THE OLD GROVE FARMSTEAD: A Travel Guide To The Netherlands Of Lipa

The Covid-19 pandemic has indeed rendered those itchy feet of mine restless. My eyes have constantly longed to see scenery other than the four corners of my room, the kitchen and the bathroom. I could distract myself with online shopping for a moment but it makes my thirst for adventure even more insatiable. I’m kind of hesitant to go out even after the ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) has been lifted and even after some tourist sites have opened since I’m considered immunocompromised. Damn you, Lungs! But when one of my friends invited me to visit a Western-looking farm in Batangas, I just couldn’t say no. So here’s the story of how we had an epic day in The Old Grove Farmstead.

Our Old Grove Farmstead Story

I have been staying in Bulacan since the start of 2020 so I had to actually travel to Manila a day before our visit to the Old Grove Farmstead. I stayed at mom’s for the night. This will allow me to our call time at 5 AM without compromising sleep. I met with my travel buddies Dean and Johann in the 7/11 Merville Branch at exactly 5. We waited for another 30 minutes for one of their friends to arrive before we started the drive to Batangas.

We drove along the East Service Road and took Bicutan as our entry point to the SLEX. Twenty minutes into the drive, we stopped by the gas station near Sta. Rosa Toll exit to have coffee and to meet with the other squad who will be joining us for the day. While waiting and with a cup of my “expensive” (Haha. I have to emphasize that since I’m no fan of expensive stuff) Starbucks hot americano, I took the time to admire those several riders and their handsome motorcycles. An hour later, we continued the drive to Batangas.

I was kinda worried about the weather because it rained all morning during the drive. The sky was all gloomy when we finally entered the STAR Tollway at 7 AM. We exited at Tambo at 7:15 and 15 minutes later, we arrived at the Old Grove Farmstead. We actually got lost on our way there so don’t trust Waze so much. Rather, use Google Maps or might as well ask the locals. The roads to get there after turning away from the highway are kind of hard to find. The signs are somehow confusing so it’s best to ask for directions than spend minutes circling around.

Upon arriving, we were asked if we had reservations. The standard health and safety protocols followed. We were then allowed entry once everything was confirmed okay. We were one of the first few people to arrive that day. In fact, there were not many visitors who came and we savored the fact that we almost had the place to ourselves considering that it was a weekend. The riders I saw during our stopover surprisingly showed up with their badass motorcycles circling around the farm. Yes, you can ride your motorcycles in certain areas there.

We started exploring the farm and took our sweet time snapping photos in its every corner. The most prominent area was the barn which reminded me of the ones I see in European movies or those from the Southern US. But instead of housing livestock and haystacks, it is being used as a function hall for events such as weddings and parties. Another one of my favorites was the windmill which is actually the receiving area for visitors. The interior was similar to a wooden cabin with an intricately designed fireplace. Our musings were followed by chasing and feeding some ducks and being mesmerized by those adorable sheep.

The place is really astounding, especially that they have a herd of sheep just lounging in one of the grassy areas of the farm. The cold weather that day also made the scene even more enviable. If it wasn’t for the coconut trees towering from the distance that gave it away, anybody would think I just went to The Netherlands for the weekend. There’s also the hanging bridge and patch of flowery garden perfect for those Instagramable shots. My most favorite was the pool. It looked so effortlessly inviting the way its ombre blue water shimmered under the cloud-filled skies. I would have loved to explore more but the rain came pouring down that we had no choice but to take shelter in their lovely dining area.

Part of the P800/head fee that we paid for was a lunch meal. They normally serve it starting at 10 AM. Since there were other visitors who ordered prior to us, we didn’t get to eat until 11 AM. The food was worth the wait though. First, they served us with crispy kangkong as an appetizer which instantly became my favorite. The pumpkin soup was also very tasty and got some hint of spice and herbs to it. My medium-well ribeye steak also didn’t disappoint. Not to mention the delightful sides of stir-fried veggies and mashed potato that complimented the whole dish. It was definitely a bang for the buck!

After a sumptuous meal, we waited for the rain to mellow out a bit. We head out at 12NN to continue the fun in Tagaytay. Our time there may have been short but I enjoyed it especially after being stuck at home for the most part of the year. It was a great prelude to a pretty awesome adventure that was capped with a happy tummy and eyes filled with wonder at the end of the day.

How To Go To The Old Grove Farmstead

Address: Purok 5, U. Mojares St., Brgy Lodlod, Lipa 4217 Batangas

Public Transpo – From Buendia Gil Puyat Terminal, ride a bus going to Batangas (3Hrs | P160/way/head). Alight in Tambo Exit just beside Jollibee. Hire a tricycle to the Old Grove Farmstead (15 Min | P60-P70). You can also take the jeepney going to SM and alight at the street leading to the farm and ride the tricycle from there.

Note: The entryway is a bit tiny and hard to find so make sure to always watch out for the sign on your right.

Private – From Manila, drive to South Super H-way and continue to SLEX then STAR Tollway. Take the Tambo Exit then turn right at the T-section. Drive straight until you see the sign leading to the Old Grove Farmstead.

Useful Travel Tips

• Reservation is necessary and a 50% downpayment is a must. Walk-ins are welcome but not encouraged since the farm is trying to limit the number of visitors.
• To prevent being turned away, I highly recommend that you make a reservation prior to your visit via The Old Grove Farmstead Facebook page. It’s best to inquire whether or not they allow short visits for sightseeing only without the need to book a reservation.
• The farm is open from 8 AM – 5 PM. Visitors on a day tour can stay as late as 8 PM. For those who wish to stay overnight, I suggest inquiring directly from The Old Grove Farmstead Facebook page.
• The pool is off-limits during our visit and may continue to be so until the Covid situation improves.
• Bringing of food and beverages is not allowed. You can bring water but it has to be placed in a reusable container.
• Medical Certificate, Travel Pass and Q-Pass are not required to visit The Old Grove Farmstead.
• For safety, wearing a face mask and face shield is required.
• Social Distancing is strictly practiced.
• Elderly and children are allowed. Children must be accompanied by parents, if not, must have parents’ consent.

Rates & Other Essentials

There you have it, lovelies! I hope you enjoy our story in the Old Grove Farmstead. Should you have questions or would like to share your experience, you’re free to drop them in the comments. Share this with your friends and plan that awesome adventure now! See you next time. Ciao!