Our Yaks
Beacon Hill is home to the largest yak herd in New Zealand.
With over 35 yaks in 2 seperate herds, our yaks form a special part of our farm story.
Shaggy, gentle, and full of personality, these rare animals are part of the cattle family but come with their own quirks—like grunting instead of mooing, and sporting long, dreadlocked coats with a soft underdown finer than cashmere. While yaks are typically found high in the Himalayas, ours live quiet, contented lives here in the hills of Hope, Tasman.
Our herd began unexpectedly, when Roger—our resident vet—took on a small group in need of care. What started as a challenge quickly became a lifelong fascination. Now the largest yak herd in Aotearoa, Beacon Hill’s yaks are a treasured part of our family farm.
With ongoing efforts to expand their gene pool—including exciting plans to introduce a striking black-and-white bloodline from Germany—our yak story is still unfolding.
We're exploring bold new possibilities for how yaks could contribute to the future of farming in New Zealand — and we'd love to hear your ideas too.
