Grass is always greener…

The Stendal family from Denmark stayed with Christina Cameron-Hayes and her family in Hautapu. From left, Kim, Thor, Isabella and Jakob with Christina after their stay ready to board the Rural Tours bus heading south to Waitomo Caves. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

When Japanese students stay at Lynette Smith’s Tamahere property one of the things they love doing is rolling in the grass.

“Where they’re from, for a lot of them, touching the grass is new. They just love it, they even roll in it.

“Half of them have never touched a pony before.”

Helping out: Ruby Wilson and Japanese students feed the ponies on the back of the trailer. Photo: Supplied.

For 15 years Lynette has been a Rural Tours host taking in students – mostly from Japan – and adults from all around the world for a genuine down on the farm Kiwi experience at her 2.43ha pony breeding block.

The adults usually stay for a night and get the full treatment – a three course meal at night, a big breakfast and a tour of the farm. Plus, they get to chat with their host for as little or as long as they like.

The students, aged between 12 and 18, are generally there for three to four nights.

“They’re here for a rural experience,” says Lynette, who describes it as a lot of fun and a “real good kick.”

Christina Cameron-Hayes in Hautapu is into her second year as a Rural Tours host. Unlike Lynette she only takes guests at the weekend on her Cambridge chicken breeding, horse and cattle property.

She moved from Canada to set up as a rural host and spoke to The News when she dropped her Danish guests off to link up with a bus tour heading south to Waitomo Caves.

“You wouldn’t do this unless you love people,” she says. “It’s a lot of fun.”

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Lynette Smith, centre, with her Japanese students poses for a photo at the Rural Tours pick up. Photo: Supplied.