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REGION THREE
FYFFE COUNTRY LODGE - KAIKOURA
Fyffe Country Lodge is situated in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine. It has stunning mountain views and is within easy reach of the rugged Kaikoura coast where you can go whale watching or swim with the dolphins. The accommodation is to the highest standard and if that wasn't enough you can breakfast each morning on a selection of food that Chris or Colin provide. When we were there we failed to go whale watching because of the weather so breakfast was taken in the Victorian clad dining room rather than out in the courtyard.
The bedrooms are luxuriously furnished with no nasty wooden clothes hangars to get splinters in your fingers. Told you I say this Chris. Seriously everything you could possibly want for a tranquil, leisurely time is provided. There is also a restaurant, which serves evening meals and although we didn't get the chance to sample anything, arriving too late one night and being out numbered by the women pilots of New Zealand on the other night, we could see that the food surpassed the heights most of these pilots had actually flown at.
But Fyffe Lodge has something else that no other accommodation we have stayed in can provide. It has its own brand of Seafood Chowder and, when we left, Chris gave us two packets, which we could sample later. We thought we might offer one as a prize in some competition we would run but after trying the first we thought this was a bad idea so we ate the second one too. Sorry but no doubt if you go to their website you can see if you could get your own. Even better, go and spend a night or two at the Lodge.
One other interesting thing about the Lodge is the way it is constructed. It has walls of rammed earth and roofing of hand split Canadian cedar. Although it was only built in 1993 it has that timeless feel to it and set, as it is, among a very English country garden it is a superb place to spend a few days and unwind from the pace of modern life.
Contact Details: Website www.fyffecountrylodge.com; email: fyffe@xtra.co.nz Tel:0064 (0)3 3196869
Blenheim is a beautiful town in the north of the South Island and we were lucky to experience it while staying at Green Gables, a Bed and Breakfast run by Mike and Debbie Pepler. This is a lovely house situated on the banks of the sparkling Opawa River, indeed you can climb a few steps (note the use of the words a few, Debbie) and see the river flowing past. The gardens around the house are beautifully laid-out and Mike and Debbie also grow some fruit and vegetables.
The rooms are spacious with everything you could need. A nice little touch is the toiletries, like soap and shampoo, being available with the house label on them. The house is just a short ride from the coast and we drove to Cloudy Bay, I think, and then climbed a few steps (note the use of the words a few, Debbie) and we could see the North Island. A little further along and at White's Bay there was a beautiful cove, unspoilt and, when we were there, totally deserted.
The following morning we were treated to a superb breakfast with cereals, porridge (made with a pinch of salt) and home made marmalade and jam. And, as a final touch, making the whole thing so good, there were home made muffins. I don't think you could find a more tranquil place, nor a more welcoming pair of hosts. Even the birds seemed friendlier than elsewhere as a little fantail flew all around me when I was walking in the garden. There can be few better places to spend a few days and the word few is correctly used, Debbie.
Contact Details: Website www.greengablesbedandbreakfast.co.nz; email: green_gables_blenheim@xtra.co.nz Tel:0064 (0)3 577 9205 or, within NZ, 0800 273 050
MONACO HOTEL and RESORT - NELSON
The Monaco Hotel, though built very recently, is made in the old style of a wooden cottage, a very large wooden cottage it's true. Old wooden beams were used for the building and so the place has a genuine old feeling to it. There is a lot of attention put into the details and the whole place make you feel very melancholic about old times that have passed. Long narrow corridors are lit by ornate old lamps, giving a warm glow. In this old setting all the rest is very modern, the mirrors in the bathrooms won't steam because they are heated; thanks to the floor heating the whole place is really warm, whether it is the corridor, bathroom or the room.
But in all this old world charm there is something very modern too. In the bar there is a computer waitress who will ask you to pay for your drinks. Then, for your convenience, you can swipe your key and the charge will be put on your room. The waitress is very responsive so if you are go, socialise with her. However she has been known to tell you not to touch what you can't afford if you get too friendly.
The hotel is situated very close to the airport. It has a nice outside area with a little pond with ducks and there is also a restaurant downstairs. Though it is not included in the package and is charged separately, there is broadband in every room and you can even rent a laptop if you need it and your washing will be done for you if you wish.
Contact Details: Website www.monacoresort.co.nz; email: hotel@monacoresort.co.nz Tel:0064 (0)3 547 8233 or, within NZ, 0508 666 226
Our stay in Nelson was full of blue skies, a nice atmosphere and made even better by the time we spent at Amber Court Motel. It was a really pleasant surprise when we were shown to our unit. It was so large, could easily accommodate a full family and had everything we could want, including a spa bath, which could also accommodate a full family if required. We decided not to go and rent one and so had it all to ourselves. The motel is close enough to Nelson to be convenient but far enough away from the city to give quiet, peaceful evenings.
Craig and Philippa only took over the motel a few months ago and already they are making some changes but more importantly they are keen to know what their guests think. We couldn't find anything at all to suggest until Ev, who takes these sort of things into account, suggested a different colour paint in the bathroom. Apparently the beige colour was not to her liking and she felt more colour was needed. Of course if they hadn't had a nice spa then she wouldn't have spent so much time in the bathroom and probably wouldn't have noticed the paintwork.
Seriously, one of things that always amazes me is how different places can make different charges for normal facilities. It seems they try to take advantage of the poor traveller but not at Amber Court. Washing machine and dryer charges were very reasonable and it all contributed to us having a great time there.
Contact Details: Website www.nelsonmotorinn.co.nz; email: amber@ts.co.nz Tel:0064 (0)3 548 5059 or, within NZ, 0800 626 364
We had never intended to stay in Picton. We were just going to drive in, go straight on the ferry and leave. But the weather plays nasty tricks and we had been told that a bad crossing of the Cook Strait was not something to experience if you could avoid it. So, hearing the weather was on the bad side of foul we arrived in Picton and decided to stay the night somewhere. The place has a large number of hotels and motels and whatever and we were extremely grateful that the Broadway Motel could, at very short notice, agree to put us up for the night.
The motel is modern and the rooms are clean and spacious with all facilities. Whilst we only spent one brief night there we would happily recommend them to anyone either caught like us or who fancies some time in Picton. It has to be a pretty good place to stay if you can feel good in such bad weather.
Contact Details: Website www.boradwaymotel.co.nz; email: N/A Tel:0800 101 919 within NZ
