The land is the mother and we are of the land; we do not own the land rather the land owns us. The land is our food, our culture, our spirit and our identity.
- Dennis Foley, a Gai-mariagal and Wiradjuri man, and Fulbright scholar
About
We are Sally Newlands and Juliet Gray. We are born and bred rural girls who are both now running farming businesses with our husbands and families in the Hakataramea Valley.
In between us both being a kid on the farm and now raising our kids on the farm, we trained and worked in the Physical Health and Wellbeing industry – indoor, outdoor, sport, recreation and more.
Our love of the outdoors has grown over the past few years when we decided to try our hand at adventure racing (nothing too crazy), and during the time spent training in our beautiful backyard high country, we grew our dream of Sole to Soul.
Mental and spiritual wellbeing is also extremely important to both of us and combined with our physical outdoor experience we know you will love what we have to offer.
Along with us are an amazing group of local farmers who have opened up their land for us to share with you. Guardianship or kaitiakitanga is extremely important to these people and they have immense pride in what they do. We thank them for opening up their places to us for our enjoyment.
Sole to Soul contribute a donation back to these landowners - some forward donate to local organisations and others use to increase the sustainability of their business.
The snow melt of Mt Aoraki/Cook makes its way to the sea down the Waitaki Valley. Translated as the “Tears of Aoraki” the Waitaki river begins after the last of our three stunning lakes – Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki. Kurow our closest town sits at the top of the Waitaki River and is nestled between Oamaru & Duntroon to the east and Otematata & Omarama to the west. Surrounding these rivers and lakes is the extensive Waitaki Valley High Country where sun, snow, views and wild life will guarantee fresh lungs, free mind, and a full soul.