet then this is the perfect opportunity to properly introduce ourselves! Tim and Stef Zeestraten are brothers who have dedicated most of their life for the last 10+ years to the Wānaka Lavender Farm. With the power of close family, including parents Jan and Corry Zeestraten and wife of Tim, Jessica Zeestraten, we have worked to turn an empty plot of land into a thriving lavender farm that has become a local hotspot and seamlessly blended into Wānaka's tourism scene.
Our 22 acres is not only home to rows of blooming lavender in the summer, but to many other activities that can be enjoyed year round. Making it a distinctive New Zealand lavender farm that offers a catered experience to people of all ages during any season. From the get go, the Zeestraten brothers' dream was to offer a slice of paradise to visitors from all over the globe; somewhere they could be enchanted by, a place to appreciate nature and see what can be done with one stunningly simple aromatic herb.
The Netherlands
A huge part of our journey and a reason for our family's shared keenness to love our land and cherish its bounties is where we started: Holland, the Netherlands.
Jan (dad) grew up working for his own father on a vegetable farm and he would help out anytime he could outside of school hours. As an adult, Jan went on to own a tomato farm for 12 years, where Tim and Stef (and sister Jetti) grew up with a childhood similar to their dad's. While Stef wasn't too passionate about farming as a child, Tim was already enthralled with the art of growing food and tending the land. He would spend all of his free time helping his father; before school, after school and even throughout the school holidays!
As much as they took pride in what they did, there came a point where the family was ready to give up their tomato farm and head off on a new adventure. The farming industry in the Netherlands had gotten harder and harder over time, and stricter rules and regulations hitting smaller farms like ours made it almost impossible to take pleasure in the labour and turn a profit.
Luckily for us, Corry (mum) had been backpacking around the world and knew exactly where to move with the family for a fresh start. So in 1994, when the kids were just about entering their teenage years, the Zeestratens landed in New Zealand.
Kaikōura
Corry and Jan, along with kids Tim, Stef and Jettie settled in Lincoln on the Canterbury Plains to begin with. Life was good and the family relished in exploring their own ventures as they grew up together. Jan and Corry were busy with their big market garden that ensured they had fun working outside without the pressures they had faced back in Holland. Tim and Stef were swept away by NZ's exhilarating snowboarding and surfing scenes, and they helped mum and dad with the harvesting and planting in the gardens to earn pocket money to fund their new hobbies. Meanwhile, Jettie studied social science and became a world traveler for a time. Sadly, a new subdivision plan meant the Zeestraten were on the move again, but as Corry put it "time for a new adventure!".
The options ahead of the family were endless and quite daunting - would we want to grow olives, farm deer, take on a vineyard, or even run a café?! One day, Stef emailed his parents from the USA, where he was happily snowboarding through another winter season, about a little lavender farm in the hills of Kaikōura... and that captured their attention. With dad's passion for farming and mum's love of foraging and creating, the lavender farm was the perfect match.
Corry recalls having a fun, balanced lifestyle in Kaikōura, where work on the farm was enjoyable and trips to the beach even more so. The inside of the farm shop and product-making, as well as weddings, group visits and the accommodation, was mainly taken care of by Corry, though she did have help in turning over the b&b. Jan was responsible for the landscaping, tending the plants, and all things outdoors. Tim, Stef and Jettie would help out at the lavender farm to give their parents a break and to keep it thriving. A lot was learned here about growing lavender, harvesting the plant and utilising its benefits in skincare, foods and crafts. After 8 brilliant years, Corry and Jan were ready for retirement.
Wānaka
Tim and Stef relocated from Kaikōura to Wānaka so that they could hit the slopes over winter. Whilst Stef made his name as a competitive snowboarder, Tim got stuck into helicopters and completed his piloting course. It was at this point mum thought the boys should "find a real job"! The brothers could have taken over the humble lavender farm already established and cared for by the family in Kaikōura but they wanted something of their own. They wanted to create one in Wānaka, and so the Wānaka Lavender Farm was born.
It took a few years of gruelling work and dedication. Another family effort with vision from the kids and experience from the parents. Jessica Zeestraten, Tim's wife, also hopped onboard and became an invaluable part of the operation.
10 years ago, when we first opened our doors, our plot was still being worked on and was nowhere near how it looks today. Most of the experiences we offer now was not yet in place. In fact, even before our very first guests took their first walk around our farm, we had been working on the rows and the gardens behind the scenes for a couple of years prior. Since, we have religiously updated and transformed different aspects of the farm as time has gone on to ensure it looks its best and continues to offer a breathtaking experience to all.
Today, Stef, Tim and Jessica are still fully hands-on and mum and dad are also very involved (despite going into retirement). Saying that, the whole family knows how to take time out to have fun. Stef and partner Rochelle head off on hiking adventures and spend time on the coast whenever they can, with Stef still rushing up the mountains over winter. Tim and Jessica are busy showing their fearless kids the joys of a kiwi lifestyle; partaking in marathons, cycling through Marlborough, hitting the slopes in winter and camping away the summers. Jettie has a family of her own over in Tākaka and enjoys popping down to spend time at the farm. Corry enjoys taking solo trips to Japan to nourish her soul, and Jan is happiest on the golf course.
Next time you visit, make sure you note these areas of the farm that were born out of familial love:
Mum's Herb Garden
Jettie's Garden
The Vegetable Patch
People often ask about our story when they meander through on a warm summer's day and we feel lucky to have been able to share it here with you for our 10 year anniversary. If you're still interested in learning more about the Zeestratens and our farm, feel free to watch the Country Calendar episode "Lavender for Luck" featuring the Wānaka Lavender Farm (Episode 13, 2020).
Tim and Stef, along with all of the family members involved, recognises that we wouldn't be anywhere without the encouragement of our local supporters and overseas superstars. So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving our lavender farm as much as we do!
Over the years, we've been blessed with generous neighbours and an engaged community helping us along the way. We're also proud to have passionate team members on this journey with us. We value all of the individuals who have walked in as strangers and ended up becoming part of the “farm family”.
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