Our stay at the Gatehouse, in lovely Lowry Bay, with Philip as our host has been the highlight of our first five weeks in New Zealand. We could not have asked for a better home base for our two week exploration of Wellington and surrounding communities. Nor could we have asked for a better host. Philip was so welcoming and helpful, right from our first correspondence to the end of our stay. A bonus for us was meeting and interacting with members of his family, all super nice people. While Wellington proper had been our destination, and we explored it well, we were pleasantly surprised with what we found in Eastbourne, Lowry Bay, and Lower Hutt. We also made day trips to the Kapiti Coast and Kaitoke Regional Park, each a fascinating place. And, of course, there was the backyard pool and hot tub, which we retreated to after our daily forays. Such a great experience in every way. Kia Ora Philip.