Spring is my favourite time of year. The days start getting longer and the sunshine starts to feel warmer. It's a time of newness. New beginnings…and daffodils!
A friend of mine told me about Whangaimoana (the Maori word for hospitality by the sea), a beautiful estate that you will find surrounded in daffodils at this time of year. We made our way out there on our latest family day out. It’s situated near the beautiful Palliser Bay coastline and I knew the perfect place to stop on the way for breakfast!
Martinborough Hotel is a character-filled boutique hotel located right in the heart of the town. We had been told by many locals that this was the pace to eat. But you can't really go wrong in Martinborough as I’ve heard all the cafes here are great. We found the perfect spot inside on the couches right in front of the fireplace. Arlo was still having his morning nap in his capsule so mum and dad were able to enjoy a yummy, peaceful breakfast. We really appreciated the relaxed cosy atmosphere and the welcoming and friendly staff.
As we arrived at Whangaimoana we found ourselves surrounded by thousands of daffodils! The lovely owners, Jacqui and Alastair Sutherland kindly let us come and take some photos on their beautiful property and pick some daffodils for us to take home. They took us on a tour sharing stories of the area and the history of the property. This historical house has appeared on television and in many books and magazines. You can definitely see why as you walk around the property with its sweeping gardens and tranquil charm. Jackie asked if Arlo would like to come and help feed the pigs and chickens on the property. It was a wonderful opportunity for Arlo to hear and see these animals up close. He loved feeding the toast to the friendly pigs and interacting with the farm animals.
Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like to stay in such a place? Good news! You can book into their beautiful self contained cottage on the property along with a southern wing situated off the main homestead with its own private entrance. It would make the perfect weekend getaway and its well placed to explore the Palliser Bay area which includes the Putangirua Pinnacles, Cape Palliser lighthouse and the sea colony.
We found out that Jacqui and Alastair have been donating their daffodils which have been lovingly grown on the property for over thirty years. The daffodils are sold to raise money for the Cancer Society. Our visit was perfectly timed. We got to enjoy the fields full of daffodils before they were picked the following weekend.
If you think that picking daffodils would make the perfect family day out, the famous Carterton Daffodil day is on Sunday the 8th of September 2019 right in the heart of the Wairarapa. Jake has been going to this festival since he was a child and this year we get to take Arlo along for the first time. There’s an abundance of activities ranging from the famous daffodil picking at Middlerun, horse drawn Surrey rides, and dozens of stalls featuring local arts & crafts, yummy treats, children’s rides and live entertainment. Don’t miss out on catching the historic steam train that brings visitors from Wellington to this family festival.
We hope to see you there!
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