About Us

After nearly 27 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy Elaine retired from this career, ready for a new life in the Far North. She is very interested in gardening, has a huge passion in wine, arts and crafts and local history.

Her ancestry also includes a whakapapa through Ngai Tahu (South Island Maori) back through 13 generations of which she is still learning more about.

Elaine was born in Lincoln, Christchurch before joining the Navy in 1982. Elaine has travelled to Australia, Singapore, England, Scotland, Wales, France, Canada, USA, and Fiji. One of the New Zealand Navy's former frigates is now a sunken wreck in the Bay of Islands - ex HMNZS CANTERBURY, along with HMNZS WAIKATO, and HMNZS TUI near the Tutukaka Coast.

 

Graham was born in Pukekohe, Auckland and later moved to Kaikohe where his father was the local traffic officer until 1974 when the family returned to England. Graham has recently completed 30 years service from the Royal Navy and more recently in the New Zealand Navy.

Graham has completed the full circle of life coming back to only a few kilometres from where he finished his Kiwi life in Kaikohe before going to England with his family at the age of 12.

Graham says 'it has taken him 31 years but he has finally come home'. All he has to do is get rid of the 'Pommie' accent and get his real Kiwi one back!

The Gardens
Planting throughout the five acre section inccludes a native area of trees to attract the local birdlife, the vegetable garden of home grown potatoes, garlic, chillies, tomatoes, shallots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and onions just to name a few plants growing.  The compost bin has been activated recycling the waste that the hens don't eat, and the worms are doing their bit to help the compost action too. 

The roses include Rosa Deep Secret, Diamonds are forever, Midwife, Celebration, Elina, Jean Ducher, Winchester Catheral, Mary Rose, Sharifa Asma, to Madame Alfred Carriere, and Wedding Day on the pergola of which different varietities bloom from spring through to late autumn.  The other plants include gardenias, daphnes, and the tropical palms of Nikau, Queen and King to the pergola planted with wisteria and clematis.  Succulents grow well in the rock garden and the hedgerow along the front fence has 2500 daffodils planted underneath that put on a wonderful show in the early spring.

The Pets and Wildlife
The lodge also has it's own family pets: the cat Reilly, and two labradors Meg and Ben, with wildlife ranging from the paradise ducks, blue herons, plovers, pheasants, lorikeets, sparrows, mynas, and kingfishers to name but a few of our daily 'non human' visitors.  The fish pond contains comets, fantails, lion heads, celestials and shubumkins with the resident frog - Kermy to the whistling tree frogs.  Each summer we stock the pond with tadpoles.  You can hear the frogs singing in the evenings around the pond and gardens.

Graham and Elaine value 'Kiwi' friendship, hospitality and meeting new people. They will add that personal touch to whatever they do. Elaine and Graham want your stay to be a relaxed and enjoyable so that it will be filled with many happy memories that can be shared over a drink or two in the years to come.