Annandale The Homestead

Enjoy the casual elegance of a bygone era. Built in the 1880s, the Annandale homestead has been lovingly restored to create a luxurious five-bedroom home in a private and tranquil setting.

Comfortable rooms, shaded verandahs, vast gardens and exclusive use of our outdoor leisure facilities make the house a great place to make your own for relaxation and exploration.

We want you to feel the strong sense of belonging that Annandale evokes, so we encourage you to make it your home for the duration of your stay.

You won’t find any Keep Out signs here… you are welcome to roam and explore at will: cut a few flowers from the borders and some salad leaves from the kitchen garden, grab some lemons for your crepes from one of our trees. It’s all yours and yours alone.

Individual Suites
The homestead’s four spacious master suites are all beautifully appointed and thoughtfully furnished with the crispest of linens, comfortable reading nooks and adjustable lighting.

All suites have en suite bathrooms, thermostatic controllers, tv’s, mini-bar and tea/coffee making facilities. Three of the master suites have king-size beds and verandahs. The fourth master suite (Rose Garden Suite) can be set up with a king-size bed or with twin singles.

North Lawn Suite

Enjoy significant bird-life with a view over the immaculately manicured lawn. Featuring a King size bed, walk-in wardrobe, an Ensuite with a bath tub and shower and balcony access.

Ocean View Suite

Calming views over the North Lawn and the ocean. Featuring a King size bed, an Ensuite with a bath tub and walk-in shower and access to two balconies, both with sea-views.

Bay View Suite

Calming views over the Elm Tree Lawn looking out to the Bay. Featuring a King size bed, an ensuite with a walk-in shower and balcony access with sea views.

Rose Garden Suite

Overlooking the beautiful Rose Garden. Can be arranged with a King or Twin size bed. Featuring an ensuite with a bath tub and walk-in shower and a walk-in wardrobe.

Kitchen and Living
The heart of the Annandale homestead is undoubtedly the large kitchen, with its farmhouse table and views out to the lawns and kitchen garden beyond.

Fully stocked with delicious breakfast provisions and pantry supplies, plus all the appliances, kitchenware and utensils you might need, we intend to make you feel right at home.

The kitchen leads through to the warm and spacious drawing room and library, where you can choose to get cosy in front of the fire or enjoy the views through the French doors to the gardens and the bay glinting through the trees.

The elegant dining room seats 12 and features original kauri furniture, which has witnessed many lively dinners through the years.

Gardens
Meander through the fifteen acres of Annandale’s historic gardens around the homestead and discover an array of fascinating botanical features – the lush atmosphere of the restored Victorian fernery, the dappled shade of the long walk beside the bay, the structural simplicity of the parterre and the exuberance of the kitchen garden.

We have lovingly restored our historic garden with its box hedging, sweeping lawns, dry stone walls and English trees underplanted with daffodils.

We have also resurrected the heritage orchard, simultaneously extending native and exotic plantings and developing new areas of interest. We invite you to share in the graceful beauty and tranquility of this special garden and we would be happy to arrange a tour of these heritage gardens.

Pool and Amenities
Our state-of-the-art recreation facilities include an outdoor 20-metre heated swimming pool with lighting system, 40-degree spa pool, flood-lit tennis court and top-of-the-line gym equipment including treadmill, weights, exercycle and elliptical, and all-weather changing rooms.

Farm
There has been a farm at Annandale since the 1840s and today it boasts 4,000 acres of dramatic coastal pasture, which is home to around 500 head of beef cattle and between 7,000 and 14,000 sheep, depending on the season.

We pride ourselves on our sustainable farming practices and our healthy livestock. Our aim is to breed the finest stock for the most delicious meat and best quality wool, and to provide world-class accommodation with relaxed, Kiwi-style informality.

We invite you to roam the property, enjoy the views and get a feel for the experience of those early pioneers, even work on the land with us if you like, but please remember to close the gates behind you.

Cuisine
Fresh and delicious local produce is a hallmark of a stay at Annandale. Our cuisine will be an experience to savour with whichever dining option you choose – from a private chef dinner to cuisine created and delivered directly to your villa for enjoyment at your leisure.

Prior to your arrival, we send out a simple form about special preferences and/or particular foods to avoid. Receiving this information with plenty of notice allows us to bespoke cater and ensure everything is seamless in enjoying the Annandale experience.

Farm to Table
Working closely with our gardeners and farm management with the changing seasons, our chefs are inspired by the freshest ingredients that arrive at the kitchen.

Our edible garden holds up to 50 different varieties of vegetables and herbs, we hand select fruit from our heritage trees, source our desired cuts from our Angus beef and Romney sheep, forage the bay surrounds for wild edibles and operate within a 100km food foot print working closely with our producers to complete the locavore experience that shapes the food we cook and present each day at Annandale.

Private Chef
With advanced notice, you can hire your own personal chef for a special meal or for your entire stay, providing you with choices of a three course restaurant presented menu or alternatively a casual grazing style menu where each course is placed in the middle of the table and invites you to pass the dishes around.

Menus are crafted with seasonal inspiration from Annandale and any dietary and special craving requests made in advance.

We Create, You Serve
For a farm to table experience that won’t compromise your privacy, our award winning chef will create a morning riser breakfast menu, a superb picnic lunch and a gourmet three course dinner based on our locavore philosophy and any dietaries or special cravings communicated in advance.

The meal will be delivered to your villa with easy to follow instructions allowing you to simply complete the finishing touches before enjoying some of Annandale’s finest cuisine.

Breakfast and dinner are included in the rate, and we will work with you in adding a lunch or upgrading any meal to a private chef experience – per your preferences.

Weddings
If you’re looking for an unforgettable location for your wedding, Annandale has all the right qualities for a unique day.

We can offer a choice of venues, from the stately elegance of the homestead, which can cater a wedding for up to 40 people, to a more intimate affair at Seascape, or there is always the option of taking over the entire property.

The farm offers outstanding backdrops for your photographer to capture too: the elegant gardens at the homestead, breathtaking views over the coast at The Point, where the sunlight sparkles on the water like countless diamonds, or the strikingly contemporary and private setting of Seascape.

Quite simply, it’s a dream setting for your most precious occasion. We can create a bespoke package for your wedding, allowing you to do as much or as little decision-making as you like. Simply contact us to discuss your plans.

Corporate Events
With kitchen and seating capacity for up to 40 people, the homestead makes a great venue for a corporate or team event.

All kinds of outdoor activities can be staged around the property – from team-building exercises to farm labouring and endurance events – all tailored to your specific requirements. Simply contact us to find out more, and let us help you plan your event.

Farm Activities
Just as the tide ebbs and flows, the seasons and colours of the 4,000-acre Annandale farm change throughout year, from luscious greens in spring to tussocky golds by autumn, and we encourage guests to explore and be as hands-on as they like:

• Take a guided 4WD tour across the farm
• Watch sheep dogs at work
• Enjoy the atmosphere of the shearing shed, and if you’re lucky see the skilled shearers in action

Hiking and Biking
Not surprisingly, with such amazing scenery all around us, walking and biking are hugely popular in New Zealand. There are several spectacular tracks on the Annandale property itself, varying in length and terrain, including the 14km Pigeon Bay Walkway.

On arrival, guests will receive a map of the farm, detailing trails and interesting features. We would be happy to provide you with complimentary bikes to use on these trails and can even arrange a picnic along the way of your hiking or biking.

Beyond the Annandale farm, the greater Banks Peninsula is renowned for its hiking trails, with expeditions ranging from 10 minutes to several hours. We would be delighted to help you decide which walks would suit you best.

Cooking Classes
If you wish to spend some of your time at Annandale improving your kitchen skills or finding out more about New Zealand cuisine, take advantage of a cooking class with our on-site chef.

Without even having to leave the property, you can specify what you’d like to learn about and spend a wonderful day transforming fresh produce into delicious dishes with the help of a professional.

Alternatively, for an off-site experience, nearby Akaroa has its own cooking school, offering popular themed courses during which a guest chef inspires his or her students with fresh, local ingredients and expert techniques. Contact us to find out more about these tantalising options.

Scenic Tours
There are lots of ways to discover Annandale and the surrounding region, and plenty of friendly local guides ready to ensure you get the highlights, no matter how short your stay.

Take to the skies in a helicopter for a bird’s eye perspective of the dramatic landscape, for example, or let a local fishing expert take you out in a boat or to one of the nearby rivers. We would be happy to tailor an experience just for you, or you are welcome to contact a local tour operator to discuss your requirements.

Water Activities
The sheltered, turquoise waters of Pigeon Bay and the surrounding area along Annandale’s coast is the playground to much wildlife including the friendly Hector’s dolphins, fur seals, blue penguins and bird colonies. Explore our waters and enjoy another dimension of Annandale through the following kayaking experience, led by local trained guides.

Activities in Akaroa
Only a 30-minute drive from the Annandale homestead is the French-influenced town of Akaroa. Nestled in the centre of an ancient and extinct volacano, which is now an enormous and picturesque bay, its streets are lined with cafes, bistros, and quirky shops. A number of water-based activities depart from the main pier:

• Day cruises
• Fishing and diving charters
• Dolphin-watching and dolphin-swimming tours
• Penguin viewing tours
• Water-skiiing, sea-kayaking, jet-boating

We would be happy to help you organise a day trip to this vibrant and historic location.

Website: www.annandale.com

Rooms: 5

Price: from 1.573 EUR per night