Our stay at Waikonini was so much more personal than a stay at a hotel or motel would have been. We loved the house, the furniture, the china, the rugs, the history. We had a barbecue in the garden which was a magical experience. Mary is a fantastic hostess and cook, and the meals she produced for us were incredible, with so many little extras added in. To keep the house entirely in character with its time, the bathrooms are not ensuite, which might not suit everyone if it's not a group booking, but we weren't too bothered. An added bonus for us was her little dog Angus and cat Paddington, as well as the all the bird life in the garden. For us - a group of friends and family with a personal link to the house - it was a perfect week. Signed: Jan Barker, Julie Barker, Lidy Riedstra, Ralph Allen