Their nearest neighbour is 7km away and while Alex Neeson loves the isolation it came as a bit of a shock to daughter-in-law Monique, who was a hairdresser in New Plymouth before moving to the farm.
“When I drove out the first time I thought ‘this road doesn’t go anywhere – no one can live this far out.’ I said to [husband] Tim I was never driving this road again.”
Monique has now been living on the farm for eight years and the couple have two children – Heath, 3, and Effie, 16 months.
Monique has adjusted well and while their friends love visiting the farm for holidays she says there are some challenges to their location.
Power cuts are not uncommon and access to the farm can be limited when heavy rain causes slips or the river to rise over the gravel road.
King Country’s rolling hills are well utilised on the Neesons’ mostly steep hill-country farm.
