Dan and Laureen Andrews, the owners of Native Tree Farm, are excited to share their passion for native botanicals with visitors.

Their farm, located on a picturesque 6-hectare property on Stanley Road, is a certified organic operation where they cultivate a variety of native plants with healing properties, including manuka, kanuka, kawakawa, as well as non-natives.

“We moved from Rotorua to the Eastern Bay to reconnect with the land and because we wanted a change of lifestyle. We planted our first manuka seed about six years ago,” said Laureen.

One of their standout offerings is a rare strain of manuka, known for its calming properties and relaxation flavonoids. This special strain is made into herbal teas and essential oils.

Other unique plants on the farm include kumaraho, a plant prized for its flu-fighting properties, and kanuka, which is used in both essential oils and tea blends for its antibacterial benefits.

Visitors can learn how the Andrews distil manuka and kanuka essential oils on-site and sample their products.

“We also grow non-native plants, such as cornflower and calendula, for their edible petals,” Laureen said. “We like to offer visitors the chance to experience our native herbs in a new way, like with our kawakawa frappe or kawakawa latte.”

The Native Tree Farm products are sold online at www.nativetreefarm.co.nz, where customers can browse a selection of certified organic seedlings and botanicals.