Mairenui Rural Retreat is a three house farmstay complex nestled in
the scenic hill country of the Rangitikei District, in the Central North
Island of New Zealand.
We offer three levels of farmstay accommodation - The Retreat, The
Villa, and The Homestead (see below for details).
We also provide facilities for small conferences. Luxury in-house,
and self-contained accommodation for up to 22 people.
Mairenui is a working farm with our houses set in four acres of
parkland, in the scenic hill country of the Rangitikei District.
Two self-contained houses for single party bookings. Tennis, petanque,
croquet facilities. Great for small conferences, business retreats and
romantic weekends. Meals are available at The Homestead, which has an
in-house liquor license.
Location:
We are located 10 kilometers from State Highway One, on a scenic
through road to Palmerston North.
The turn-off from SH1 to Ruahine Road is approximately 50 meters
north of the village of Mangaweka, the village being recognizable by a
"Cookie Time" DC3 airplane café parked beside the road.
After Ruahine Road crosses the Rangitikei River, do not turn to the
left, but continue along the 5 kilometers of unsealed road.
A further 5 kilometers of sealed road and a large uphill section will
bring you to the gates of Mairenui.
This is the simplest and most direct approach, especially after a
long day behind the wheel.
The alternative is to come from the Palmerston North direction, and
pass through Feilding, Cheltenham, Kimbolton and Rangiwahia, a distance
of 84 kilometres.
The road is a well-maintained, occasionally winding scenic through
route.
Homestead:
Mairenui Homestead offers luxury in-house accommodation for up to
four people. One double room, with antique iron bedstead (with the
addition of wooden slats and a very firm mattress!), electric blanket
and sheepskin underlay; small sitting area with sofa (able to be made
into an extra bed), tea, coffee percolator, and a wide selection of
books and magazines; and a large slate-floored ensuite bathroom with
sunken, tiled bath/shower, toiletries, and hairdryer.
One twin room with handmade beds crafted from native totara timber
milled on the farm; slat bases, firm mattresses, electric blankets, and
feather duvets and pillows (blankets and other pillows available); two
easy chairs, tea, coffee plunger, a further selection of books and
magazines; and an ensuite shower/toilet, tiled in Italian marble.
Both rooms have electric heating, heated towel rails, bathrobes, and
individual verandahs with tables and chairs - great for relaxing after a
hard day's sightseeing, garden visiting or adventure. Two or three
course meals are available, with a pre-dinner drink and wine with dinner
included in the price. Mairenui is liquor licensed, enabling guests to
choose additional bottles from our cellar of mainly New Zealand wines. A
breakfast of your choice is provided, at a time which suits you, the
guest! As a rule, room service breakfast is not available.
The Retreat:
The Retreat is an architect-designed, 3½ storey timber dwelling, set
in a 700 year old stand of native trees. We chose a John Comeskey design
from the 1970's, and it was constructed by us, utilizing timber milled
on the farm.
The structure is open plan, leading from the semi-circular living
room, complete with music stack, television and free-standing fireplace,
up to the main dining, kitchen and utility area. The kitchen is paved
with red bricks and is complete with electric oven, microwave and for
the nostalgic, a wood-burning stove as well.
The bath/shower room and toilet are also brick floored, and instead
of windows, have wooden shutters opening to the native bush. The windows
however, are in the ceiling, with the whole roof being totally glassed!
Up the circular, brick-encased staircase are the two main bedrooms,
one with a queen-sized bed from which you can gaze over the surrounding
countryside through a two-storey high arched window ... or open the
French doors and enjoy the bird life from the private balcony. In the
season, the huge native wood pigeons (kereru) gorge themselves on the
berries of the nearby miro tree!
The other bedroom is smaller, with a double bed, and two small arched
windows built into the rough-timbered sloping walls. A third bedroom is
up a vertical ladder, with two single beds and a window above the stair
tower. An extra bed is available on the wide window seat in the dining
area, at the base of the high arched window.
Much of the wooden furniture was built by the resident German
cabinetmaker, from native timbers. The grounds are private, with roses,
rhododendrons and camellias, and a homemade barbecue and table. The
Homestead, where one can have all meals if desired, is only a short walk
away, over a small bridge and past the ponds and croquet lawn.
Altogether a romantic retreat for honeymooners, special weekenders, or
for two or three couples wanting to "get away from it all".
Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals are available at an extra cost
from The Homestead
The Villa:
A turn of the century homestead, The Villa was restored by David and
Matt in 1995. It boasts five bedrooms, and can sleep up to 10 people.
We at Mairenui have tried to keep the Villa as close to the original
as practicable - that means there is no TV or Music Stack, rather a
wind-up gramophone, small pool table, two open fires and a wood stove,
and lots of books and magazines. However, to make life easier for our
guests, we have provided an electric stove, refrigerator, kettle,
microwave, toaster, etc, and some electric blankets and heaters!
Verandahs on two sides of the house provide plenty of room for relaxing
on the comfortable seats in the sun. Large lawns, a home built barbecue,
and a view down the valley, and up to the Ruahine Ranges - what more
could one ask for?!!
Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals are available at an extra cost
from The Homestead.
Activities:
Mairenui offers a wide variety of on-site activities, such as tennis,
croquet, petanque, bush walks, river swimming and fishing.
There is an all-weather concrete tennis court with racquets and balls
supplied. The petanque (boules) court is full-size and equipped with
genuine stainless steel boules, and the croquet lawn is edged with
rhododendrons and camellias, and backed by a stand of native trees.
We have a fully-restored 1953 Landrover, in which David offers tours
of the farm, or just a ride down to the river to swim in our private
pools. With one of the few privately owned stretches of river, catch and
release brown trout fishing is available solely for guests.
However, if you're in the market for a relaxing, stress-free break,
there's no better place. The only sounds are the native birdlife and the
gentle whisper of the breeze.
Apart from everything the farm itself offers, there is a wide range
of activities and adventure available locally in the Rangitikei
District.
Directions:
- 10 kilometers off State Highway 1, halfway up the first hill,
gateway on left
