Hosts: David & Sue Sweet
Accommodations: Retreat, Villa and Homestead.
Address: Mairenui Rural Retreat, Ruahine Road, Mangaweka, New Zealand
Click here for location.
Telephone: +64 6 382 5564,
Mobile: +64 274 517 545
Fax: +64 6 382 5885
Activities/Attractions: The Rangitikei District is located in the Central North Island of New Zealand, a previously overlooked visitor destination. The Rangitikei River flows through the district from North to South, providing many opportunities for both adventure and relaxation. Rangitikei is a part of New Zealand's "River Region", also including Manawatu, Horowhenua, Tararua, Wanganui and Ruapehu.
Rangitikei's district tourism organisation is entirely operator-run, and promotes friendly, personal service. When you stay at Mairenui, we will be happy to organise any of these activities for you, and can arrange a guided tour of the attractions.
Mairenui offers a wide variety of on-site activities, such as tennis, croquet, petanque, farm walks, river swimming and fishing, & 4WD tours of the farm. There is an all-weather concrete tennis court with racquets and balls supplied. The petanque (boules) court is full-size and equipped with stainless steel boules, and the croquet lawn is edged with rhododendrons and camellias, and backed by a stand of native trees.
We have a fully-restored 1953 Landrover, in which David offers tours of the farm, or just a ride down to the river to swim in our private pools. With one of the few privately owned stretches of river, catch and release brown trout fishing is available solely for guests. Alternatively, we can arrange guided trout fishing on the Rangitikei & its tributaries.
However, if you're in the market for a relaxing, stress-free break, there's no better place. The only sounds are the native birdlife and the gentle whisper of the breeze.
Apart from everything the farm itself offers, there is a wide range of activities and adventure available locally in the Rangitikei District.
Click here for a list of local activities and attractions.
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French and German spoken also
General Information: Welcome to Mairenui Rural Retreat ... a three house farmstay complex nestled in the scenic hill country of the Rangitikei District, in the Central North Island of New Zealand. Mairenui is a working sheep and beef farm, also deer and horses, and has been in the Sweet Family for over 100 years. We offer three levels of farmstay accommodation:
The Retreat is an architect-designed, 3½ storey timber dwelling, set in a 700 year old stand of native trees. It has been described by guests as a 'hobbit house', as in 'Lord of the Rings' and features:
- Semi-circular living room with
free-standing fireplace, main dining, kitchen and utility area
- Kitchen paved with red bricks and
complete with electric oven, microwave and a wood-burning stove as
well
- The old conservatory, is the
breakfast room, with a tiled floor, cane furniture and a Mediterranean
feel
- The bath/shower room and toilet are
also brick floored, with wooden shutters opening to the native bush
- Two main bedrooms, one with a
queen-sized bed from which you can gaze over the surrounding
countryside
- The other bedroom is smaller, with
a double bed, and two small arched windows built into the
rough-timbered sloping walls
Built in 1885, The Villa was restored in 1995. It has up to five bedrooms, and can sleep 10 people. There is a small separate building (Te Whare) which can sleep 2 extra people if necessary. There is also a cot & a crib.
- We at Mairenui have tried to keep
the Villa as close to the original as practicable - that means there
is no TV or Music Stack
- We do have a small pool table, two
open fires and a wood stove, a piano and lots of books, magazines
& games
- To make life easier for our guests,
we have provided an electric stove, refrigerator, freezer, and some
electric blankets and heaters
- Verandahs on two sides of the house
provide plenty of room for relaxing on the comfortable seats in the
sun
- Croquet on the large lawn, petanque, a gas barbecue, a view down the valley and up to the Ruahine
Ranges - what more could one ask for
Mairenui Homestead offers quality in-house accommodation for up to four people.
- One double room, with queen-size
bed, small sitting area with a wide selection of books and magazines
with ensuite bathroom with sunken, tiled bath/shower, toiletries, and
hairdryer
- One twin/king room with handmade
beds crafted from native Totara timber milled on the farm, and an
ensuite shower/toilet, tiled in Italian marble
- Both rooms have electric heating,
heated towel rails, bathrobes, and individual verandahs with tables
and chairs
- Two or three course meals are
available, with a pre-dinner drink included in the price
- A breakfast of your choice is
provided, at a time which suits you, the guest
Payment Accepted: Visa, MasterCard.
Rates: (Prices quoted in NZ Dollars).
$40-210/night/person
Click here for currency conversion.