​Julie and Jonathan offer you personalised advice on how to best experience the glacier region. ​We are near Okarito forest, home to New Zealand's Rowi the rarest kiwi. Jo can explain all about that, he was formerly the programme manager of kiwi in Franz Josef for the Department of Conservation.

​Fifteen years ago following a transfer to work in the national park at Franz Josef  and a teaching position at the local school, we built the house and Ribbonwood Retreat came into being. We named our place Ribbonwood after the beautiful big tree that grows near our home. Once common, these trees are palatable to possums as well as livestock and are now in decline. We planted new Ribbonwoods and many other species to attract native birds back into our garden. 
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Our one hectare was bare land when we first moved there, just two paddocks except for a grove of totara trees.  Jonathan is a green thumb, with a passion for gardening. He had a dream to create a space with trees, planting native species as well as exotic trees for nuts and firewood. We have planted more than 200 trees and shrubs leaving some open spaces to see through to the mountains and the kiwi sanctuary. Many birds now frequent the garden, especially tui, fantails, pukeko, tomtits, grey warblers and kereru as well as some common introduced garden birds. 

​Keen outdoors people, we often hike around our local area to see what changes have occurred in the dynamic place we live in. 
We love sharing our unique environment with fellow travelers from all over the world!

Jonathan 

Jonathan studied botany at University and came to Westland in the 80's to work for the Forest Service and never left. He worked as a possum hunter later as manager of the local Kiwi Recovery Programme working for the Department of Conservation here in Franz Josef.

Julie 

Julie is a primary school teacher whose passion is travel. Her career highlight was travelling the world teaching children in international schools.