Your hosts

Your hosts

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Kay loves to bake

Horses are a passion

Kees welcomes guests

Mans best friend

One of many feature

Kees and Kay Weytmans are your hosts at Knapdale Eco Lodge. Kay was born on Knapdale Farm which her grandfather bought in 1921. Kay met Kees (a forestry graduate from the Netherlands who is passionate about trees) in Nepal and they arrived in Gisborne in 1987.

The couple’s philosophy is to first and foremost take care of the land which looks after everyone at the lodge – the guests, the geese, Highland cattle, deer, dogs and bees. They believe the goal to grow your own food is in every man’s heart and at Knapdale they have the luxury to do this in the surrounding peace and privacy.

Kay and Kees aim to provide the beef, venison, honey, fruit and vegetables for food supplies. They sell the surplus at the Gisborne Farmers Market where their honey, venison and venison salami is popular. 

Kay continues to nurse and Kees also runs Forest Measurement Ltd, a forestry consulting and contracting business and is the local secretary of the Farm Forestry Association.