Heaps! The activities on show will depend on the type of farm you’ve chosen to visit. Farms will list their activities on their event profile. Expect farm walks, animal demonstrations, crop tours, nature walks, composting demonstrations, farming games, picnic areas and much more on the day!
Our national open farm day happens every year in early March. Check the visitor page for this years date and sign up to our newsletter below to be notified when bookings open.
You’ll receive a confirmation email right away with everything you need to know. We’ll also send you a reminder email with your farm address and other information a few days out from the event.
Sure thing, we appreciate that too as it frees up a space for someone else! Just email us with your booking number and let us know – info@openfarms.co.nz.
Yes. On the farm profile page, just select the number of tickets you need and tell us how many adults/children are coming long.
A copy on your phone is fine.
We’ll send you the farm address right after you register, and again a few days before the event. There will be signage on the road too, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble. Some farmers will also include their phone number if you need directions and you can also email info@openfarms.co.nz with any questions.
We’ve ordered good weather for the day, so there’s nothing to worry about…
Should that not work out, Open Farms will go ahead in poor weather, but we’ll consider postponing the event in really bad conditions. Either way, we’ll let you know via email.
You’ll be visiting real Kiwi working farms which may not always be set-up for visitors. Some farms will have full toilet facilities, others may be a little more… rustic. Toilet facilities are noted on each farm’s event profile page. Regardless, we recommend you use toilet facilities before you arrive at the farm to be safe.
Yes, all farms will have parking available. Some do have special parking instructions, which we’ll share via email a few days out from the event.
Most farms don’t allow dogs for biosecurity reasons, but a few might. Check the farm event profile for more information.
These will be fine for most events. But have a close read of the event descriptions and reconsider any events that involve long farm walks and tours.
You’ll be visiting real Kiwi working farms which may not always have good wheelchair access. But some farms do. Check the farm event profile for wheelchair access information, or let us know your location at info@openfarms.co.nz and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Some events will have food or produce for sale, so we suggest you take some cash with you. Otherwise, most farms will have a picnic area set-up for you to enjoy.
Hosting and attending an Open Farms event is completely free. That said, we recommend you take some cash for any produce, food sales or charity fundraising activities. A shout-out to our sponsors for making the event free – Beef & Lamb New Zealand, the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund.
Sorry, you’ll need to arrange your own transport to your open farms event.
This will vary between farms. Some farmers have decided to keep their event small – around 30 people. Others will host a few hundred people.
Every farmer has agreed to complete a health and safety risk assessment and take reasonable precautions to ensure your safety. Keep in mind that you will be visiting a working farm, so obey all safety instructions, supervise children closely and be aware around animals.
Yes. You may be asked to clean your shoes on entry and to wash your wands after any contact with animals.
No. We built Open Farms because we believe all Kiwis should experience how their food is grown.
Sure, there’s more tension around food, animal welfare and environmental issues than there used to be. But it’s not about farmers vs townies, it’s about all of us facing these challenges together. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t hold each other to account or question the way we do things, but we need shared spaces like Open Farms to have constructive conversations based on the things that connect us together – like food and the land.
Open Farms features farms of all sizes and types. We have horticulture, permaculture, urban market gardens and more participating. If animal agriculture isn’t your thing, no worries. We’ll help you find your farm.
Fonterra has run a great initiative in the past called Open Gates. We’re right behind the concept and believe that the more people experience the origins of their food up close, the better!
You can email us at info@openfarms.co.nz.
