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Just 10 minutes from Waipu, a 15-acre property surrounded by bush and farmland is drawing visitors with a simple promise: a close encounter with alpacas in a natural Northland setting.
Kandiah Alpacas is run by Pav and Mark Stacey, a British-New Zealander couple who have been breeding and living with alpacas for more than 20 years. Now in their seventies, the Staceys open their gates daily for guided tours, sharing their experience and the story behind their multicoloured herd.
Pav Stacey said her interest in alpacas began with their appearance, but soon expanded into fibre production. After joining the Alpaca Association, she recognised the value of alpaca fleece, particularly black fibre, which was scarce in New Zealand at the time.
“I bought a pregnant white one in 2004 because I couldn’t find a good black alpaca in New Zealand,” she said. “I hoped to breed them, sell them and eventually make scarves from the fibre.”
After an 18-month search, the couple found suitable land near Waipu and began building their herd. Over time, they added more animals, eventually creating the mixed-colour Suri herd they have today. In the early years, a lack of advertising and limited farming experience threatened the sustainability of the venture. The farm’s distance from the beach also raised doubts.
“We used to wonder why anyone would stay here when they could stay near the beach,” Pav said. “But the answer was alpacas.”
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the property also offered accommodation, attracting visitors from around the world who came specifically to experience what became known as “Alpaca land”.
Today, the tours are run as a retirement hobby rather than a commercial operation.
“We do the tour purely because we enjoy it and like sharing the experience. It’s very personal – just like having friends visit.”
The 90-minute tour begins with Mark introducing visitors to what he calls “his toys”, including a 1922 Stanley Steamer, currently under restoration after being imported from the United States. Guests then walk through native bush, learning about local trees, plants and birds, before reaching the alpaca paddock.
The herd includes white, brown and black Suri alpacas. The final stop is the barn, where visitors can see alpaca fleece at every stage of production – freshly shorn, washed and carded, and finally transformed into finished products.
Most of the scarf-making process is done by Pav, who developed her own techniques after attending classes and adapting machinery modified by her husband. Each scarf is unique, combining fibres from different alpacas and blending colours.
“Every scarf I make is individual,” she said.
Visitors leave with a deeper understanding of alpacas, fibre production and the personal journey behind the Northland attraction.
Kandiah Alpacas charges $50 per group of up to four adults, with children free. Additional adults are $10 each, with a maximum group size of eight.
