Akaroa Country House

We loved this place from the moment that we we turned off the sealed Takamatua Valley road into Bells Road, the small country road lined with trees, bushes and oversized rose covered hedges with wild birds flying across the road ahead and behind us, until we arrived at the main entrance to the property. A long winding avenue and driveway took us past small ponds and wooded areas with outdoor seats down to the main house. This is where the owners live.

There are two cottages available for guests to stay in. One is above the Garage adjacent to the carpark shared with the main house, it has its own verandah with a view over the beautiful rose gardens,Croquet lawn, outdoor swimming pool and back down towards Takamatua Bay which is just 400 metres away.

The second cottage French Hut which is more private and is extremely romantic is a small cottage down the end of a 100m path which lleads from the main house along a winding bush trail path past the Petanque court and over a burbling stream. The Cottage has a bedroom [pictured] and a separate bathroom. There are chairs and a table on the front deck with a view over the stream and completely surrounded by mature English Style Country Garden trees. There is a very private outdoor bath with hot and cold running water down by the stream from which there is a view of the bridge [pictured], the stream the trees and the cottage.

David and Sue serve drinks on their verandah at 5.30 am each evening and the guests are invited if they wish. If you require a bottle of Champagne served in your room, this is also available. Breakfast is provided if required, but for the evening meal guests are encouraged to travel into Akaroa just 5 km down the road where there are numerous award winning fine dining restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bakeries and an amazing fish & chip shop where the Akaroa cod at $4.00 for a huge amount battered and deep fried is just to die for. Or travel back 6km towards Christchurch to the Duvauchelle country pub.

Website: www.akaroacountryhouse.co.nz