New era for Fantail Lodge

"Heaps of vehicles drove up to the lodge during construction, people crooned their necks but weren't able to see a thing," says Harrie Geraerts, owner of Fantail Lodge.
It's true, if you go to the lodge, you will not see the complex of 10 new black and white tudor-style villas.
But saunter down a hill to a flat plateau at the rear of the property and you enter a field with the villas tucked along the radius. "When you stand in the centre, you fell like you're in a small english village and it's still boutique which is very important for us," says Harrie.
He has wanted this project to go ahead for 10 years (when the initial two villas were built) and, ironically, says the recession worked in his favour.
"We've had many situations where the project was to go ahead but at the eleventh hour something has popped up."
Since the financial crisis, Harrie says banks want to have a closer look at investments, see who people are, what they're about and what they've done.
"We're here long-term and were able to show that - which is the best insurance for investors because the villas are looked after and secure. It means you can have a private retreat but it is an investment that can work."
The lodge, which started with one guest room 20 years ago, last month opened the first of 10 Tudor-style villas, boosting capacity to a total of 30 rooms.
The existing premises remains a boutique country lodge at the front of the property, while the villas, tucked away, offer a "village" of private accommodation.
In purchasing a title, buyers receive up to 60 days' private use of their villas, which at other times will be let as lodge accommodation. Investors can also re-sell on the open market. So far, five have sold, two are for sale "and the last three I will hang on to them myself", says Harrie.
Each villa has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and is set on 850-879sq/m.
But the genius part of design is that each villa can be split into two separate accommodation facilities. Thanks to sound-proof walls and two separate entries to each villa with small hallways and doorlocks, the villa can become a bedroom, bathroom self-cater studio (with cooking facilities) and a one bedroom facility with bathroom, dining area and lounge.
Harrie says two individual clients can stay separately in one villa and don't have to meet at all.
"The idea is that if guests do not require an entire villa, they can hire a smaller accommodation option. It simply means if a couple travelling from Taupo to Auckland want to stop for a peaceable night in Katikati, they can hire the smaller option for a standard motel rate."
On entry, the villas are modern, right down to carpet. Each is completely floor heated.
"It's cost effective, it works out to cost the energy of two lightbulbs per hour," says Harrie. A solid oak dining table doesn't soak up red wine stains, furniture is neutral-colour and very comfortable; and each room has been carefully decorated with wall hangings and pieces.
Bathrooms have long mirrors, two separate basins and ooze style.
However, the exterior has been kept with the style of the Lodge itself. "We needed it to fit into the environment and feel right," says Harrie.
The villas have been used for the first time, by a district council for a conference, and more bookings have been taken for before the year's end.
Harrie is most proud of the villas' sophisticated technology.
"It's a first in New Zealand, its a 100 per cent secure, super-fast fibre optic broadband system which carries all calls, television and data. It has the capacity to download is 30 movies simultaneously."
The New Zealand Apple computer company came for a site visit, tested the technology and booked four conferences for 2011 "a major coupe".
Harrie says this technology puts the villa in the market for conference work from government departments, corporate and international businesses.
"We need to be able to compete with the big operators."
Once up and running, the villas will employ eight to 10 fulltime staff.
Asked if the villa village will be expanded, Harrie says "no".
"If you go any bigger, your clients become numbers and that is not what we want - bigger isn't always better."
The public are welcome to visit Fantail Lodge's new villas complex at an Open Day this Sunday.
Inquiries to (07)549 1581.