The Falls Retreat has been announced as a finalist in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards.

Located between Waihi and Paeroa along the Hauraki Rail Trail cycleway, The Falls Retreat has been announced as a contender for the Most Sustainable Small Business Award.

The Most Sustainable Small Business Award honours New Zealand businesses, with less than 20 staff, who have achieved extraordinary results through an environmental or sustainability project in the past 12 months.

The Falls Retreat has been recognised for their commitment to sustainability which includes their paddock to plate ethos supported by their extensive kitchen veggie gardens, waste management systems which include composting and recycling and their involvement in community initiatives including educational workshops for local schools and ‘Barter at The Bistro' where locals are encouraged to bring in excess produce in exchange for a coffee or two.

Co-Owner Emma Walters says that she is thrilled to be a finalist.

'Over the past 7 years our Bistro, headed by award winning chef Brad King, has been awarded various culinary awards, but this is the first time we have been recognised for our commitment to sustainability.”

'We have always adopted a natural approach to life and business, we try to live and work sustainably and do business ethically using local and home grown products and with a focus on protecting the environment.”

'It's something we feel passionate about! We have started sharing our knowledge of sustainable, organic practices by hosting educational workshops and gardening ourselves.”

'Our environment goal is to grow on the success of these recent workshops and offer a wider range of courses to promote sustainable practices to include such topics as bee-keeping, preserving and fermenting, seed saving and cooking from scratch.”

Winners will be announced at the Beautiful Awards Gala Dinner, in Auckland Friday October 26.

'We would love to see as much support for The Falls Retreat as possible!” says Emma.

If you'd like to purchase tickets, the information can be found here.