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Off the Beaten Track to... Southern Star Abbey

Copyright: New Zealand Tourism Guide. Southern Star Abbey, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Making the journey to Southern Star Abbey Kopua is definitely a step off the well-trodden paths taken by other tourists and travellers in New Zealand. However, this journey should really only be considered by those travellers (from New Zealand and from overseas) on the path of seeking God and wishing to get closer to God. Visitors to Southern Star Abbey are welcome to join the monks' services or simply retreat to a quiet, rural and peaceful pace of monastic life for a few days.

The Abbey is located on a dairy farm between Dannevirke and Waipukurau in Central Hawke's Bay (North Island). Dannevirke being a small service town with a population of roughly 6,000 people in a mainly dairy, beef cattle and sheep farming area.

The monastery's constitutions encourage the monks and companions of the community to 'render assistance to those who come to the monastery looking for deeper prayer'. At Southern Star Abbey, this is done by:

  • Providing an opportunity to be in an environment which is spacious, tranquil and holy
  • Public worship of God celebrated regularly throughout the day and the use of the Church and prayer room encouraged at other times
  • Consultation with a monk (by request)
  • Small library of selected titles in the guesthouse.

The monastery is sign-posted for travellers arriving by private transport and guests can be met at the nearest bus-stop for the onward journey to Kopua. More information about the monastery and the unique experience it offers can be found on the Southern Star Abbey website.

Please note: Bookings are essential.

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