good for you

This cozy, friendly bed and breakfast nestles in a lovely garden, rich with roses and native plants, right on the beach on the Northwest tip of the outer Sounds, opposite D'Urville Island and just a short distance from the awesome waters of French Pass.

The natural beauty of this place is truly breathtaking - a magnificent wild coastline, abundant marine life, dolphins and seabirds, with majestic mountains and firey sunsets, which you can gaze upon, wine glass in hand, from the incredible outdoor fire-heated bath tub.

Explore the rocky coastline, swim, snorkel, kayak, watch the gannets diving, or simply be still and let nature work her magic. Dolphins are frequent passers by, as well as the occasional whale, and many different sea birds.

The Garden Cottage and the Rose and Dolphin are separate, sunny, comfortable cottage-style accommodations, allowing plenty of privacy, while your hosts' spacious timber home with its wide verandas, open fire, library and huge dining table offer opportunity to socialize. The cottages both have verandahs looking out over the bay.

You'll enjoy scrumptious meals at this B&B, which also serves lunch and dinner, with organic seasonal produce from the garden and orchard, fresh seafood as well as other wonderful treats.

good for new zealand

This is one of several small enterprises that contribute both to the social fabric and economic vitality of this remote community. The B&B is in a special wilderness area, and the owners are very mindful of the way they run their business. The garden is organic, and the owners are encouraging the regeneration of indigenous bush on the 21/2 hectare property. Composting toilets help reduce polluting waste and energy and water are used sparingly.

Every visitor goes away with an appreciation and understanding of a special corner of the New Zealand landscape and marine environment, its geography and history, and its flora and fauna.

Rooms

Food

The lodge offers delicious home cooking, featuring many vegetable dishes and salads from the B&B's own garden, along with fresh fish, local lamb, venison and free range chicken. The desserts are delicious, and breakfast includes fresh fruit and organic yoghurt, wholegrain breads, homebaked goodies and local cheeses. Sourdough pancakes are a Sunday specialty.

Your hosts are happy to mange special requests (eg, vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free etc). The lodge has a small, select wine list to complement meals.

The lodge serves three meals a day, and breakfast is included in the rates. The menu changes depending on what's available and in season. If desired, children may have separate meals.

Features & Facilities

• Outdoor fire-heated bath under a tree with views of the sea.
• Safe swimming beach
• Snorkelling gear available for guests' use
• Dinghy for fishing trips
• Internet access
• Telephone
• Laundry
• Sky TV

Local Info & Activities

• Fishing in the lodge's dinghy - on request and weather permitting.
• Swimming with dolphins
• Sea kayaking
• Snorkeling and scuba diving
• Bush walking

Sustainability

Ngaio Bay B&B has deliberately kept its business small and personal, to minimise any impact on the environment and the community.

The business is one of several small enterprises that contribute both to the social fabric of this remote community and its economic viability. The B&B is owned and run by Jude and Rog, who have lived here for nearly 30 years. Their home and business are a remote marine wilderness corner of NZ, and your hosts are happy to share their local knowledge and love of the area.

There are no employees at the B&B, although occasionally young people from the Woofing organisation are brought in to lend a hand in the busy season.

Sustainability is a big part of the way the B&B operates. In order to reduce polluting waste, no-water-needed eco friendly composting toilets have been installed. The property uses its own spring-fed water supply, and has an organic garden and orchard. The owners are also actively ensuring the regeneration of the indigenous bush on a large part of the 6 acre property. Only environmentally friendly cleaning products are used.

The B&B is part of a community project at French Pass to clear the area of pests that damage the bush and the native birds' habitat.

Guests are educated about the area - its environment and culture. Every visitor goes away with an appreciation and understanding of the landscape and marine environment (especially the importance of preserving the fish stock), and its geography and history, both Maori and Pakeha .

The B&B always purchases locally produced or at least New Zealand-made products. The small community's viability and vitality depends on small businesses such as this to bring economic activity to the area. Many of these enterprises support one another as the nature of their services overlap, each bringing something a little different to visitors. The B&B uses other services in the wider community that help ensure the mutual viability of enterprises in the area. Almost all the B&B's revenue remains in the community.

Because of its terrain, the B&B is not easily able to accommodate wheelchair users - otherwise the owners are very welcoming to all people, regardless of ability.

Getting There

Public transport to Ngaio Bay is limited - only a mail bus twice a week. You really need to go by private car, which is a treat, as the drive is amazingly beautiful.

The nearest airports are in Nelson and Blenheim. It is also possible to take a small charter flight from Picton to an airstrip near to the B&B, though this is obviously not the sustainable option.

To get to the Rai Valley by car, take State Highway 6 from Nelson or Blenheim, turning onto the French Pass Road at Rai Valley.

Then take the spectacular, long and winding road from Rai Valley, Marlborough, through bush, forest and farmland to our remote, secluded, sandy bay. It is an hour and a half of vistas and wilderness, passing through the small settlement of Okiwi Bay en route. Turn left at the mailbox. "The Sonnelands Ngaio Bay" and drive down 11/2 km to the B&B.

Ngaio Bay is approximately two and a half hours from both Nelson and Blenheim and about 21/2 hours drive from Picton.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

The bed and breakfast rate from 1 September 2007 is:

Double: NZ$240 (US$187)

Single: NZ$160 (US$125)

Extra Adult: NZ$100 (US$78)

Child Rate: NZ$80 (US$63)

• US$ rates are variable; based on exchange rate in July 07.
• Children under 2 are free of charge
• Children over 12 are charged the full rate.
• A minimum stay of 2 nights applies

included:

• Breakfast is included in rates
• Government tax of 12.5%

booking & cancellation policy

• A booking is secured on the payment of a 10% deposit. The remaining 90% is payable on arrival at hotel.
• If a cancellation is made at any time until 14 days prior to arrival, this 10% deposit is forfeited.
• If a cancellation is made within 14 days of arrival date, 30% of total cost of stay is forfeited.
• If a cancellation is made within 2 days of arrival, 100% of total cost of stay is forfeited.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.