We had the pleasure of meeting Richard and Sarah upon check in. The personal touches they do for the guests are very much appreciated. The house is as pictured and so welcoming. Our 6 year old son was eager to play with the toys, we all sat and played board games at night around the fire, and he was most delighted to read through many of the books that were in the house. He’s a new fan of Roald Dahl after devouring 6 books during our stay. The kitchen is fully stocked and ready for you to create your meals in. We did our shopping in Christchurch before heading to the home although there are stores in Geraldine and smaller stores in Methven. Appreciated the laundry and had fun drying clothes outside. We were able to do day activities in the Peel Forrest to see waterfalls, hike around the Rakaia Gorge, Lake Taupo, and Mount Somers. A wonderfully delightful stay for our first trip to NZ.