Ormlie Lodge, Taradale, Napier.
Katrina Johns checks into Ormlie Lodge, Taradale.
Getting there: It was a hard slog up the steep but beautiful tree-lined driveway at the end of a day of cycling. It is a 15-minute drive from the Napier airport, and only 5 minutes from Taradale.
History:
Ormlie's a beautiful old villa, built in 1899 as a wedding gift to Gertrude Smith from her wealthy father. It has retained all of the original grandeur, but with modern-day comforts such as underfloor heating. How big?: Ormlie is a small luxury manor consisting of only six suites. Continental breakfast is included in the price.
Check-in experience: I felt significantly underdressed walking into this grand foyer in my cycling shorts but we were made to feel instantly welcome, given a quick tour, and then shown to our room where our bags and a big bottle of cold water was waiting for us — bliss!
Room: We were lucky enough to be placed in the Ormlie Suite for the night. The room featured 3.6m ceilings and the biggest bed head I have ever seen. It was all very regal and in keeping with a luxury Victorian manor. When I first sat on the king-size bed, it felt like a rock and I thought my sleep would be terrible — I couldn't have been more wrong.
