Summer time and the living is made easy at a Provence-style bed and breakfast. Geraldine McManus reports.
Kerikeri lives up to the ambience of endless summer - beaches, sun and sub-tropical fruit and flowers. The colours and style of Provence, another region of that idle - or idyll - feeling, pervade the Summer House's home and garden, set on a 30-year-old citrus orchard.
During my visit the trees were laden with oranges, mandarins and grapefruit and the colours brought summery fragrance and brilliance to the orchard. Hosts Rob and Christine Brown say the orchard was over-run with weeds when they bought it four years ago.
Some trees had to make way for the house, but they saved as many as they could. Now these trees supply the bed and breakfast with the freshest fruit from late winter to summer. Another bonus is the shelter belt surrounding the land, which is a haven for birdlife.
Rod and Christine are passionate about the environment. They encourage visitors to do a little bird-spotting by providing a list of the feathered friends often found on the property. These include harrier hawks, ring-necked doves, quail, about four pairs of fantails, and morepork calls are often heard at night. Paradise ducks, pheasants and wood pigeons visit during September and October to feed on fruit in the garden, tui and pukeko are common.
Ready for our arrival, Christine set out afternoon tea, including fresh home-made Anzac biscuits, served with locally packaged Kerikeri organic tea and a jar of fresh biscuits in the room. A Matakana chocolate was popped on the pillow.
Guests frequently wake to the sound of birdsong. Rod has tame white doves which coo through the morning waiting to be fed. I woke to the sound of their persistent calls. The doves fly in and feed from his hands.
When I arrive, the sky is ominous with rain-laden clouds, but I chance my arm with a quick guided tour of the garden with Rod, who is an enthusiast for plants. He has created a sub-tropical garden close to the house and a native bush section, which is just beginning to come into its own.
Northland is renowned for its once-ancient forest gods. Just out of the Kerikeri is the Puketi sub-tropical rainforest which has a well-preserved valley of kauri. Along the Manginangina kauri walk the ancient dinosaurs of the forest soar heavenward with straight trunks branching out into a cluster of leaves forming the highest canopy.
Rod has planted five kauri and one can imagine one day they will have the same magnificence.
The home was the first hosted bed and breakfast to be Green Globe 21-accredited, which shows the couple's keen interest in the environment. The hot water is solar-heated, the house follows energy conservation principles - it faces north, has insulation and a pergola with deciduous creepers for shade.
The venture is a new career for Christine and Rod, who moved from Auckland to enjoy the country lifestyle and follow their dreams.
Christine's passion is food, and overseas visitors will enjoy her talent in the kitchen. Breakfast is to die for. Served on Provencal-style table linen and china it comprises grapefruit fresh from the garden which is grilled and served with brown sugar and cinnamon, followed by a huge fresh platter of tropical fruits, including cherimoya. The Browns have planted exotic tropical fruit trees and when these produce, they will no doubt also make it to the fruit platter, too.
The aroma of home-made bread, home-made muesli and French toast topped with Mahoe Greek yoghurt and home-made spiced candied cumquats also spike the senses.
Kerikeri is close to the best of Northland's activities. From the Summer House we explored the township of entrepreneurs, including Living Nature and Matakana chocolates. You can book a beauty treatment and massage at Living Nature.
Rod recommends a great loop trail for visitors wanting to explore the area. Others may be attracted by the great golfing nearby. Anyone wanting to go to the tip of Cape Reinga can be picked up by the coach at the gate.
CHECKLIST
Accommodation: The Summer House, phone: 09 407 4294.
Getting there: From SH10, The Summer House is 1.7km along Kerikeri Rd. Pick up from the airport is available.
