House guests – A happy reflection....
- Julie James
- May 30
- 5 min read
Northland, New Zealand
“Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie,
And we provide the rest”
As New Zealand moves firmly into autumn, we have said goodbye to our final visitors for the summer and are preparing to head off to the northern hemisphere to escape the New Zealand winter and catch up with family and friends in the UK.
We are blessed to live in a beautiful location in the far north of New Zealand, and all this becomes extra special when shared with visiting family and friends. While we appreciate the stunning beauty of where we live, having guests reminds us of just how lucky we are to live where we do.
The house is very visitor friendly, and guests quickly find their favourite spot to maybe watch the sunrise, read a book, have an early morning coffee or just relax, watch the sea and escape the world for a while.
Before the evening meal the deck outside the kitchen is the focal point; cold beers are opened, bottles of chilled wine come out of the fridge accompanied by plates of nibbles, and a lovely buzz of chat and laughter fills the early evening air.
Having visitors is great fun and an excuse to become tour guides once again proudly showing the beauty of our part of this wonderful country. It is exciting planning trips and ‘tiki tours’ creating shared experiences and memories that last long after the visit is over.
Moreover, hosting is a two-way street of sharing experiences, traditions, and ideas. These exchanges can be enriching, and inspiring and I feel we learn so much from our lovely guests, hopefully they have also taken something away with them when they leave.
Every guest, without fail, brings something new into our life. It might be a new recipe, a book recommendation, a fishing tip....... a stay with us is often a small part of our guests extended holiday, and they bring a wealth of inspiring travel recommendations.
Once the visit is over and the beds stripped, something always remains, a forgotten pair of sunglasses on a side table, a sun hat hanging on the line.......but, beyond the physical items, our guests leave behind experiences and stories, now woven into the fabric of the house. The echoes of shared meals, impromptu music nights, or night-time debates about life’s great mysteries don’t disappear—they settle into the walls, becoming part of the house’s history.
The joy of house guests is about more than hosting, it is about enjoying a space where love, laughter and connection can thrive and hopefully our guests go home with happy memories of their stay.
We have reached the end of our visitors for now, but our calendar has already started to fill up with new and returning visitors for 2026 and we cannot wait to do it all over again.
For information.....
If you are travelling to beautiful Northland, New Zealand, there is a whole host of fabulous things to see and do. This is in no way a fully comprehensive Northland guide, but here are a few things, local to us, that we love to share with our guests.....
Paihia and Russell
We love to mooch around the quirky, coastal town of Paihia and then take the ten minute ferry from Opua to the charming, historic seaside town of Russell. A town which holds an important place in New Zealand’s history, being the country’s first seaport, its first European settlement and New Zealand’s first capital in nearby Okiato.
Kerikeri
Kerikeri is our local town, vibrant, attractive and full of character and charm with fabulous independent shops and cafes and a lovely Saturday morning market well worth a visit.
Stone Store Kerikeri
The iconic Stone Store is the oldest stone building in New Zealand, dating back to 1832. The Stone Store was originally a trading post and has since become a popular tourist attraction. Situated by the tranquil waters of the Kerikeri River, this historic landmark is a perfect place to take guests. The picturesque surrounding gardens and mission house add to the charm and beauty of the site.
Mangonui
Mangōnui, a favourite of ours, is a quaint historic fishing village with boutique shops, restaurants and cafes with local art and crafts. A lovely place to spend an hour or two and the location of our favourite restaurant – the Mangonui Thai.
90 Mile Beach
We love the drive North to Ninety Mile beach, a famous long stretch of sand that stretches from Ahipara to near Cape Reinga and is a registered highway and open to vehicles. Despite its name, it is closer to 55 miles long but it is great fun to drive along.
Fishing
It is a fabulous experience to launch a boat from the beautiful Totara North Wharf and spend the day fishing or just taking the boat and leisurely mooching around the picturesque harbour.
Lots of great memories were made fishing with our guests, lots of fish caught, lots of fish suppers were enjoyed and lots of stories of the ones that got away!
The Whangaroa Game Club is a great place for a beer and food while soaking up the atmosphere of the historic harbour and watching the ‘weigh-ins’ that take place at the weigh station.
Golf
We are members of Whangaroa Golf Club, a friendly club that welcomes visitors and has clubs and golf carts for hire.
Walks
The Far North is a magical place with stunning scenery, wild, natural landscapes, forests of dense bush, steep hills with far-reaching views, waterfalls and a never-ending coastline. Perfect for hiking or tramping and for guests who like walking we have beautiful local walks:
St Paul's Rock for breathtaking views
Rainbow Falls for its picturesque walk and stunning waterfall
Wairakau Stream Track a beautiful local DOC walk finishing with a swim and boat pick up from Lane Cove
Beaches
The Far North is blessed with beautiful beaches – white sand, dramatic dunes, crystal clear sea and rugged natural coastlines. We have favourite beaches depending on what guests want:
Maitai Bay for snorkelling and swimming
Puheke for collecting Tua Tua’s
Waikato Bay
Taupo for sunbathing and collecting shells
Rangiputa, a beautiful picturesque beach
Reflecting on our guests this year and choosing a few of the many photographs we have to showcase the Far North locations, affirms the natural beauty and uniqueness of this area of New Zealand and what it has to offer. It also reminds us how lucky we are to be able to share all this with the best of friends and family - so many good memories with great people.
A few fishy tales below.......
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