Beekeeper Starter Hive

Get buzzing with bees with our Beekeeper Starter Hive. Watching your hive grow from a nucleus hive is the best way to learn “on-the-job”. Your bees are supplied in a transportable Hive doctor corflute box and everything you need to grow that into a 2 box fully working hive.

We understand that starting a new hobby can be daunting, that’s why we provide lifetime after sales phone support to assist with your beekeeping journey: available to answer any questions you may have, and provide guidance and support as you learn the ins and outs of beekeeping.

Being a beekeeper is a rewarding hobby that can bring a lot of joy and benefits. One of the main joys of beekeeping is the satisfaction of watching your bees thrive and produce honey. Additionally, beekeeping can provide a sense of connection to nature and the environment, as bees play a crucial role in pollination and the ecosystem. It also allows you to learn about the fascinating biology and behaviour of bees, as well as the art and science of beekeeping. In terms of benefits, beekeeping can provide a source of fresh, local honey and other bee products such as beeswax and propolis. It can also help to improve the health of your garden and local ecosystem by increasing the number of pollinators. Overall, being a beekeeper can be a fun, educational, and rewarding hobby for people of all ages.

Your Starter Hive consists of:

• Hive Doctor corflute nucleus box with 5 full depth langstroth frames and a newly-mated queen
• 2 supers: flatpack or assembled (new, raw NZ pine boxes require assembly (if purchased unassembled), treatment, and painting before installing bees)
• 13 additional frames (5 frames in nucleus box = 18 frames total)
• Hive base: timber or Hive Doctor plastic bottom board with trays
• Hive lid: timber with metal cover or Hive Doctor Therma-Lid
• Queen excluder
• Emlock strap
• Varroa mite test kit
• Guardian small hive beetle entrance guard

Which setup for you?

• Hive Doctor base & therma lid: recommended for coastal, humid areas where small hive beetle are active
• Timber base & lid: traditional style of hiveware, suitable for cooler climates and high country.

The nucleus hives typically contain:

• 5 frames of eggs, capped and uncapped brood in all stages
• A mated, healthy and robust queen
• 5000 – 8000 odd bees

Our apiary is AFB disease-free and we do not use chemicals or antibiotics.

Take the first step towards becoming a beekeeper today with The Starter Hive, and get buzzing! Or upgrade to our Complete Beekeeping Hive Starter Kit to add 2hr Beekeeper Basics Training and equipment kit.

To provide the least interruption and stress to the bees, we only offer collection after dark.

Postage not available: pickup only from Coutts Crossing NSW.

If you would prefer to pay 50% deposit, with the balance payable upon collection, please send us your email address, phone number and what you’d like to order and we will send you an invoice.

Registering as a beekeeper is compulsory in NSW and we require your hive registration number prior to collection. Apply online here.

We have loads of great info to get your started here.