Every year I travel around our gorgeous backyard and meet some of our favourite OTBT landowners. It’s a special time for me, made even more so by being in the company of my son Harley, who at 25yrs old lives away from home so I get him all to myself for 1 week.
This year we started from Christchurch and visited properties around Canterbury, the top of the South Island, Manawatu and Wanganui.
Day 1 saw us begin to explore Canterbury. We travelled to an amazing family farm steeped in history. Luxury Historic Cottage is simply gorgeous and we even got to enjoy dinner that evening with the family in the main homestead.
Next we visited Dower House, luxury accommodation which not only has an 12ha acclaimed garden, but a 6 hole golf course located on the farm that really tests your skills.
Further down the road at Starvation Hill lies the amazing Hilltop Bliss. This purpose built cabin built on a sheep farm was cosy, offered views for miles and had the best log fire!
To top off our Canterbury tour, we visited Broomfield, and a spectacular 2000 hectare property located on the Waipara River offering 4 accommodation options, we especially loved the Tranquil B&B Suite. Feed the lambs, pat Barney the donkey, meet Kune Kune pigs Wilbur and Ginger or simply marvel at the views.
We then drove to Nelson, visiting the Modern Shearers Cottage, a cute and cosy renovated shearers hut located on a pear orchard. We loved the quirky ceiling pitch, repurposed feature windows, the re-created traditional concrete floor and roaring fire. Breakfast was even delivered to our door complete with pear juice and preserved pears which come from their own fruit trees.
Feeling well rested, we caught the ferry to Wellington on a day when both the Marlborough Sounds and Cook Strait was a mill pond.
Our next stay was Hidden Valley Cottage, in between Otaki and Levin. A little heritage gem, over 100 years old, lovingly restored and full of charm. We were treated to another yummy breakfast with delicious homemade jam, and eggs from the hens, and loved our arrival treat, homemade apricot slice!
Onwards into the Wanganui region and to the remote Breathtaking River Retreat. You will love the raw beauty of this place. We fed hand reared deer and admired their St Bernard show dogs and puppies. A highlight was the exhilarating buggy ride down to the river, through the bush and past 1500yr old Totara trees.
We determined we loved a river! And so we moved onto stay at Rangitikei River Rooms. This a 3 generational property, with a lodge that has the most amazing central fire, a converted old bus into a quirky room and lots of cute riverside rooms. There’s petanque, an outdoor chess set, volleyball court and the magnificent river to explore and enjoy.
Travelling closer to home we visited the Wilderness Retreat in the heart of the Central Plateau. The owners have built everything onsite, from sheds to greenhouse to the cottage and large house. We loved the snow-capped views of Mt Taranaki one way and Mt Ruapehu & Mt Ngauruhoe the other, coupled with the best star filled nights, this is nature at its best.
Last stop of our epic week was the luxurious glamping tent Te Awa Glamping located just outside Taumaranui and perched on a 300 acre farm overlooking Whanganui River. Most products used here are locally made or sourced, ranging from the outdoor fire to the shower soap! The welcome basket is brimmed with locally made produce and the local jet boat operator will even take you for a ride to the small restaurant, accessible only by river.
What better way to spend a week than by getting off the beaten track with one of your favourite people. It is such a privilege to meet the people that support us and we can’t wait for the next one! Who knows, maybe one of my other sons might come along for the ride.
