Wallingford Homestead

We’re already planning another visit to Wallingford. We went with friends for the degustation and wine pairing evening, and Chris’s nine courses were a real delight. The timing, presentation and flavours were all exceptional, and the wines worked beautifully with each course. The magnificent homestead sits in lovely grounds and was presented immaculately, with every detail considered. A big thank you to Jeanette, Chris, Lilia and the whole team for making our stay so perfect. For a food and accommodation experience of a lifetime, this place is hard to beat.

From the dogs’ enthusiastic welcome to the warm goodbye from Jeanette and Chris, we felt so well looked after. Chris’s food is absolutely first class, and the hosts and their team are fantastic. Wallingford has a special feel, with its setting, gardens and relaxed, lived-in elegance. It was worth every cent. If privacy and a chance to unwind are what you’re after, I can’t think of a better place. Paul and Susan Mabey

It felt more like spending a weekend with friends than staying at a lodge. Jeanette, Chris, Lilia and the rest of the Wallingford team made us feel completely at home, and it’s a beautiful spot. And the food! The only reason I gave the location four stars is that Wallingford is too far from our home. Truly a wonderful place to stay.

The rooms are so thoughtfully done, from the quality linen and sumptuous bedding to the understated style. I slept deeply and woke feeling restored. Wallingford has a way of gently bringing you back to what matters, while the unhurried luxury lets you properly rest. Outside, there’s a sparkling pool and a charming pool house among sweeping lawns. We played tennis and croquet beneath the wide Hawke’s Bay skies, then wandered the garden paths before dinner as dusk turned golden over the countryside. The fresh rural air clears your head of modern life’s clutter. Every season has its own appeal. In winter, truffle hunting is followed by cosy evenings beside the fire in the grand main room, with red wine and conversation that carries on long after dessert. Chris and Jeannette Stockdale are warm, intuitive and gracious hosts. Chris is a world-class chef, and his craft reaches beyond the food: he makes and fires his own pottery, using each carefully made piece to serve the evening meal. Eating here is a sensory treat, with theatre, texture and story as well as wonderful food. The place feels like a gentle step back in time, where life slows down. You might find yourself weighing up a chilled G&T against a silky Pinot Noir while relaxing on the sunlit verandah of your beautifully styled room. If you’ve been looking for a reason to visit Wallingford, take this as your sign. Leaving is a lovely kind of sadness, since part of you will already be planning to come back.