NEW MILFORD TOUR HIGHLIGHT: Mount Nicholas & Von Valley
- Alice Neilson - Fiordland Enthusiast & Writer
- Jun 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Here we continue exploring Luxe Tours' new three-day backcountry tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound. This experience provides the only regular way to tour the remote backcountry routes through Mount Nicholas Station and Von Valley.
The three-day journey takes you through some of New Zealand's most spectacular landscapes. From a lakefront sheep farm tour to pristine alpine valleys, this tour showcases authentic New Zealand that few visitors ever experience.
This article focuses specifically on the Mount Nicholas Station and Von Valley portion of the tour, exploring what makes these locations special and what you might experience during this exclusive backcountry adventure.
Key Takeaways
Mount Nicholas Station spans approximately 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) and has operated for over 150 years
The station is home to around 30,000 merino sheep producing world-class superfine wool
Multiple families live on the station with children attending their own on-site school
The station produces honey and operates its own merino clothing line
Families practice regenerative agriculture while maintaining 75% of land in natural state
Traditional horseback mustering continues due to steep terrain unsuitable for modern vehicles
Von Valley showcases dramatic terrain rising to 700 metres
Visitors see authentic working farm operations and may encounter working sheep and cattle
See the new Milford Sound via Walter Peak Tour that this article relates to 👇
Mount Nicholas Station: A High Country Legacy
Mount Nicholas Station spans approximately 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) from Lake Wakatipu's shores into Southland's wilderness. For over 150 years, this property has embodied the pioneering spirit that built New Zealand's agricultural reputation.
Early Survival
The White family established Mount Nicholas Station around 1860, after purchasing it from Nicholas von Tunzelman during the Otago Gold Rush, bringing a precious cargo of merino sheep to an unforgiving landscape. Early conditions were brutal, with the nearest neighbour a two-day horse ride away, while shepherds endured months alone in mountain huts facing temperatures that could drop to -8°C.
The station changed hands repeatedly over the following century as owners struggled with demanding conditions, including the devastating rabbit plague of 1860s-1900s that destroyed many neighbouring properties.
The Butson Vision
In 1976, Robert and Linda Butson purchased Mount Nicholas Station when it was running just 10,000 stock units, well below its operating potential. Robert had dreamed of owning the station after numerous hunting and fishing expeditions across its vast terrain, approaching the station’s owners, the Hunt family with: "If you're ever selling, ask me first." When the time came, the Hunts honoured his request.
The area demanded extraordinary commitment. The Butsons cleared scrub, sowed fields, spread fertiliser, and gradually built stock numbers while learning to master the intimidating landscape.
Today, their dedication has created one of New Zealand's premier high-country operations.
The station runs approximately 30,000 Merino sheep, many descended from the original 1860s flock, plus 2,300 Hereford cattle across terrain encompassing nearly every South Island ecosystem: lake shores, alpine peaks, expansive tussock plains, pristine river valleys, and native forest.
World-Class Wool and Authentic Farm Life
Luxury Wool, Ethical Standards
Mount Nicholas now operates under the next generation: Kate Cocks and her husband Jack, Dave Butson and partner Regina. With young families in tow, they've elevated the station to world-leading status in ethical wool production.
The station has achieved ZQRX certification, a rigorous standard ensuring ethical and sustainable practices. The Merino flock produces wool in the "Superfine" category, the same grade as luxury fibres like cashmere.
From Farm to Fashion: Mt Nicholas Merino
The station supplies some of its production to iconic Merino brands like Icebreaker, and now also has its own Mt Nicholas Merino clothing brand. Every Mt Nicholas Merino garment can be traced back to a single origin on the station, all processing occurs in New Zealand, and it’s all done with biodegradable packaging.
Station Life
Multiple families now live on the station, with enough children to require their own little on-site school room where all the children learn together.
The kids are all heavily involved in station life, particularly honey production for their own brand - Mount Nic Honey, working alongside Regina, who manages much of the bee operation.
Regina also exemplifies the station's commitment to regenerative agriculture. She's currently growing native seedlings for tree-planting projects across the property. This conservation work demonstrates how traditional farming integrates with environmental stewardship.
Traditional Practices in Modern Times
Horseback Heritage
Much of Mount Nicholas Station's work still relies on horseback because the terrain is too steep and rugged for modern vehicles like motorbikes. This necessity has preserved traditional skills and created a lifestyle where children grow up learning horseback riding, stock handling, and outdoor skills increasingly rare in modern society.
The annual fall (autumn) muster continues a century-old practice in the area, where seven riders on horseback with 30 working dogs gather 9,000 merino wethers from mountain peaks over ten days.
Recently, the station's children embarked on a two-day horseback expedition, camping and fishing along the river with adult supervision. These adventures showcase the timeless connection between families and the land, preserving traditions that have shaped New Zealand's rural character.
Sustainable Operations
The station maintains 75% of its property in a natural state, demonstrating that productive agriculture and conservation can coexist successfully. The station also generates its own hydroelectric power while monitoring water quality to "drinkable" standards throughout the property.
The extensive grazing philosophy measures "acres per sheep" rather than "sheep per acre," allowing pastures months to recover between use. This approach creates stress-free environments that produce exceptional wool while supporting the land.
Von Valley - An untouched paradise
Dramatic Landscape Transitions
Von Valley showcases the spectacular terrain that defines Mount Nicholas Station's incredible diversity. As you journey through this section of the tour, still within the station boundaries, you experience a dramatic transition from lower plains to high country, climbing to 700 metres above sea level.
The ascent reveals the station's true scale and ruggedness as tussock grasslands give way to steep mountain slopes. Then, as you descend into the valley itself, the landscape opens to reveal vast pastoral areas where huge bulls graze alongside thousands of sheep.
Into the Valley
Descending into Von Valley itself, you follow the river system through the landscape. The valley floor showcases true rugged countryside where traditional farming continues against a backdrop of pristine mountain scenery. The valley encompasses approximately 50 kilometres of spectacular high country
This valley was originally named after Nicholas von Tunzelmann, one of the first Europeans to reach Lake Wakatipu in 1860. Legend tells of a coin toss between Nicholas von Tunzelmann and William Rees, determining that von Tunzelmann would take the western shore while Rees claimed the eastern side where Queenstown now thrives.
The Mount Nicholas Experience
Mount Nicholas Station's inclusion by Luxe Tours provides access to a working high-country property that operates exactly as it has for generations. Unlike tourist attractions designed for visitors, this area remains a genuine working farm station where visitors get a glimpse of traditional operations.
Visitors witness thousands of champion merino sheep and might encounter working horses, dogs, and cattle. Visitors may also help open farm gates and sample honey made by the families who make their lives in this remarkable environment.
From multi-generational families preserving traditional farming practices to untouched wilderness showcasing the country's dramatic geography, Mount Nicholas Station and Von Valley showcase New Zealand's rural character.
For visitors seeking genuine adventure beyond conventional tourism, this remote area offers something increasingly rare: a place where traditional farming practices continue by necessity, creating authentic connections to the land and the people who call it home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Mount Nicholas Station's Merino wool so valuable?
Wool quality is measured in microns: the diameter of individual fibres. Mount Nicholas produces wool averaging 18.5 microns in diameter, placing it in the "Superfine" category alongside cashmere. To understand Mount Nicholas's achievement, consider that a human hair measures 50-100 microns, while standard wool (which feels itchy at 25+ microns) measures 25-35 microns.
Mount Nicholas's 18.5-micron wool competes directly with cashmere (14-19 microns) for softness, yet maintains superior strength and durability. The station's 150-year-old bloodlines and genetic breeding management, combined with extensive high-country grazing and traditional practices, help produce the premium wool.
How do families live and work on such a remote area?
Multiple families live on Mount Nicholas Station and have children, so they live in a small community, keeping each other company. The community is largely self-sufficient, producing their own power, much of their food, and managing all aspects of station life.
Children grow up learning traditional skills like horseback riding and stock handling alongside modern homeschool education within a small communal classroom. The station also has their own boat they can use to travel to and from Queenstown for any necessities.
Will we be safe around the farm animals during the tour?
Yes. The sheep, cattle, and working dogs on Mount Nicholas Station are accustomed to people and generally keep to themselves.
Luxe Tours will not directly be interacting with animals, simply passing by along the road through the station. Most livestock are fenced.
Your experienced guide will never put you in an unsafe situation with any animals and will provide clear instructions about appropriate behaviour around livestock. The station families have been safely sharing their working environment with their own friends and visitors for years and understand how to facilitate positive interactions.
The key is simply following your guide's directions and maintaining respectful distances.
