Waikonini Homestead

Host is like robber. Many additional charge without informing.

Really disappointed with my Asian friend’s experience with this host. Being an absolute racist and hosting a homestay in this culture diversely country is losing your New Zealander’s face.

Very authentic experience which took us back to Victorian era . Unique gothic style accommodation where you can expect the unexpected . Real ride to a time capsule .Great breakfast and we really missed those two Swedish dogs . Thanks for having us .Tia/Nilanjan

Unfortunately rainy ..the beauty of the whole garden was lost a bit ..... :( But everything was great ..with a long history, very homely and a very sweet and helpful host!

Lovely building run by amazing hosts. Attended a wedding here and they hosts made it effortless. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to experience good hospitality in one of New Zealand's most beautiful old homes

Such a magical place. This old mansion is restored and situated in the amazing Peel Forest. The stay was beyond anything we expected, and we loved the fire place, the corgi (Pippy) and the warm atmosphere from the outside cold. Although, its worth venturing out to the local towns and seeing the wildlife and local walks through the forests. Can't wait to go back - we miss it!!

We booked a twins room at Christmas Eve for $200. The house in average was a historic establishment with a nice garden. Mary and her sister are the hosts. However, the experience we’ve had at Waikonini Homestead was a big turnoff which made me decided to write this Google review.We arrived at 3pm (the instructed check in time), it took a long muddy drive inside the farm (around 20mins) with confusing direction as Google will direct you drive pass the main entry.The house was clean and tidy with around 5-6 rooms to share 2 bathrooms (one upstairs and one downstairs). As the location is fairly remote and there was torrential rain, we decided to have dinner at the homestead. At 7pm, we joined dinner with other 5 guests, and were served a plate with boiled potatoes, some undressed salad and ham from supermarket. Dessert was a thin slice of lemon pound cake with ice cream. During the wait time (around 30-40mins after the instructed dinner time), we had some fruits (4 mandarins and a couple of grapes), which Mary said to eat as we wish. Before dinner, we asked whether we can do our laundry here, and agree the price of $10 a load.The next morning when we check out, we got to know the dinner was $55/ppl, which was surprisingly overcharged considering the poor ingredients and small portion. We’ve also been charged $15 for a glass of wine which came from $40 a bottle. Our laundry was half dried, yet we’ve been charged $20. Nonetheless we paid, as we still appreciated the host during Christmas Eve.I would never write this Google review if Mary didn’t message me today to ask us to pay an extra $20 for the fruit we had (couple of mandarins and grapes). Not to mention there was zero communication, nor implication, around the charge at the time we ask if we could have them.I will NOT tolerate to be treated as money bag and be robbed as you like because we are nice and polite Asians, not even mention Mary’s racist comments towards Asians. NOT RECOMMEND.

The place is a throwback to another era in all senses. It really is a heritage property and one feels like one is living in the 1950s or 60s. So in general the relatively low cost of stay reflects the offering.The only negative - and it’s a big one - was the owner, Mary’s attitude regarding a dispute on the cost of a dinner : we are charged - in absentia - for 3 dinners when firstly she had been forewarned that a piece of fruit and a biscuit would be sufficient for us as we would have had a large lunch, and secondly we made it clear when we arrived we were exhausted and only I ate. When I wrote this was unreasonable she doubled down with spurious excuses, such as she’d made dinner especially when it was a shared communal meal with other guests.Other reviewers have remarked on “hidden” charges and a racist attitude. On the latter I can’t comment other than to say attitudes in the 1950s and 1960s were very different from today. As for the former, caveat emptor! Don’t let the old fashioned welcome fool you.

Lovely house, lovely host, delicious home cooked meals. What else could you ask for? :)

Fantastic hosts, took care of breakfast, and were happy to accommodate us, talk, provide tea and refreshments.Remember to fill out the visitor book, and ask about the incredible history behind the Homestead.The cheap room is away from the main house, has no power, and can get cold. The other rooms looked like 5-star accommodation