Tucked up a quiet, no-exit gravel road lies a hidden valley of wilderness and wonder.

Arriving at Real Native Walking Retreat you could be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled upon an isolated corner of old New Zealand – a place where some of Mother Nature’s finest work has been cherished and Aotearoa’s pride nurtured.

Just 25 minutes from Te Awamutu in the Waikato, this journey immerses you in nature and is designed to delight the senses with a refined take on authentic rural hospitality, with Real Native Walking Retreat opening the gates for the first time in November 2025.

Hosts Will and Nicola Jackson both come from generational farming backgrounds and have a deep connection to the land and love for the outdoors. They are also proud parents to four spirited young children, Matilda, Hooley, Ursula and Ben, and are the hands-on stewards of Piquet Hill Stud, home to elite Angus cattle and sheep flocks.

You could say farming is their DNA. Farming with tradition – they bring heart, heritage and humour to everything they do and are looking forward to welcoming guests not only to the farm, but to experience a way of life.

Relocating the farming operation in 2024 led to farm life being reimagined. After purchasing Stockland from Leveson and Vicki Gower, they set about transforming the 1,375 ha of high-producing farmland with interwoven podocarp forest and treasured ecosystems, into an adventure destination with an ultra-light footprint.

The result is the development of 39 km of hand-picked trails and two sets of sustainable bespoke eco-lodgings, setting the scene for three days and two nights of soulful connection with friends, family and the great outdoors.

Every element of the Real Native journey reflects a deep respect for the land and its story. Guests are invited to uncover the tightly held history of the land – its ecology, cultural layers and unique biodiversity. Teeming with wildlife and home to some of New Zealand’s rarest flora and fauna, the retreat offers a rare privilege to experience nature truly ‘in the wild’ while enjoying the comfort and beauty of a carefully curated stay.

Proud to showcase some of the Waikato’s finest, the carefully prepared menus are a celebration of local delicacies, while artisan products are thoughtfully woven into every aspect of the guest experience. From hand-picked homewares to curated comforts, each item in the accommodation tells a story – honouring the farming heritage and creative spirit of New Zealand.

Will and Nicola have crafted an experience which honours New Zealand’s heritage, natural beauty and the great outdoors, while treating guests to rural hospitality at its finest. ‘We are here to treat people well,’ concludes Nicola, ‘and let nature do the rest.’