Poets Corner Lodge, Waihi

John and Marg Ritchie

28 Poets Corner Road, R.D.1 Waihi
Phone: +64 7 863 3091, or 021 223 2253, Fax: +64 7 863 3092
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Type of Accommodation Luxury, B&B
Rating 10 out of 10
Website http://www.poetscornerlodge.co.nz
 

Guest Reviews

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Poets Corner Lodge 10 10 3
  Rating Date Reviewed
Dan
Just got back from a really special place to stay. High on a ridge over looking the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, this Lodge is amazing! If you are looking to stay out of Auckland and centrally located in the North Island ,this is the place. 10 minutes to one of the best walks in N.Z., the Karangahake Gorge. 10 minutes to one of the most beautiful ,unspoiled beaches in N.Z. , Waihi beachtown. 10 minutes to the most historic gold mining town and deep pit mine in N.Z., at Waihi. 20 minute to Paeroa town for horse racing. 35 minutes to fun beach town , Whangamata. 1 hour to Tauranga town and Mount Maunganui beach for shopping. 1 hour to Hamilton, home of the Famous Waikato Cheifs Rugby stadium. Miles of bush walks and more stunning beaches. And the best part of it all we got to stay at a complete gem. We were looking for something special for our 35th wedding anniversary. We didn't want to waste our trip on the road ,but still wanted to a taste of local New Zealand and see the sites. Found the Poets Corner Lodge under Luxury Homestay accommodations on a google search. Just really good luck!. The owners John and Marg have built a boutique lodge with a view that you can't find in the States. Just stunning ,180 degree ocean view from high above a natural bush reserve. Well worth the price for those who want a personally prepared full breakfast and hosts that, while casual, comfortable and discreet are real New Zealanders from a farming past. Fresh local produce with gourmet meals available. Marg the owner/cook just spoiled us rotten with her cooking! We used the lodge living room/ kitchen area between our little outings and you are free to make what you want. We felt it was our own and so did the others that came in a couple days later. Four bedrooms only ,around a spectacular viewing lounge. For anyone looking for that special, non-touristy stay in New Zealand, for Honeymoon stay or just to drop off the planet ! Try this one. My wife and I had a great time and it was just a lucky find!
10.0 10
June 2009
Bryan
We have just spent four wonderful days at Poets Corner Lodge. The lodge itself is delightful with nicely furnished rooms (just four) and superbly appointed public areas. The view from the lounge / dining area is simply to die for. John and Marg are exceptional hosts; extremely knowledgeable and delightful company. The helped us plan our four days in the Coromandel area and we were not disappointed! Each day began with a home cooked breakfast to order (including lovely freshly baked bread) - we really did not need lunch after that!. The kitchen and fridge were fully stocked at all times and Marg's home baked cookies and cakes were always to hand. John waxes poetic about the region's wines and happily shared a glass or two with us at "sundowner" time. we would strongly recommend Poet's Corner to anyone looking for accommodation and hosts which just go that extra mile in every way possible. An unforgettable experience.
10.0 10
June 2009
Edward
My wife and I decided to visit here to enjoy a couple of days before going to see other parts of the north island. It did look pretty good on the internet and the photos of the ocean were a key selling point for us (as were the promises of a cooked breakfast!). After arriving, little did we know that even our already-high expectations were to grossly underestimate the quality of this place. The quality exists in the location, the service provided, the grounds and gardens, the building's comfort, the building materials used for the lodge, the ambience, the quality of the food. I could go on, but this place had exceeded our expectations within a very short time and our only regret was that we only had two nights here (we couldn't stay longer as the lodge was booked by others unfortunately). Now the detail: Marg and John were wonderfully warm hosts and and made us feel right at home straight away. The rooms were warm and cozy, and the common area in the lodge is a place I can only call nirvana on a cold May evening. The gas "fire" was going, the lodge beautifully warm, Marg's cakes were available for us (delicious and you'd be amiss to not try them while you're there), and the pantry and fridge were stocked with food (at no extra charge). We also had access to utensils and cooking appliances in the very-well equipped kitchen in case we wanted to prepare our own meals. In short, the lodge was extremely comfortable for us, and we spent most of our time here. In the evening, we enjoyed the tranquility of this place with a glass of red wine, soft music, the TV switched off, the sound of the wind outside, and very comfy furniture. This is a great place to just relax, switch off from the world of work, and get back to quality spent with my wife and a good magazine. This lodge is a place where all of the troubles in the world are kept at bay (for a few beautiful nights at least) and allow us to switch off and enjoy everything about this location. In the day time, the views strectch to the islands in the Bay of Plenty and all along the coast. It really is a remarkable place. We also enjoyed spending time with Marg & John at breakfast, and it was good having a nice chat over a wonderfully cooked breakfast. The breakfasts were enough to keep us going without a meal until mid-afternoon, so you certainly won't starve at Poet's Corner Lodge ! Marg and John's dog, Bella, was a great ambassador too and we loved hearing of her adventures on the property. She obvioiusly has a great home and was extremely eager to get to know us. If you're not attracted to having animals around the place, then she will ignore you and you don't need to worry. But if you love animals, then you'll fall in love with this adorable pooch. We spent a week in NZ and stayed at three different places in the north island. This lodge was by far the best accommodation we have stayed at, not only for this trip but also for all of our trips to NZ. We wish we had discovered it earlier. Whilst our next trip to NZ will be the south island, the next time we visit the north island again we'll be booking in here, and hopefully staying more than two nights. We can't recommend this place highly enough. It's very good value for money and you will enjoy your stay immensely.
10.0 10
June 2009