Beekeeping services in Byron Bay & the Northern Rivers

We come to you for hive inspections, advice, management and swarm removal

Honey Co

Fine Flow Honey Straight From The Hive

Queens and Nucleus Colonies

For requeening and hive establishment

How can we help

Hive inspections & management

Regular inspections and ongoing management for a single backyard hive through to apiaries of up to 100 hives, so problems are caught early.

Flow Hive setup

Flow Hive setup and ongoing management, from establishing your first colony to troubleshooting along the way.

Swarm & feral colony removal

Pete is a bee removal specialist who is intimately familiar with the biology and behaviour of the honey bee. Bee rescues, hive removals and swarm catching.

Beekeeping advice

Practical advice for new and experienced beekeepers, plus beekeeping workshops at The Farm in Byron Bay.

Queens & nucleus colonies

Queens and nucleus colonies for requeening and hive establishment.

Northern NSW & Gold Coast

We are based on the NSW North Coast and cover the Clarence, Northern Rivers and Gold Coast areas.

About Us

Pete Wilkins has kept bees since the age of 8, learning while helping his dad on the small NSW Northern Rivers bush acreage where he grew up.

Ever since then he has been fascinated with the wonderful and fascinating world. He now manages his own apiaries as well as several small scale semi-commercial apiaries around the North Coast area.

Pete absolutely loves doing bee rescues, hive removals, and catching swarms.

He also owns and maintains the picturesque Flow Hive apiary at The Farm in Byron Bay and runs beekeeping workshops there.

Pete Wilkins attending his Flow Hive beehive

Swarm, Hive & Feral Colony Removal

Found bees in a wall cavity, under the eaves, or hanging from a tree or fence? Honey bee swarms and feral colonies can turn up almost anywhere on the North Coast, and Pete regularly deals with everything from a swarm on a fence post to established comb inside a wall.

If you find a swarm, keep people and pets back and avoid spraying or disturbing the bees. Send us a photo and the location and we will get back to you.

Honey bee swarm clustered on a timber fence post in a paddock — Swarm on a fence post

Honey bees covering a box next to spare hive frames — Swarm settled on a box

Small honey bee swarm hanging in long dry grass — Swarm in long grass

Honeycomb and bees exposed inside an opened wall cavity — Colony in a wall cavity

Established honeycomb exposed inside a timber eave — Comb in a timber eave

Honeycomb tucked above a timber beam under the eaves of a house — Comb under the eaves

Honeycomb removed from a feral colony, laid out on the grass — Comb from a removal

Close-up of honey bees working on comb — Honey bees on the comb

Beehives stacked on timber pallets in a small apiary beside bushland — A small apiary

Specialising in Beekeeping Advice

A beehive is a dynamic, complex, and constantly evolving ecosystem.

Sometimes as a new beekeeper it can become overwhelming to regularly check your hive, to identify and troubleshoot problems, or just to understand what your bees are doing and whether their behavior is usual.

Hivecare specialises in Flow Hive setup and ongoing management, as well as single or multiple bee colony and apiary setup, management, inspection and advice for all apiaries under 100 hives.

Not sure whether what you are seeing in your hive is normal? Send us a photo or give us a call. Pete also runs beekeeping workshops at The Farm in Byron Bay.

If you’ve got a beehive that’s in need some love and attention:

Byron Bay, Northern Rivers & Gold Coast

Hivecare is based on the NSW North Coast and comes to you. We service the Northern Rivers, including the Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and Tweed areas, as well as the Clarence and the Gold Coast.

Call 0408 068 578 or email petewilkinsbees@gmail.com with your location and what you need help with.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you work?

Hivecare is based on the NSW North Coast and covers the Northern Rivers (including Byron Bay), the Clarence and the Gold Coast. Get in touch with your location and we will let you know if we can help.

Do you work with Flow Hives?

Yes. Pete is a Flow Hive specialist and offers Flow Hive setup and ongoing management. He also owns and maintains the Flow Hive apiary at The Farm in Byron Bay.

Can you help with only one or two hives?

Absolutely. We offer inspection, management and advice for single hives and multiple colonies, for all apiaries under 100 hives.

I have found a swarm or bees in my wall. What should I do?

Keep people and pets back, and do not spray or disturb the bees. Take a photo from a safe distance and get in touch with the location. Pete is a bee removal specialist and handles swarms, feral colonies and hive removals.

Do you run beekeeping workshops?

Yes, Pete runs beekeeping workshops at The Farm in Byron Bay. Get in touch to find out what is coming up.

Do you offer queens, nucleus colonies or honey?

Hivecare can supply queens and nucleus colonies for requeening and hive establishment, as well as fine flow honey straight from the hive. Availability changes through the season, so get in touch to check.