|
Mangawhai
at its most magical....... where it is | activities
| what it is | Tara Lodge's owners There's
a peaceful garden in the rolling downland near Mangawhai; a place of woods and
glades, birdsong and soft green lawns. Within the garden there's a century-old
homestead, and within the homestead there's a wonderful surprise!
Tara
Lodge's owners Liz and Les Holsted have given Tara Lodge a big heart and one of
the warmest welcomes you could expect anywhere.
Tara Lodge is a working
tamarillo orchard, a small beef holding, a venue for weddings and special events,
and an exquisite boutique homestay.
Let Tara Lodge work its magic on
you too. Where
it is: Tara
Lodge looks out westwards to the wood-clad Brynderwyn Hills and over rolling green
pastures towards Wellsford in the east, in an area local residents affectionately
know as "the Tara". It is just 5 minutes drive from the township of
Mangawhai and its beaches. The Tara is envied for its rich volcanic soil and lush
greenness. Mangawhai
is a beach township on the east coast, an easy 1.5 hours' drive north of Auckland
on State Highway 1.
It lies just inside the sub-tropical region of Northland,
giving it very warm summers and temperate winters. Mangawhai is a popular holiday
spot for many northern New Zealanders, boasts a wonderful surf beach, a safe harbour,
towering hills behind and is only a half-hour drive from the west coast's much
wilder scenery and world-renowned fishing spots. Click
here for Wises map - http://www.wises.co.nz/l/Northland/Mangawhai/Tara+Road/
Activities: |
:: | Beach
walks - Mangawhai surf beach is 5 minutes drive away | |
:: | Bush
walks - both through our property or there is a variety of Department of Conservation
walkways within a short drive | |
:: | Fishing
- you can either go by yourself from the beach or hire one of the fishing charters
that are based in Mangawhai | |
:: | Diving
- the beautiful waters around this coast are renowned for their dive spots |
| :: | Golf
- Mangawhai Golf Club is located right in the centre of Mangawhai, a 5 minute
drive from our property. It is an 18 hole all weather championship course with
a fully equipped Pro Shop | | :: | Mountain
biking | | :: | Tennis |
| :: | Surfing
& swimming - Mangawhai has both an estuary and a patrolled surf beach. Other
wonderful surfing & swimming spots are within easy reach - Langs Beach, Pakiri
Beach, Te Arai Beach | | :: | Dolphin
experience - our property is a 90 minute drive to the Bay of Islands and the world
renowned Dolphin Experience, where you are guaranteed a visit from the dolphins
and possibly even a swim with them! | |
:: | Markets
- Mangawhai Village has a growers' market on Saturday mornings; the famous Matakana
Farmers Market is a 35 minute drive away; several others small towns in the vicinity
have markets periodically. | |
:: | Kauri
Forests - we have our very own Kauri trees on our property and the world renowned
Tane Mahuta forest giant is within an hour's drive, as is the beautiful Maungataroto
Kauri Museum with its working exhibits and extensive furniture display. |
| :: | Wake
boarding and water skiing at the nearby Tomarata Lakes or the harbour estuary |
| We
can assist you with bookings for any of these activities. |
Check out the Mangawhai
website www.mangawhai.co.nz
and www.mangawhai.co.nz/hiddenmangawhai What
it is: Tara
Lodge is a piece of paradise tucked right at the top of The Tara. Les & Liz
have been inspired by the beautiful gardens in English stately homes and have
designed the gardens to maximise the setting and the feeling of the place. Tara
Lodge encompasses 30 acres of lush pasture including 4 acres of native bush which
hide 6 huge Kauri trees possibly 700+ years old, a "Fairy Dell", a Poplar
Walk, and The Long Lawn with its fountain and formal setting - the perfect place
for a wedding. Meet
Tara Lodge's Owners: With
her great sense of fun, lively personality and talent for sensing exactly what
her guests are looking for, Liz Holsted is an outstanding hostess. Liz
owned and operated an events management consultancy in the city for ten years,
organising events as diverse as weddings and wine festivals, birthday parties
and corporate fun days. She has run conferences, trade exhibitions and major public
events in New Zealand and internationally, and is now putting her many talents
into making Tara Lodge a place of singular charm. Sharing
his wife's hospitable, fun-loving nature, Les Holsted is the perfect host.
After 26 years of owning a successful insurance brokerage in Auckland, Les finds
life at Tara a far cry from his former life, but wouldn't trade it for the world.
He's wildly enthusiastic about making new friends from around the world, sharing
his special knowledge of wine and his fast developing love of landscaping, and
helping his guests enjoy the best of Tara Lodge.
The
couple feel very privileged to own Tara Lodge and love to share their special
place with guests. When
you leave, you'll feel you've made two great new friends! | 
