Our Clients – The RockRidge Walk
Not many people get the chance to wander through private high-country farmland, watch the sun rise over the Canterbury hills, and finish the day with a paddock-to-plate meal shared around a farmhouse table. That’s the experience the families behind the RockRidge Walk have created.
RockRidge is a fully inclusive, two-night, 31-kilometre walking experience set across two private high-country farms in Windwhistle. Along the way, visitors stay at the beautifully restored Birchview Homestead and the recently renovated Quartz Hill Quarters, combining the adventure of a multi-day walk with the comfort of genuine country hospitality.
A collaboration between the Harper family of Quartz Hill Station and the McElrea family of Washpen Falls, the idea developed after hosting a fundraising trip through the high country for the local Windwhistle School. Both families were amazed by how much visitors valued access to the landscape. “It opened our eyes to how much people wanted to experience this part of Canterbury,” said Megan McElrea.
Since opening in February 2026, RockRidge has introduced visitors to a side of rural New Zealand that is rarely seen. Guests walk through working farms, meet the people who live and work there, and experience a genuine connection to the land. That connection extends to the food. The experience includes paddock-to-plate dining showcasing premium lamb and beef produced on the farms themselves, giving guests a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and the people behind it.
For Megan and the wider RockRidge team, the most rewarding aspect has been the people. “We love welcoming guests and sharing our way of life,” Megan said. “And the people who have experienced RockRidge have genuinely enhanced our lives. It’s been a real win-win.”
Behind the scenes, transforming the concept into a successful business required careful planning. The team worked closely with Partner James Nell and the team at Leech & Partners, who supported RockRidge from the early development stages through to launch and growth.
“James has been much more than our accountant,” said Megan. “He’s supported us strategically and financially, helping us work through ideas, scenarios and key decisions as the business evolved. We’ve always valued having someone we can pick up the phone to, bounce ideas off and sit down with when we need to work something through — someone we trust to give us sound advice.”
As RockRidge prepares for its next season and explores opportunities in the international market, the team remains focused on providing an authentic experience that celebrates Canterbury’s landscape, farming heritage and hospitality.
For visitors, RockRidge is a chance to slow down, reconnect with nature and experience a part of New Zealand that few people get to see. For the families behind the walk, it’s an opportunity to share a place they love.
Find out more and book your next adventure at rockridge.nz.
