We were touring around North Island with friends who were on a visit from the UK and we chose to stay at Cardoness Lodge for two nights. The rooms were spotless, beds comfortable and breakfasts out of this world. Neil and Sarah were the ultimate in hosts and the breakfasts that Sarah dished up (sorry Neil done the scrambled eggs) were the best start for a day of sightseeing. Our visit coincided with the Art Deco weekend which was a wonderful spectacle in itself and would recommend a visit just to see the wonderful vintage cars on display. All in all a wonderful time. Thanks to Neil and Sarah.

Neil and Sarah were very pleasant hosts, making us feel really at home and we enjoyed our chats at breakfast. A lovely setting and relaxing two days prior to flying home and the end of a fantastic trip in the North Island. Sarah's homemade biscuits were superb as were the breakfasts.

We stayed at Cardoness near the beginning of a 3 month tour of NZ. Sarah and Neil gave us of their time so readily suggesting things to do having listened to our interests. Breakfasts were lavish, our room and deck just right and very comfortable and their wine has to be tried...they are in a lovely location and we highly recommend staying here to anyone.

Wish we could have stayed more than 3 days. So much to enjoy: learning about a boutique winery, eating Sarah's sumptuous supper platter on the veranda outside our room and tasting the Ash Ridge (their label) chardonney, exploring the vegetable, fruit and flower gardens in their 32 acres, the views of vineyards and hillsides from every room, the quiet nights under the southern cross constellation. The Hawke's Bay experience was like Napa 50 years ago. The Cardoness lodge was purpose built with the utmost comfort and privacy for guests. Sarah and Neil truly cook local, that is preserves made from their own orchard, eggs from their chickens, salad ingredients from 50 feet away, cheese from nearby dairies.... Sarah is a former caterer and served us homemade dolmas, spanokopita, liver pate, brownies.... The rooms seem brand new; they are so well maintained. If Hawke's bay were as close as Napa, we would go every month.