Riverside Retreat – Martinborough, Wairarapa

Where: Riverside Retreat, Martinborough, New Zealand

When: 10 July 2007 to 14 July 2007

Who: My husband & I

Why: Our New Zealand winter honeymoon

Accommodation Details: Riverside Retreat is a self-contained circular arch house a little off the beaten (farm)track, though still convenient to Martinborough and all the Wairarapa region’s attractions. The property’s hillside site boasts the most amazing view of the South Wairarapa Valley and Plains, Ruamahunga River and Tararua Ranges. As far as romantic retreats and I go… if it don’t got a view, then it don’t get considered… and let me tell you, the view from Riverside Retreat rates way up there!

The kitchen (where I discovered the mighty Zyliss canopener and the joy of cooking on a gas hob) is fully equipped and stocked with continental breakfast supplies.

The upstairs’ bedroom has an ensuite bathroom (toilet, shower and bath); and I know I’m going on about the view, but the outlook from the shower is nothing short of spectacular. A comfortable bath pillow and scented bath gel were thoughtfully provided.

In the downstairs’ lounge there is a television and audio equipment, as well as an impressively furnished bookshelf. There is also a small upstairs’ living area and a downstairs’ queen bedroom with ensuite.

Things To Do: Well… the focus for us was eating, drinking and being merry; so if you are like-minded, then you’ve come to the right place.

• Dine out – we ate at French Bistro (the finalist in The Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Awards 2007) and Peppers Martinborough Restaurant (the food there was divine)
• Visit the local vineyards
• Browse the shops of Martinborough where you can sample and buy local and regional wines
• Go to Featherston, Greytown and Carterton for a spot of boutique and antique shopping, and a look at the local museums
• Go to the Martinborough Fair, which is held on the first Saturday of February and March of each year
• Go to Martinborough Wine and Food Festival (Toast Martinborough) held on the third Sunday of November each year
• Take a drive to Lake Ferry and have lunch at the Lake Ferry Hotel where locally caught whitebait is almost always on the menu.

Gallery: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge picture and view description.

The Verdict: Considering my overpowering need to hold the holiday-planning reins, so to speak, I think my husband did extremely well when he picked Martinborough as our New Zealand honeymoon destination. Likewise, I cannot fault Riverside Retreat as his choice of accommodation. I would love to come back here during summer to experience the food and wine festival atmosphere firsthand.

Helpful Links: MartinboroughNZ.com; Riverside Retreat; Destination Wairarapa;

Telegraph Hill Villas – Havelock North, Hawkes Bay

Where: Telegraph Hill Villas, Te Mata Hill, Havelock North, New Zealand

When: 4 January 2007 to 7 January 2007

Who: My husband and I

Why: A short romantic escape

Accommodation Details: Malcolm and I stayed at Telegraph Hill – a 17 acre olivery on Te Mata Hill – only three kilometres outside of Havelock North. There are two villas on the property, which are private and completely separated from one another and the hosts’ residence by olive trees.

We stayed in Villa One – the smaller and more intimate of the two villas. It sleeps two in a large queen bedroom; however, a portacot is available at no charge and would fit comfortably in either the bedroom or the lounge area. The kitchen is well stocked with the fixings for your first morning’s breakfast and plenty of condiments and pantry staples, including some of Telegraph Hill’s very own gourmet food product range. Next to Villa One is a floodlit astroturf tennis court for the night-time/evening tennis enthusiast. The hosts’ residence, a little further up the hill, has an infinity swimming pool available for guests’ use.

Telegraph Hill is an experience for all the senses: the feeling of the sun and breeze on your skin, the sound of the resident tui singing, the aroma of rosemary thick on the air, and of course the taste of good food enjoyed alfresco style while admiring the fantastic view from your hillside vantage point. Absolutely magic!

Things To Do:

• Te Mata Artisan Cheese Factory and The Cheese Cafe
• Terroir Restaurant at Craggy Range Winery
• Black Barn Village Growers Market
• Shopping in Havelock North
• Take a drive up Te Mata Peak
• Visit the local wineries
• Dine out

Gallery: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge picture and view description.

The Verdict: In my humble opinion, a romantic retreat should be just that: a retreat from day-to-day life in order to spend time with your partner… so the less time spent away from the villa, the better! Relax in the sunshine, dine outdoors, and enjoy the stunning vista together. If that’s all you do, then you will go home revitalised and with very fond memories of your stay at Telegraph Hill Villas.

On the other hand, those of you who like to get out and about will not be disappointed with the activities on offer in and around Havelock North: visit the wineries and beaches, enjoy the cuisine, stop by one of the local produce markets, go shopping in the village, or even take a ride in a hot air balloon! The sky is the limit (excuse the pun!)

Helpful Links: Havelock North Visitor Information; Havelock North Web; Hawkes Bay Tourism

Raglan Post Updated…

Please check out my Raglan, New Zealand post – it is finally COMPLETE!!!

Click on the photos in the Gallery to read a detailed description, see relevant links and even watch related videos and webcams!

In future, I will make sure I finish posts before publishing them for all to see. Thanks for your patience

Posts to Come …

At the moment my PC is away getting fixed – darn viruses, not to mention the useless, very well-known antivirus software company that my ‘techy’ brother told me was absolute cr*p. He couldn’t have been more correct.

Anyhooooo… once I get my computer back, with all my holiday photos in tact (pretty please/fingers crossed), I will start working on the following holiday posts:

• Just Paradise – Kuaotunu, Coromandel
• Powderhorn Chateau – Ohakune
• Pohutukawa Lodge – Lake Tarawera
• Telegraph Hill – Havelock North
• Riverside Retreat – Martinborough
• Freddie’s Place – Raglan (I know, I know. I still need to complete that post).

Another thing I’m considering is getting a domain name. If I do go that route, then my website will be www.newzealandholidaybliss.com (assuming that name is still available when I get round to it). I’ll keep you posted.

I look forward to sharing more of my New Zealand holidays with you real soon!

Freddie’s Place – Raglan, Waikato

Where: Freddie’s Place, Raglan

When: 27 Dec 2009 to 3 Jan 2010

Who: 3 young families and 3 sets of grandparents

Why: My extended family decided to holiday together over New Years 2010. It seems that no one in our group had visited Raglan on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island before… even more reason to go!

Accommodation Details: The main challenge was finding accommodation for all 16 of us under one roof. After many hours of surfing the net, I stumbled upon Freddie’s Place on the Holiday Houses website. It sleeps up to 15, and since one set of grandparents brought their motor home, it was big enough for our purposes. We bunked down in four bedrooms, but there is a fifth bedroom the owners will open up for an extra fee.

Freddie’s Place was at one time a backpackers and still has a communal toilet/shower block – 2 toilets, 2 showers and laundry area. This area was really convenient and coped with high-traffic during the nightly child-bathing regime.

Okay, so it’s not the flashy, boutique or quaintly cute accommodation I usually go for, but that wouldn’t have been practical for the large numbers involved or financially viable for the length of our stay. It is, on the other hand, extremely functional and comfortable and it has a decent-sized dining/lounge area and modern kitchen. The owners are helpful and friendly, but they give you plenty of privacy even though they live upstairs . Only the lower level of the house is rented out to holidaymakers.

Things To Do:

• Bridal Veil Falls
• Great coffee at The Shack
• Dinner at Orca Restaurant & Bar (try the pork belly – it was divine)
• Shopping at Centreplace, Hamilton
• Lollipops Playland & Cafe, Hamilton
• Raglan New Year’s Eve Parade
• New Year’s Eve fireworks display at midnight
• The beaches
• Safe swimming at the beach by Te Kopua Holiday Park
• Playground at Warihi Park – 4o Wallis Street

Gallery: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge picture and view description.

The Verdict: Raglan was a great family vacation choice. The township, while extremely compact, offered a good selection of cafes and the shops boasted an impressive range of fashion, local art and giftware. On the days that the weather didn’t cooperate (and the kids were getting cabin fever), Hamilton was just over half an hour’s drive away. On fine days, a visit to the beach and playgrounds was definitely on the agenda. The location of our accommodation meant that almost everything was within walking distance.

The only thing I can fault Raglan for is its gusty wind, which I suppose is necessary for the region’s great surf.

Helpful links: The Raglan Chronicle; Raglan Net; The Raglan Website

Hello Blogosphere!

With 2010′s arrival I have set myself a new challenge: the creation of a blog that allows me to share my passion for researching and reviewing holiday destinations with everyone.

Happy New Year everybody!