Ernest Hayes was the original Kiwi innovator, backyard boffin and all-round No 8 wire Einstein. The Hayes complex, which includes stables and a dairy in addition to the works and homestead, is set well back from the Ida Valley-Omakau Rd, backdropped by low hills. As hubs of industry go, it’s very pastoral. Rail-trailers, who in recent years have adopted the site as a prime stop on the multi-day cycling route, often describe it as an oasis.