The Far Pavilion: Waiarapa

Rustic and romantic, tucked away in the Tararua Foothills, surrounded by farmland and native bush. Loads of character and great for a couples night away. Not suitable for kids as open coal range but you can bring your canine friend. We visited in the winer and had fantails jumping around the deck, snow topped mountains in the distance and a warm coal range...A nicve mixture of luxury as well as retaining that batchy/Hutt in the bush type feeling. Would be equally nice in the summer too.http://www.bookabach.co.nz/holiday_homes/dsp_listing.cfm?bachId=3098

Te Ruru Log Cabin- Whakatane

Lovingly crafted log cabin set amongst beautiful native bush. Loads of bird life, this is old native untouched native forest and you can feel it. There's something indescribably cosy about a log cabin, the smell of the wood, smooth rounded walls, crafted wood furniture ..log cabins are just simply sensual retreats...Te Ruru is lovely to stay at..rustic, simple and very very special. You can wander over the farmland and through the bush for miles, or you can even organise for a horse trek to depart from the cabin and ride o'er them there hills. Bring insect repellent if you plan to sit outside at night...I was feasted upon, but mozzies always seem to love me...  Sleeps up to 10...Pets ok. Who doesn't love a log cabin in the bush? http://www.whakatane.info/archive/story.101375.html

Ahu Ahu Beach Villa's: Oakura Taranaki

Gorgeous Villa's overlooking the sea in Oakura, Taranaki. Each Villa has been architectually designed using an abundance of recycled materials such as wharf tiles and 100 year old french clay tiles. The villa's are situated in breathtakingly beautiful setting with Mt Taranaki rising up in the distance. Each villa sleeps up to four. Perfect for the summer months but we stayed here in the winter and were blessed with some lovely suny days. Big firepit to sit around outside at night, tell stories and drink wine. If you've for littlies you would have to watch them with the stairs as the bedroom is loft style. Memorable place to stay. http://www.ahu.co.nz/activities.html    

Okuti Garden's Akaroa

Take your pick of staying in a yurt, a teepee, a house truck, earth brick studio or farmhouse.We stayed in the housetruck....(named Bronwyn by the way.....if you want to be cheeky you can always tell people that you spent the night in Bronwyn) Anyway with that choice on offer you are pretty much GUARANTEED to have some hosts with character. Your hosts are Janie, Jim and their wee boy Sol who offered plenty of great conversation, gave us a tour round the organic garden and hosted a delicious breakfast. I loved the beautiful warm outdoor shower. When we were there we also had the extra company of a baby kunekune pig who would come running up to the back of the housetruck squeaking with excitment to say hi...Before settling down at Okuti Garden's Janie and Jim toured round in their housetruck with baby Sol, as you do....They describe themselves as "eco-friendly, child friendly and vegetarian friendly. Just friendly, actually!" Now everyone knows I've got a well cultivated hippy streak but even if your not the hippyish type, give Okuti Gardens' a go! I guarantee it will be more fun and memorable than a motel. Here's the link http://www.okuti.co.nz/index.html

Foxbrow Cottage: Martinborough

I love places with character and this was certainly one of them. Built by a craftsman builder with gorgeous woodwork throughout and beautiful stained glass windows (his wife made the windows). Got that cute, cosy feel. Chickens clucking away in the back yard, farmyard garden, orchard, ornamental coal range, fresh air...Reminds me a bit of an old fashioned doll's house from the outside...Here's the link to their site http://www.foxbrow.co.nz//index/Home/Cottage/The%20Cottage/

Ohau River Cottage: Levin

Not far from Welly and you feel like you are in a little haven of heaven....We stayed here last year and this wee cottage is such a relaxing retreat. Arrived to homemade fudge, bacon and eggs in the fridge and fresh juice...One of those places that has a lot of attention to detail, beautiful gardens, great for a walk through the paddocks down to the river..Wood fire for cosy winter nights. Sleeps 4, they say no kids because they have an unfenced pond/marsh area out out the back that they don't want kids to fall into, however we were able to bring our 6 month old baby. You can bring your dog as well and I guarantee it will have fun roaming around the property. Loads of DVD's, books, magazine's.. I would reccomend for a couples 'romantic type retreat' Much nicer than staying in a hotel.
Link to the website.  http://www.ohaurivercottage.co.nz/home.html
   

Welcome!

Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog! Its all about cool, quirky and enchanting places to stay around NZ. In the last few years I've done a bit of travelling around NZ, one of my favorite little obsessions is digging around and finding interesting places to bunk down for a few days...Whether it be housetrucks and yurts in Akaroa, little log cabins hidden away in the Bay of Plenty Bush or amazing Hundertwasser inspired chalets under the majestic aura of Mt Taranaki; if its cool and quirky with great hosts and a special environment and if I'm holidaying in the area I aim to find it!

I'm not writing about the average hotel/motel, its got to be something out of the ordinary, with exceptional hospitality, beautiful surrounds and usually a bit off the beaten track; something that has stuck in my mind. The kind of place that you might want to go for a special weekend away. Im not going to do  negative reviews, if I don't like it then I won't bother writing about it......and as we  have a wee 14 month baby its mostly family friendly places and self contained accommodation so we don't disturb anyone getting up in the middles of the night tending to sick children with ear infections..(ughhh..my last holiday!)...I'm going to try and add a couple of reviews a week. So if your taking a trip and want  to treat yourself with somewhere special to stay but can't be bothered doing the leg work then check my blog! You never know I may have been hanging out in the neighbourhood, and I just may have found the perfect place to stay.

BTW, the picture is of Ahu Ahu Beach Villa's in Oakuru, Taranaki.