Rotorua Bed and Breakfast, New Zealand

Mokoia Downs Estate Introduction

Mokoia Downs Estate offers a boutique bed and breakfast experience in a country lodge set in five acres of idyllic, secluded countryside. Situated between Ngongotaha and Hamuarana and just a short distance from Lake Rotorua (see map), Mokoia Downs is just 10 minutes from central Rotorua and ideally positioned for exploring the local area as well as central North Island.

We offer warm, unobtrusive hospitality and comfort in a picturesque
setting, and are committed to doing everything possible to make the experience of our guests a memorable one. Stroll around our Rotorua estate and listen to the chatter of native wildlife, find a seat in a beautiful, sheltered spot and read that book that you could never find time for, or just relax in our outdoor pool and entertainment area.

Your hosts, Mick and Teresa, decided to establish this Rotorua bed and breakfast after visiting New Zealand nearly a decade ago and falling in love with the country, its culture and way of life. We were attracted to Rotorua in particular as it is a picturesque, vibrant and unique provincial city situated in the heart of majestic countryside dotted with beautiful lakes and forests.

Since 1999 Rotorua has won the accolade of being New Zealand's most beautiful city on no less than five occasions, the most recent of which was in 2009.

There is a vast choice of things to do in and around Rotorua and every conceivable interest is catered for. We will be delighted to share our knowledge of the area with you and to help you plan your perfect itinerary.

Our Rotorua Bed and Breakfast – Facilities and Amenities within the Lodge

Mokoia Downs Estate offers two suites to guests. The Taranaki Suite is located in a private wing of the Lodge and includes a stylishly furnished and exceptionally comfortable bedroom, bathroom and outside deck with table and chairs.

The Tarawera Suite is also located in its own private wing of the Lodge and includes two stylishly furnished and exceptionally comfortable bedrooms, shower room and outside deck with table and chairs. The Tarawera Suite is ideal for families / parties of 3-4, but can be booked by 1-2 people if the Taranaki Suite is already booked.

Room facilities include: large queen beds (king bed which can be re-configured as two singles in room two of Tarawera Suite) and very comfortable, firm mattress to help ensure a good nights sleep; finest linen; bathrobes; bedside reading lamps; wireless internet availability; tea and coffee making facilities; mini-bar / refrigerator; hairdryer and heater; toiletries.

Other facilities within the Lodge include a comfortable, stylish lounge area with large, widescreen TV / DVD and I-Pod speaker, a library adjacent to the kitchen, and a delightful, light-filled conservatory looking out on to the beautiful estate garden, paddocks and lake.

Guests have access to laundry facilities, and wireless internet is also available throughout the lodge. On request guests can make free landline calls to any NZ location.

The Library at Mokoia Downs B&B

Your host, Mick, loves books and enjoys nothing more than rummaging around second-hand shops and book fairs looking for hidden treasures. Over the years he has built up an extensive collection of novels as well as books on sport, cinema, music, journalism and travel. In addition there are a large number of biographies and autobiographies, and also a separate, extensive collection of books on history and politics.

Whilst there is enough to do in Rotorua and the surrounding area to fully occupy even the most energetic of travellers, guests are most welcome to spend time in the library and browse through the collections.

If you find a book that you cannot put down but also cannot finish during your stay with us, an arrangement can be made to take it away on your travels and return it to us when you have finished it.

There are also extensive collections of films and music that guests are welcome to explore, and a range of DVD's may be borrowed to view either on our widescreen TV or in our Cinema Studio.

Our Rotorua Bed and Breakfast – Facilities and Amenities around the Estate

Other facilities around the estate include an outdoor swimming pool and entertainment area, with BBQ facilities and fridge (cutlery, crockery and glasses are available from hosts), sun-loungers, table, chairs and parasol, changing area and a power point for music players.

Once a week (every Sunday) we host a "house movie" in our Cinema Studio, with popcorn and nibbles provided. The studio also has an outdoor patio, a lovely spot at which to linger and watch the sun go down on a summers evening. The cinema studio was built as a Dance Studio and has floating floorboards and a wall to ceiling mirror at one end, and is an ideal indoor venue for practicing those dance moves and for light exercise and stretching, as well as a place where the children can play.

A covered wooden gazebo with table and chairs looks out on to paddocks and a small lake. Seating is also dotted around the estate and includes a bench by the tiered lily-pond at the back of the lodge, a favourite spot for reading and relaxing while listening to the gentle sound of cascading water.

A distinctive feature of Mokoia Downs is a collection of antique and historical artefacts. Whilst the 19th century farm machinery is no longer operational, the Challenge windmill serves a valuable function in aerating the lake, and the Europa petrol pump helps to ensure that mowers and equipment do not run out of petrol.

The grounds provide a beautiful setting for a stroll in their own right, but they are also enhanced by these links with the past. Guests interested in how the land was worked generations ago are invited to take part in a guided stroll around the estate, when Teresa will illuminate how farmers from as far apart as Ireland and New Zealand used the technology of yesteryear to make a living and a way of life.

Whether your preference is for a quite holiday based mainly in an idyllic rural retreat, or a more active one exploring Rotorua and central North Island, Mokoia Down Estate provides the perfect setting in which to base yourselves whilst you escape from the treadmill of life and enjoy a holiday that will linger long in the memory.

For more information visit our website at www.mokoiadowns.com