Trophy lakeside farm with future potential

Lake Arapuni west of Putaruru provides an idyllic location to farm and live, one the current owner of Rata Downs at 656 Waotu Road admits makes it a tough place to leave.

Mike Mason and his partner Vicki have faithfully farmed the 260ha (more or less) Rata Downs property for the past 25 years and know now is the right time to leave and see the farm benefit from a younger generation’s energy and ideas.

Over that time, they have guided it through assorted land uses, including maize cropping and lamb finishing. Today the operation is predominately dairy heifers and cattle finishing.

The property’s appeal for the couple has lain as much in its strong pasture-growing ability as in the lifestyle and activities its location permits.

“I like to think we have farmed the place with love, rather than abusing the country and making all that could be made from it,” says Mike.

That love has included looking after the well-established native bush stands that run to the water’s edge in some places, with Mike’s keen hunting eye occasionally spying a curious deer near the property.

“I guess it’s been easy for me to take it for granted, working and living here, but some days you do have to just stop and really take it all in, it is quite a stunning place to spend your life,” he says.

That has been something the couple have been able to share with others through their Airbnb cottage on the farm.

The two-bedroom unit proves popular from early spring through to autumn, generating valuable off-farm income and proving to be a welcome stop off for guests travelling from Auckland to Wellington via nearby Tokoroa.

For friends and family there is also a rustic lakeside cabin down by the river providing some off-grid time out, with its own boat ramp for easy launching to take advantage of the river’s generous trout stock.

A lake side duck shooting maimai completes the hunting options around the farm and lake, with plenty of waterfowl drawn to the secluded spot over winter.

“Being located up this end about 10km from the Arapuni dam we do not have any road access to the river, and don’t get many boats coming up. I think it’s one of the most underrated fisheries along the river,” says Mike.

It’s a secret he’s been happy to keep, enjoying plenty of evenings after farming jumping in the boat with friends and heading up, or down, the hydro lake to see what can be caught.

Mike will often grab a gun and gather the dogs to head out on a hunt to see what can be shot for the freezer.

“If you are in any way into the outdoors this is a brilliant property to combine farming, fishing, hunting and boating all in the one spot.”

The free-draining, well-contoured property has proven its ability to be adaptable and forgiving when it comes to varying land uses. Mike has grown over 50ha of maize on the flatter country, and the move to cattle from lambs has been only in the past two years as he opted for the easier-care option they offer.

“We had been wintering up to 1,500 lambs and another 1,000 spring lambs in addition to 400 beef cattle. Today we are running an all-cattle system, including 250 dairy heifers, 200 calves from December and 230 beef cattle, on an all-grass system.”

The step from sheep to cattle was to make life simpler and stock management more straight-forward and proved well timed as cattle prices took a jump in the past couple of years.

Mike has also planted some of the rougher gullies and sidlings out with pine trees, some of which are nearing maturity now.

His attention to detail has meant the property’s infrastructure is in tip top condition, including an extensive race network, well paved by metal sourced from the nearby Swap quarry.

Support buildings include a three-stand wool shed, a three-bay lockable shed, a three-bay implement shed and an assortment of other barns and sheds. The airstrip has been recently metalled at its loading point and comes complete with a 60t fertiliser bunker.

The property’s main home is a relatively new three-bedroom home offering expansive river views from its elevated perspective. Other dwellings include the manager’s house that has three bedrooms and an office, and the Airbnb cottage.

Mike has worked hard to make the property an easily run, accessible operation, with paddocks predominately in 1-2 ha area sizes, well fenced and reticulated through the farm’s dual supply system with a spring servicing the top half of the farm, and a creek at the bottom with both systems gravity fed.

“The property is particularly good at growing grass for finishing, and has proven very adaptable over the years, and we can typically harvest 600-800 bales of wrapped silage off the place.”

Rata Downs is now for sale by auction through Bayleys Waikato on Thursday 19th November (unless sold prior).

Bayleys Waikato salespeople Peter Kelly and Angus Kelly say they expect strong interest from across the farming spectrum for the well-located property.

“The level of infrastructure on the farm is exceptional, meaning its’s all ready to go for whoever takes it over. We expect it would be well suited for a large dairy operation seeking a support block that has some scale itself to it.

“Dairy beef income is increasingly important and viable option for more dairy farms nowadays, and this block is well suited to that role with a larger farm business,” says Peter Kelly.

Angus Kelly points to the use of the property’s high point for wedding gatherings, and the greater opportunities that could still lie here for a new owner keen to tap into the agri-tourism sector.

“And of course you have the appeal of the river location lending itself as well as it does to hunting and fishing ventures.”

Mike admits leaving the property will be a tough move, but he’s keen to see the next generation of farmers turn its potential into reality.

“I think if I was staying on, I would be looking hard at putting wearables on the livestock. It would provide a means to really optimise your grazing across the entire property making the most of the grass when it’s there.

“Ideally, it would be great to see it go as a first farm for a younger farming family,” he says.