About Walk Gisborne

Walk Gisborne is operated by husband & wife team Penny & Pete Hoogerbrug who together with a large dollop of Pennys enthusiasm and Petes DIYskills, have developed this three day/ three night private farm, bush and coastal walk with its own distinctive flavour.

The three day walk experience runs over two working sheep & cattle stations, the family operated Rimunui Station & Makorori Station, owned by the Busbys.

Established in 2006, Walk Gisborne is entering its sixth season and has enjoyed very positive feedback from enthusiastic clients

Penny Hoogerbrug grew up on a sheep and cattle station on the East Coast until she moved to Auckland to follow a career in nursing.

Penny and her husband, Pete originally from Hawkes Bay returned in 1986 to live in the beautiful old Rimunui homestead built in 1928 & set in beautiful park-like gardens, to run the 20 hectare apple and kiwifruit orchard that was on Karakaroa Farm, Rimunui’s original homestead block is from the days when the station was part of the much larger Rimuroa Station.

Twenty-two years later, the fruit trees came out, the land was restored to farmland, Penny launched Walk Gisborne and Pete became a produce marketing executive in Gisborne.

Penny has been very fortunate to have the help & skills of neighbour Sandy Richmond for the last four years. Sandy has lived close to The Shearers’ Quarters for fifteen years, has good local knowledge and knows the lay of the land really well having worked on both Rimunui and Makorori stations and walked Walk Gisborne ! Sandy who is fun & enthusiastic enjoys having a close association with the walkers and is very capable – cleaning the Lodges and alongside Penny - manages the Walk and helps with food pick up, bag transport & walk talks.