If you’re looking for somewhere a bit special, a secret place with a bit of magic, then Fiona’s retreat is for you. You are surrounded by virgin bush with walking trails, birdsong and bucolic scenes everywhere you look, I was bowled over by the hospitality and the delicious goodies Fiona left me, cheese, farm-fresh milk, home-baked bread, top-notch wine, and I even had oven-warm cookies delivered to the door.
Fiona, her husband Grant and her two girls are the warmest and most hospitable people you could ever meet. They even let me win my first ever game of Trivial Pursuit :)
Fiona is an artist and her retreat is chock full of lovely and unique touches. I loved waking up to the stain-glass window. She also makes cosmetics and creams you can sample to your heart’s content.
Final word: the trip up to their secret valley is worth staying there alone!
And it’s the ideal escape for a fisherman, close to the Wangapeka and Montueka rivers.