THE HOMESTAY
Your hosts, Chris & Sabine, established their orchard and organic mudwall veggie gardens some 20 years ago. On their 2500m2 property, they keep chickens and ducks, there are ponds and beehives, and a flock of sheep next door. There are loads of tuis and fantails (piwakawaka) and some visiting wood pigeons (kereru), rosella and kaka. Your host's home is made entirely from macrocarpa ha
rvested off the property. Chris & Sabine's lifestyle can be described as environmentally aware and committed to a healthy, meat-free (some fish) holistic – from the garden to the table – diet. They are happy to share with their guests if wanted. Sauerkraut, kimchi, fruit leather, dried fruit and organic bread, (flour is milled on site from organic grains from the Hawkes Bay) are made on the premises and guests are welcome to learn how. THE ACCOMMODATION
There is a bedroom (queen-size bed), lounge, kitchenette (fridge and tea and coffee facilities) ensuite in a self-contained cottage. The accommodation is walking distance to the township, and is equipped with a private deck for breakfast, watching sunrises or sunsets, or just to relax with a glass of wine. There is also a loft area which can sleep up to 3 and can be negotiated to form part of your stay. THE AREA
Warkworth is a bristling township situated 65kms (1 hour) north of Auckland. A further 7 minute drive takes you to Matakana with it's Farmers Market (Saturdays 7 – 1pm), cinemas, restaurants and bars.
10 minutes drive from Warkworth, you reach Snells Beach and the Brick Bay Winery and Sculpture Park. The closet ocean beach is Omaha and it takes you about 15 minutes to get there from Warkworth.
15 minutes from Puhoi (canoe river tours, historic hotel, bush walks
ATTRACTIONS
Just to name a few attractions of the area:
Wineries
Ascension
Brick Bay
Mahurangi
Matakana Estate
Duck Creek
Hyperion
Markets
Matakana Farmers
Puhoi
Attractions
Goat Island Marine Reserve
Restaurants
Bars
Tahi Bar, 1 Neville Street
Bridge House
Matakana Pub
Supermarkets
Gateway to Kawau Island (ferry service off Sandspit)
Walks
Parry Kauri Park – 800 year old kauri tree with about 2kms of boardwalk through the bush to bird feeding observation platform. It is also the site of the Warkworth Museum. Dome Valley walkway to lookout over Warkworth, ? minutes return
Puhuihui viaduct walkway ….....................
Scandrett's Bay, over looking the islands in Kawau Bay
Tawharanui ….....
THE DEAL
2 guests (excl. loft) for one night including a standard breakfast - $170
Dinner on request – Vegetarian 3 courses $30/person
