Lafon Acres

By booking only – Lafon Acres offers unforgettable encounters with ostriches, donkeys, alpacas & more!

30/08/2026

The beautiful side of caring for animals… and the side that tests you. ❤️ 🪶

One of the greatest privileges of Lafon Acres is being able to care for so many incredible animals. To give them a safe place, a full belly, a little love, and the chance to simply be themselves is something I never take for granted. ❤️

You find yourself researching, learning, changing dressings, monitoring every little change, losing sleep and constantly wondering, “What more can I do?”

And sometimes, when you’re desperately trying to help an animal and the professional support you hoped would be there simply doesn’t step up, you’re left having to dig deeper than you ever thought you could.

You learn as you go. You make decisions based on what is in front of you. And you fight for that animal because they can’t tell you what’s wrong or advocate for themselves.

It can be exhausting. It can be heartbreaking. And honestly, sometimes it can feel incredibly lonely.

But then they look at you, they trust you, they let you care for them… and you remember exactly why you do it.

We don’t always have all the answers. But we will always do everything we can with what we have, keep learning, keep advocating and keep showing up for the animals who depend on us. ❤️

Thank you for being apart of our journey!

07/08/2026

💗How to teach a toddler patience: get a pony. 🐴😂

Lucy is in her element with our Equine animals.
Florence, Treasure and Tora (Clovercrest )

31/07/2026

🎉🥚 BIG NEWS AT LAFON ACRES! 🥚🎉

Our ostriches have officially laid their FIRST EGGS! 🤩

This is such an exciting milestone for our farm, and we couldn’t wait to share it with everyone. Watching these incredible birds reach this stage has been amazing, and now we have our first beautiful ostrich eggs to celebrate!

Who knew an egg could be this exciting? 😍

We can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for our growing farm.

❤️ Thank you to everyone who follows and supports our journey at Lafon Acres. Every milestone is even more special because we get to share it with you.

26/06/2026

We’re not your usual farmyard!

At Lafon Acres, our animals are brought down to specially designed pens, creating a unique opportunity for close-up interaction and memorable encounters. With everything conveniently located in one area, visitors can enjoy a hands-on farm experience that’s accessible, engaging, and fun for all ages.

Excitingly, we’ll soon be opening for smaller public bookings, so more families, animal lovers, and visitors can come and experience the charm of Lafon Acres for themselves.

KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON US 🥰

18/06/2026

🐴 Florence the Pony

Meet Florence, our lovely pony with a gentle heart and a calm nature. Ponies are smaller than horses but are known for being strong, intelligent, and hardy. Florence is a herbivore and spends much of her day grazing on grass and hay. Like all equines, she communicates through body language — watch her ears and you’ll see how she’s feeling!

Florence is one of a kind- friendly, patient (most say bullet proof!) a much loved favourite for visitors learning how to safely approach and interact with horses — and yes, you can even enjoy a gentle ride on her, making for a special and memorable farm experience!

14/06/2026

What’s a weekend at Lafon Acres without adding another wooly face to the family? 🤭

Everyone, meet Finn – our handsome new llama! 🦙

Finn is a 2yr old Male who has been bred to self shed- this is to reduce the cost and effort required to shear such a large animal- only time will tell 🧶

With his curious nature, fluffy coat, and plenty of personality, Finn has already started settling in and keeping a watchful eye over the farm. We can’t wait for all our visitors to meet him and watch him become part of the Lafon Acres family.

Be sure to say hello next time you visit… just don’t be surprised if he doesn’t want a pat!
He acts keen but just likes to be close not touched ..just yet! ❤️

Welcome home, Finn!

05/06/2026

Meet Olly and Oscar — our bold and fascinating ostriches! Native to Africa, ostriches are the largest birds in the world and can’t fly, but they make up for it by running at speeds up to 70 km/h. They have powerful legs and large eyes for spotting danger. Curious and alert, they’re always keen to see what’s happening around the farm — making them a truly unforgettable experience.
The ostrich is unique as is the only bird that is didactyl - has 2 toes per feet.

Ostrich don’t have teeth, so they swallow small rocks, pebbles and sand particles, which collect in their gizzard, to help break down and digest their food.

02/06/2026

🫏 Miniature Donkeys

Treasure (20yrs) and Tora (1yr)
(mother and daughter duo)

Small in size but big in personality, our miniature donkeys are affectionate and love attention.

Donkeys are known for their strong sense of self-preservation — they will stop and think before reacting, which is often mistaken for stubbornness. They are very social animals and form strong bonds with companions.

28/05/2026

🐑 Sheep

A true farm favourite! Sheep are herbivores that graze on grass and are an important part of New Zealand farming.
They have excellent memories and can recognise faces — both human and animal.
Their wool grows continuously and needs to be shorn regularly to keep them comfortable and healthy.

Our favourite breed at Lafon Acres is a Gotland. Originally from Sweden and have naturally short tails. They do not grow wool on their heads or legs. This breed of sheep are naturally docile and super friendly 🥰
Come for a cuddle!

08/05/2026

🐄 Highland Cattle

Stormie, Sadie and Miniature Elsa!

With their long shaggy coats and impressive horns, our Highland cattle are a real highlight.

Like all cattle, they are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach that helps them break down grass. Despite their size, they are known for their calm and gentle temperament.

Our girls like to pretend to be water buffalo and wade through ponds when they can - they LOVE water!

Address

Pipiwai Road
Ruatangata West

Website

https://www.lafonacres.com/

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