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The
Lodge at Paratiho Farms
Beautiful Seclusion: The Lodge at Paratiho Farms. We almost drove past the entrance but saw the sign under the large tree at the last minute. A quick left and we were on the drive to The Lodge at Paratiho Farms. Not far down the road, we were stopped by an imposing contemporary gatehouse of rusted architectural iron. We announced ourselves to the intercom, the gates swung open, and we drove down the valley past rolling pastures of grazing sheep, cattle, deer, and a few ostrich for 3 km until the lodge appeared amid waterways and well-manicured lawns.
Understated Elegance: The Lodge. Entering the lodge through the main doors, you are met with quiet abundance. The living room, dining areas, and library are all beautifully decorated with the contemporary art and antiques that owners Robert and Sally Hunt have collected over years of world travel. The softly lit rooms are inviting and most comfortable to be in. The kitchen is large, bright, and open and guests are invited to join in any time. Doors open onto the gardens making the rooms airy. Arbors make shaded outside areas inviting and the line between inside and out indistinct. Sculptures enhance the beautiful grounds and draw you into the open to investigate and admire.
Splendidly Indulgent: The Health and Fitness Spa. On the opposite end of the lodge from the kitchen is the small yet very complete spa. The wet room offers a Hydrotone hydrotherapy tub featuring 60 air and water jets - possibly the only one in New Zealand - as well as a table for body wraps and a shower. Across the small private hallway is the dry treatment room where massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and hair services are provided. In between is a bathroom where the lights are motion-activated.
I can say with all honesty the facials at Paratiho's spa are fabulous! My therapist, Anne (who is also the health and beauty manager), started off by giving me a back massage. She won me over right there. But it got better - much better. After the back massage, I turned over and Anne placed a pad under my back. While she was busy administering my facial, this pad started to bubble, fizz and heat up. Anne told me it was a therapeutic mud treatment made by Phytomer and is used to detoxify deep tissues, help relieve any area that is swollen, congested or sore, and aids relaxation. It felt wonderful! The facial also used Phytomer products and left my face feeling soft and clean. Anne topped it all off with a relaxing foot massage. I definitely felt pampered and rejuvenated. At the time of my visit in March 2001, facials ranged from 45 - 90 minutes and from $60NZ - $140NZ ($27US - $63US: an excellent value). All included a back massage, Self Heating Mud treatment, and foot massage. The spa is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm.
The Exercise Pavillion, open any time a guest feels like working out, is located in a separate building from the lodge - just a short walk through the garden towards the heated outdoor infinity pool. It offers a treadmill, ROM (Range Of Motion) machine, Pilates tables (the Hunts are disciples of the Pilates method), Nordic Track, bicycle, free weights, and Sanarium. The Sanarium is a combination steam and sauna system of precise temperature, humidity and ventilation. It doesn't have the high temperature of a sauna nor the thick fog of a steam room but provides the benefits of both. You can choose between conventional sauna, tropical, soft steam, herbal, or warm air bath. A personal trainer is available.
Other on-site recreational facilities include a tennis court, golf putting green, petanque, croquet, and farm and native bush walks. Thoughtfully Comfortable: The Guest Suites. There are only six suites at Paratiho. They are quite private and are separate from the main lodge. Every suite has a gas fireplace, bathroom with private walled garden, large dressing room, separate bedroom, lounge and terrace. The suites have all been given Maori names: Punawai, Manuka, Matai, Tui, Fantail, and Awa-Iti. The Punawai Suite was named after the pond the suite overlooks. Punawai is the Maori word for "pond". Robert and Sally traveled extensively and incorporated all the little touches that they appreciated when away from home into the Paratiho suites. The suites have heating and air conditioning. They also have radiant floor heating that extends to the patio outside to take the coolness out of the tiles - no excuse not to enjoy the stars, even on chilly evenings. Contact cards are provided should anyone need to get in touch with you at the lodge. A stocked bar provides a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is an Internet connection in the suite and a laptop computer available in the library. The lights can be adjusted to accommodate any mood. Both summer and winter weight robes are provided in the expansive dressing room. The lights in the dressing room are motion-activated. CDs and a CD player are provided. Bath and shower gel and an Amenities Bag containing a shower cap, loofah, sun block, etc. are complementary. Nightly rates at the time of my visit were $1,850NZ (~$830US) per night based on double occupancy and inclusive of daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, all beverages and wine and unlimited use of all on-site recreational facilities (spa treatments are extra).
Food for Thought: Meals at Paratiho. Chef Will van Heeswyck creates a new menu each day using the best and freshest products Nelson can offer. Breakfast is served in the Breakfast Room of the main lodge whenever the guest desires. The same for lunch. Picnics can be provided if guests are going out for the day. Pre-dinner drinks are served in the main lodge at 6:30 pm followed by dinner at 7:30. Each course is matched with a different wine to enhance the flavor combination. Parahito generally serves wines produced in Nelson - Seifrieds, Glovers, Denton, Greenhough, Tasman Bay, and Neudorf, to name just some of the local vineyards. Dress is smartly casual with no jacket requirement for men. Not Too Far from the Action: The Nelson Area. Nelson has the highest recorded sunshine hours in New Zealand. If you feel the need to take a break from the seclusion of Paratiho Farms, Nelson offers many choices: art galleries, craft studios, performances, wine tours, garden tours, golfing, fishing, cruising, sea kayaking, white water rafting, guided and unguided walking / trekking in Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park or Nelson Lakes National Park, horse riding, helicopter tours, mountain biking, paragliding, swimming with wild seals, and caving among others. The Lodge at Paratiho Farms can help make arrangements for any of these activities. Gracious Hospitality: Robert and Sally Hunt. Originally from Los Angeles, California / Sun Valley, Idaho, Robert and Sally Hunt made New Zealand their full-time home just a few years ago. Of all the places they have traveled in the world, they decided New Zealand was where they wanted to be. They opened The Lodge at Paratiho, situated on a 2000 acre working farm, in December of 1999. They wanted to create an atmosphere where visitors felt they were guests in the Hunt's home by providing the best of everything and offering a warmly personal experience. "You will be offered the very best local food and wine, pampered and entertained in a stylish, informal way."
all photos by Julie Register |
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