Many of our visitors have suggested that we should have some information about ourselves, the family who own the park, so at the risk of putting you all off, and to my life when the rest of my family gets to read this, here (in descending age order) we go!

ME

My name is Ron and I am a bit of a dreamer. I dream that I can live in this beautiful place for the rest of my life and watch both the bush and my family grow. I do most of the guiding round the park and fix things. I don't really know that much but I like to talk about it anyway. Avoid me if you don't like that. I really love it when visitors like this place as much as I do.

MY WIFE

Gerry is a gentle person, except sometimes with me. She lives for her three daughters. She looks after the lodge and it's beautiful gardens. She also loves animals and knows a lot about our natural heritage and botany. She's a bit quiet so if you want to know anything you'll probably have to ask. She's also a sucker for broken wings so a good way to get to know her is to limp a little.

DAUGHTER NO. 1

Trudy has inherited her mothers green fingers and, when she is here, keeps us (and the lodge) supplied with fresh vegetables. As the eldest she acts tough but is really a pussycat. Her husband Craig is the chief skipper for the launch company that will have brought you here. Craig is like me in that he likes a good chat with our visitors but he knows and listens a lot more.

DAUGHTER NO. 2

Christine, like her mother is also a very gentle person. Christine and her husband Murray are our animal welfare consciences and are both vegetarian. Back when we farmed they used to have us all mustering the park for days trying to find a lamb which just might have been limping. I like it when Christine and Murray are here because then I get to spoil Emma and Charlotte two of our three grand daughters.

DAUGHTER NO. 3

Dale is an environmental scientist and, with her partner Ben, runs a dive business in Kaikoura. Dale is said to be a bit like me, poor girl, and likes to talk, but at least she will know what she's on about. Her dream is to base herself here and teach people about the ecology of the marine environment. In fact she already does quite a bit of work here so we see her quite often. We like that because then we get to mind our third grand daughter Jessica. She is as passionate about her underwater world as her mother is on land. Watch this space.

TIGGER

Tigger is my right hand man and director of entertainment. People say that he is an idiot but I think he’s beautiful. People also say that dogs get to be like their owners. I think they’re right.

We are just an ordinary Kiwi family trying to live and make a living in the most pleasant way we can. Our atmosphere here is quite informal but you can be sure that we will do everything we can to make sure that you get the experience here that you want and our service to you will be second to none..

Tigger the dog, Rons loyal companion

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Mainland Island native wildlife sanctuary located in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand. Wilderness hiking, Accommodation, Marine activities. Where humans and nature work together.

Mainland Island native wildlife sanctuary located in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand. Wilderness hiking, Accommodation, Marine activities. Where humans and nature work together.

Kiwi Heartland