The Summit Lodge

We liked it enough to add an extra night, and really enjoyed spending that time with our hosts, Renee and Kevin. The Summit Lodge lives up to its promises and makes a lovely base for a visit to the Martinborough area.

The lounge felt like a big home living room, with a huge DVD catalogue and a home theatre setup with a decent sound system. We watched movies, had the snacks left out for us, and tried the fancily carved chess set, once we figured out which pieces were which. The guesthouse was purpose-built, and it shows in the charming mix of classic southern European and NZ styles with modern comforts. The entrance foyer and kitchen, where meals are served, are spacious and welcoming, though the pictures don't quite capture them. Our room was cosy, clean and tidy, with what you'd expect at a premium level, including air con, bath robes and a good king bed. It also avoided that overused, rarely helpful label, “rustic.” Tracey and Jim were accommodating and got the balance right between friendly conversation and giving us space. They discreetly left us to ourselves at dinner, in the evening and at breakfast. They catered for our vegan preference with a delicious, generous home-cooked three-course dinner and good breakfast options. We appreciated seeing and hearing about the lodge's commitment to environmental sustainability. We'd come for an impromptu break from our busy Wellington lives, and arranged a pickup from Carterton train station and a ride into Masterton the next morning. We were the only guests, which felt like a treat, though with up to three rooms and six guests, it seems easy to find some seclusion when you want it. It's hard to imagine the stay being better. We only wish we'd stayed longer and come in summer, and might yet put that right.

The hosts and the alpacas were lovely, and I loved every minute there. I've never seen so many stars with my naked eye.

Tracey and Jim were fantastic hosts, and the facilities were superb. We had a wonderful weekend at this country lodge.