New luxury lodge to wow guests

Owner Chloe Wright is adamant when guests arrive on the doorstep of her farmhouse: "You don't need to take your shoes off. Come in and make yourself at home."
Mrs Wright is keen to show that her house is now their relaxing place.
"I want people to enjoy a very welcoming New Zealand experience. Nothing commercial.
"We've travelled a lot, and what you remember the most is the people you meet and how you are treated. We want our guests to feel that here," she said.
"I want them to relax and not worry about any stuff."
The French Country House, which took two-and-a half years to build in Esdaile Rd, Pahoia, is the latest addition to Western Bay's luxury lodge offering.
With four main bedrooms and ensuites, all finished off with chandeliers, and a connecting double bedroom for a family, the farmhouse with French/English rural character has accommodation for 10 people.
Guests arriving early afternoon are welcomed by chef and host Siobhan FitzGerald. She has an afternoon tea ready, and the guests usually sit at the farmhouse kitchen bench chatting and unwinding.
Later, they move into the Great Room - the chestnut dining table seats 12 people - and are served a six-course degustation meal, starting with canapes and champagne and finishing off with a cheeseboard of artisan cheeses, organic coffee and chocolate truffles.
"I don't run to a set menu - I cook what's good and seasonal at the time and the food is mainly local," Ms FitzGerald said. "Usually after the third course they want to take some time out and relax by the fire."
For those still feeling peckish late at night, there's the "midnight feast" fridge full of homemade bread, cakes, biscuits, salami, cheese and cupboards of jams, jellies and preserves - all at their disposal.
By the morning, the guests are sitting on the large deck overlooking the Tauranga harbour and Mauao, and dipping into a leisurely breakfast of freshly-squeezed juices, homemade granola and bread, and Frank's renowned sausages or smoked salmon from Omokoroa.
During the day, the guests can roam the 16ha property, get riding lessons from Mrs Wright's daughter, Belinda, tackle the cross-country, dressage and showjumping courses, take the donkey for a stroll, or do your own bushwalk.
All this for $990 per room per night, reduced to $1690 for a two-night stay.
The whimsical French country home - some have called it the Hansel and Gretel House - may be catering for international tourists but Mrs Wright wants locals to treat themselves to a romantic stay. "I think it ups the [tourism] game a bit in the region," she said. "The house isn't just about architecture. People have a very hands-on experience and they soon realise they are getting more than they thought they would."
Mrs Wright hasn't spared any luxury - she has a penchant for collecting antique items - but she has created a warm, friendly atmosphere, enhanced by Ms Fitzgerald's Irish charm and humour.
Allan Shaw, of Atrium Homes, built the two-level house, which has a mezzanine library with piano.
"I would make a balsa wood model and sit down with Allan and we would come up with a [design] solution. The building team was fantastic," Mrs Wright said.
The exterior is made of timber, brick and free-formed plaster with a sandy look. The steep roof is finished off with timber shingles.
Inside, the Australian hardwood beams come from a bridge built in Westport in 1903. Mrs Wright bought the whole bridge and transported it to the Esdaile Rd property. "It nearly wrecked the chainsaws trying to cut it up."
The doors are made of solid macrocarpa, the upstairs floor poplar timber milled at the property, and the downstairs floor Travertine Stone tiles imported from Turkey. The steel spiral staircase was shipped from United States, and the stained glass windows were made locally.
Downstairs there's a powder room and upstairs are the spa baths - with shutters which open up to the bedroom or can be drawn to create privacy.
All around is the antique furniture, including an old French bedhead and Spanish bronze door. "The thing about antiques is that you can feel the energy of that time," Mrs Wright said.
Glenn Ormsby, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager, said The French Country House gave the region more product in the exclusive lodge segment and "we can attract different clients to town".
"I just think it's a neat property with a personality. Chloe wants to make it user friendly, even sitting down and chatting and dining with the guests. I'm sure people will leave thinking well of the region."
Mr Ormsby said a Los Angeles tour operator - who attended the recent TRENZ meeting in Queenstown - had put The French Country House on his books. "He liked the imagery and felt it suited some of his customers."