We really wanted a farmstay while we were in New Zealand. We got that - 150% of expectation, for unbelievably good value.

* Walk through the farm with Liviu, enjoying an apple picked right out of his orchard
* A beautiful private room with own entrance and en-suite bathroom, with a deck overlooking that pond you see in the photo. Truly, *that's* the view from the room
* Pukekos roaming around the place
* WiFi and good internet (because, you know, FaceBook)
* Sheep, chooks (new zealand for "chickens") and even Buddy The Dog to play with.

All this in a beautifully appointed home, full of furniture, art and memories from the different places this lovely family has lived.

But best of all was the family interaction. Each morning we had Anna's wonderfully cooked breakfast, with eggs from the chooks, olive oil from the olive tree orchard, and great conversations with Anna & Liviu.

To cap it all off, it's less than a mile from Jester's World Famous Cafe & Tame Eel Feeding creek, a wonderful couple of beaches and moments away from the lovely, friendly hamlet of Mapua.

It's like you get all of New Zealand in one spot.