KEY POINTS:
Everyone knows that sight, smell and sound can awaken long-forgotten memories, but I was still surprised to find myself quoting Shakespeare during a ramble around the gardens at The Cottage at Kauri Creek near Katikati. After all, my school days were a very long time ago and I spent most of them wishing I were anywhere other than school.
However, endless replays of scratchy old recordings of Shakespearean verse must have planted subliminal messages, because here I was (a non-gardener) muttering things about "a place where wild thyme grows" and "sweet musk-roses and eglantine".
Unlike me, Shakespeare knew his flowers and, as a rose-lover ("of all the flowers, methinks a rose is best") he would have delighted in the collection of heritage roses and other plantings at Kauri Creek. The cottage hides in a secluded garden about a kilometre off the road, and was previously the headquarters for the Kauri Creek Nursery, which specialised in old-fashioned roses and citrus trees.
The nursery business has been scaled back, and owners Joanne and Norm Knight have turned from rescuing and propagating treasured heritage roses to pampering guests. Privacy, tranquillity and comfort are paramount, and the attractive, muted decor encourages relaxation, whether you're lounging on a couch watching a DVD, lazing on the bed with the sun streaming through the French doors, or curled up in the reading room with a book.
The landscape design is by Trish Waugh and her Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal team and, to make the most of the setting, there are outdoor areas off both the lounge and bedroom, as well as to the rear of the cottage. A few steps away, a deck overlooking the valley is a fine place to soak up the sun or enjoy a drink at sunset.
Every convenience is provided (the first thing I noticed was a coffee grinder and beans), and extras such as a bowl of mixed nuts, a whole watermelon and a basket of fresh fruit made our welcome special - and that was in addition to the generous breakfast.
The Cottage at Kauri Creek is self-catering and once you're there, you probably won't want to leave. However, Katikati has several cafes and restaurants, as well as a supermarket. And the area has some options that complement the relaxed ambience of the cottage.
The Katikati Bird Gardens are a serene place to ramble through landscaped areas filled with native and exotic birds. You can purchase lavender products at nearby Lansdown Lavender Farm or enjoy superb views from its cafe.
In Katikati there's a Haiku Pathway, a relaxing riverside walkway punctuated by large stones inscribed with haiku.
Gorgeous gardens and poetry for the public - I'm sure Shakespeare would have approved.
- Extra
Need to know
Cottage at Kauri Creek
469 State Highway 2 Ph: (07) 549 1104 info@kauricreekcottage.co.nz www.kauricreekcottage.co.nz
Cost: $190 per night double, includes breakfast provisions.
Getting there: On SH2, five kilometres on the Auckland side of Katikati. Look for the Kauri Creek Nursery sign and follow the drive.
Katikati Bird Gardens
Walker Road East, Katikati Ph: (07) 549 0912 www.birdgardens.co.nz
Lansdown Lavender Farm
76 Lockington Road Katikati Tel: (07) 552 0826.
More on the area
www.bayofplentynz.com
www.katikati.org.nz
