Five Best: Luxury farm stays

Organic fruit, fresh air: Eva Kuehnen rustles up some rural retreats

Kersefontein, South Africa

A Cape Dutch homestead 150km north of Cape Town, on the banks of the Berg River. It dates from the 18th century and has been in the Melck family for eight generations. It boastssix luxurious rooms, kitted out with modern and period pieces. The farm has its own landing strip and the host, Julian Melck, often takes guests on flights in his four-seater plane.

Kersefontein Guest Farm, between Hopefield and Veddrif, Cape West Coast, South Africa (00 27 22 783 0850; www.kersefontein.co.za). Doubles start at 440 Rand (£38) including breakfast.

Can Marti, Ibiza

This organic farm in the north-east of Ibiza was abandoned for 25 years and has been given a new lease of life as a working farm offering boutique accommodation. Can Marti uses solar energy and recycles waste water. Guests can choose from Mexican and Indian-style studios as well as an Arabic-style house. The family-run, 11-hectare farm - which guests are free to explore - produces fruits, walnuts, pistachios and vegetables. It also has a vineyard and mules, chickens, ducks and geese roam the property.

Can Marti - Agroturismo, San Juan, Ibiza, Spain (00 34 9 71 33 35 00; www.canmarti.com). An apartment sleeping two starts at €110 (£79) and a small house for four costs €180 (£129) a night, including bicycle-hire. The farm is open from 19 March to 15 October.

Wharekauhau, New Zealand

Wharekauhau - a 5,000-acre sheep station on the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island - has Shaker-style cottages and the main lodge resembles an Edwardian country mansion. The cottages offer panoramic views over Palliser Bay. Wairarapa is one of New Zealand's wine-producing areas; guests can also enjoy meals prepared with fresh local ingredients. Helicopter trips and a spa are also on offer.

Wharekauhau Lodge, Palliser Bay, Featherston, Wairarapa, New Zealand (00 64 63 07 75 81; www.slh.com). Doubles start at NZ$686.25 (£266) including breakfast, cocktail hour and dinner; a full-day helicopter trip costs from NZ$2,300 (£892) for four people.

Metohi Kindelis, Crete

This beautiful late-Venetian farm once supplied the entire western region of Crete with fruit and vegetables. Today, part of it has been converted into two apartments. However, organic fruit is still grown here, including strawberries, apricots, oranges and tangerines, which guests can enjoy each morning. Each apartment sleeps up to four people and has a private swimming pool and garden. The farm's middle-floor apartment in particular offers fantastic views across the surrounding landscape.

Metohi Kindelis, Crete, Greece (00 30 28 21 04 13 21; www.metohi-kindelis.gr). Doubles from €150 (£107), including a basket of fresh fruit and farm products for breakfast.

Mazzeria Marzalossa, Italy

This 17th-century farmhouse has been recently restored and offers luxurious rooms and suites. Surrounded by ancient olive trees and stone-walled orchards, the farm also produces organic olive oil, wine and liqueur. Marzalossa was once a retreat for monks who enjoyed its tranquillity. The pool is sheltered by lemon groves. The owner runs courses for guests wanting to master rural Italian cooking.

Masseria Marzalossa, Fasano, Puglia, Italy (00 39 080 441 3024; www.marzalossa.it). Doubles from €109 (£79), including breakfast.