Woodend Beachcomber

Woodend Beachcomber

Pippy McCurdy: 
 http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/

One of my very favourite things is to relax in a glorious outdoor bath as dusk slowly falls and the sky begins to fill with stars. Add to this the distant sound of gently rolling waves and it could be that you too, have found your way to Woodend Beachcomber. Far enough from the city for the sky to be the deepest of velvety tones, but close enough to the city to still use this as a base for your favourite event, -  with Christchurch just a twenty minute drive away, this is a great place to be.

The accomoodation provided for you at the Beachcomber is a pleasure to be in. The ccolours are clear, pure and attractive and the decoration is to the highest standard. This is a top inner city stay, yet you will find it near a beach in the countryside, where you would least expect it. 

Being within walking distance of Woodend Beach is a further bonus, and in Winter this is a beach you will have all to yourself with its long expanses of sand and dunes not to mention its award winning life saving tower.

The outside bath, tucked into a private corner of the section, is an ideal retreat. With plenty of candles supplied, a glass of wine and hot water on tap, this may not be as rustic as lighting the fire and waiting for the waters to heat, but it is sooo much simpler!

 As dusk falls there is time to enjoy the birds flitting overhead to roost, but particularly it is the silence and escape from the traffic and buzz of the city which is most noticeable. Later - a trip into the city, a concert which is anything but quiet, and the challenge of negotiating the wrinkled ragged streets - but what is life without contrasts to heighten its pleasures. 

Websites: http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/

Waipara Sleepers

A Night at Waipara Sleepers

Pippy McCurdy: 
 http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/

Waipara is just a little town not too far north of Christchurch - maybe three quarters of an hour as a leisurely drive. Once it was little more than a railway town but the railway died and the life blood was sucked out of Waipara ... that is, until they discovered that the region had an undiscovered talent; -  it was very, very good at growing wine. This has been the saviour of the Waipara region, and some very good New Zealand wines now come from this locality.

Another plus with the retrenchment of the railways, was the fact that New Zealand Rail began to have a surplus of rolling stock. Take one enterprising Waipara resident, and in 1990 Waipara Sleepers was born.

Three ex-NZR guard vans are now settled comfortably into the grounds of this small but popular camping ground. (Mid winter it may be at present, but the camping ground was easily half full when I visited.) The three vans still rest on rails but this is just to ensure the vans feel at home. The truth is they are no longer going anywhere any more. Nearby the familiar form of the New Zealand railway station can be seen on its platform. The station too has found an alternate use - it is now the camp kitchen.

The transformation of each guards-van  into overnight accommodation has been skilfully and intelligently accomplished. One part of the van is now the sitting room, the second half is the bedroom. With a shiny polished brass double bed for the night, and traditional red leather New Zealand Railways issue seats still in place in the sitting room, the whole conversion has been cleverly managed to achieve maximum usability and comfort.

Add  really attractive tree filled grounds to this, and a particularly reasonable price for a bed for the night and all in all Waipara Sleepers adds up to an excellent place to stay.

Websites: http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/

Akupe Gypsy Caravan

Akupe Gypsy Caravan

Pippy McCurdy: 
 http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/

Not more than ten minutes drive from Martinborough is Akupe Farm. Only hard to find if you are driving too fast, you may be fraught with doubt as I was,  as to whether you had missed it or even whether you were on the right road. However the directions from the owners are good and there it is, just where  they said it would . Do not expect to actually see the gypsy caravan - its hidden from the road. Obviously in terms of privacy this is a good thing; -  in terms of being sure you are in the right place - not quite so reassuring.

Akupe Cottage and Akupe Gypsy Caravan sit near to each other behind a cluster of tall trees. Painted maroon and white and sitting on its metal wheels it is indeed, a gypsy van. However it has been in one place for a long time and in all honesty its not likely to be heading out onto the back country roads again at any time soon without a good deal of work.
A little more love and care to the exterior would help a lot with that critical first impression as you pull up alongside your accommodation for the night.  Inside however, the van is spotlessly well kept, and has an interesting, patterned theme throughout. Is it an authentic gypsy sense of style? - maybe not. (It doesn't have the remotest similarity to the vans in 'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' - thank goodness!)  But it's appealing none the less, with its lacy curtains and floral trims. I liked it.

The van has a pot belly stove, an inside shower and toilet, a small kitchen, and a very comfortable double bed. Unfortunately not being smart enough to work out how to make the fire go, it was the heater for me.  Ditto for the gas fired hot water! There were instructions for this, but whether I got these wrong or whether I  simply didn't wait long enough for things to heat up, enough, I never really managed to work out.

However the van has some lovely touches. The convenience of having all those services tucked in under the one roof was a pleasant surprise and is not to be underrated. The bed was ultra soft and was clad in a gorgeous satin duvet cover and matching sheet and pillows.. So nice! The windows were leadlight with ruby red cathdedral glass in the split stable door.

I must admit I like to meet the owners when I choose a place to stay but it was not to be. No doubt they were respecting my privacy which is in itself a considerate approach, just not my preference.Who put together this cosy little creation I wondered. Where did the van come from? Was it very old? Was it ever on the road? So many questions ...

Websites: http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://www.stumbleuponcroatiaslovenia.com/