Karetu Downs has been in the Forrester family for three generations, standing as a testament to their enduring legacy.

This 2000-hectare hill country property, with its Romney sheep and Angus cattle grazing on the rugged landscape in Hurunui's Waipara Gorge, is not just a farm; it's a way of life.

But beyond the rolling hills and sweeping vistas, the true soul of Karetu Downs lies within its homestead.

Owned by Karen and Bruce Forrester, the homestead has evolved since Bruces's grandfather, Matthew Forrester, built the then-modest house in 1911.

What was essentially a corrugated iron box did not live up to the expectations of his future wife, Amy Millar, though.

"The story goes that she told him she wouldn't live in it as it was.

"So he added another bedroom and lounge onto the house and extended the house to include the old dairy where they used to make the butter and cheese," Karen Forrester says.

The house now has six bedrooms and a large, ornately detailed veranda that frames the front of the building.

Karen and Bruce purchased the farm after starting their farming career by leasing land near Waikari. Bruce was shearing, and Karen was working as a nurse.

"We had two incomes and a lease, so we used that as a stepping stone, bought a deer farm, and continued with our lease."

Karen continued to work as a nurse in between having children.

"I've never not worked. In sheep and beef farming, you always need two incomes."

In 1993, they moved to Karetu, initially leasing the property before purchasing it in 2003 after selling the deer farm.

After buying the farm, Karen started making changes to the house and gardens despite Bruce's initial resistance.

Karen often did the work herself to bring her vision to life.

"There was a room out the front on the veranda, and she said I want to take that down.

"I said don't touch it, it's fine, leave it alone.

"I went out the back of the farm, and when I got home, she had ripped it out," Bruce laughs.

The renovations included a new kitchen, the removal of walls, and the opening of the entranceway.

"This house has had so many changes.

"Bedrooms have been kitchens, and kitchens have been lounges," Karen said.

Despite the extent of the work, the house's character and charm remain in the stained glass windows, kauri and totara woodwork, and panelling.

During the renovation, the Forresters discovered a dumb waiter hidden in a wall of an old dining room, under the carpet, children's footprints in paint, and a small trapdoor that piqued Bruce's interest.

"My heart was beating fast; I thought I'd found the family fortune.

"Inside was a tin.

"What do I find when I open it? A bloody meccano set," Bruce laughs.

In 2012, Karen convinced Bruce to let her start a farm stay.

"When she first wanted to do it, I was against I was against it.

"I'm still eating humble pie."

They started opening bookings for the farm cottage, built by Bruce's grandfather in 1954.

Following that success, they renovated a room in the house and added a bathroom and door to an adjoining separate lounge.

The quaint suite, named after Bruce's grandmother, Louisa, has the original wallpaper hung by Bruce's mother years ago.

Another exterior room with a kitchenette was later renovated and added to accommodation offerings, known as the Musterers Studio, but the room once held a secret, Bruce said.

"It was built on when my Uncle got his wife to be pregnant, and so it was built to hide them away so they didn't bring shame on the family.

"Hazel, their child, ended up being born in that room."

Karen has added further value to the business by converting the original shearing quarters into a gift shop.

She found that guests wanted a keepsake from their visit to take home.

Bruce said if there is a point of difference, a home accommodation business can work.

"The point of difference is that this is a working farm, and we just carry on like normal.

"You can't put a price on it."

The other point of difference is the extensive gardens, started by Joan Forrester and developed into show-worthy grounds by Karen, which provide a tranquil setting for the house.

"Through Joan, we were lucky enough to have all these trees that are well established now.

"It gives the garden its bones."

Garden tours often visit, and the garden will also be part of the Hurunui Garden festival, which runs from October 31 to November 3.

Bruce said that old houses "just have something about them."

"I remember someone saying, you should take a match to this place and start again.

"But you can't build character."

By Claire Inkson