The last time I spent a night in a tent was a high school trip to Kuripapango, (the last stop before you climb the “Gentle Annie” on the Napier-Taihape Road.
It rained pretty much continuously, the teachers got us lost on a tramp and the boys’ bus broke down on the way home and we were stuck on the side of a shingle road for hours, while the girls’ bus carried on home unawares.
Hardly memorable for the right reasons…
Fortunately time heals some mental scars, and it also provides room for development.
In these intervening years the concept of “Glamping” (a portmanteau of “Glamorous Camping”) had been developed.
With bigger tents and more hospitable amenities such as actual beds, couches, and other features (and no teachers to get you lost on walks) Glamping makes for a more refined and relaxed camping experience.
So when, during a period of rather intense issues and times, our Twitter friends Emma & Colin from Meadowood House offered my family a night’s Glamping, in return for making a donation to a local charity we lept at the chance!
Located on Korokipo Road (State Highway 50), fifteen minutes from both Napier and Hastings, Meadowood is far enough from town to be “away from it all”, while still being, well, “close to it all!”
Also within close proximity are several renowned local wineries and right next door is new, award winning Zeffer Cider.
Arriving at Meadowood we were greeted by our host Emma, who showed us to our accommodation for the night – a “Lotus” Glamping tent – kind of like a Mongolian “Yurt“.
With three tents spaced far enough apart amongst a copse of trees to provide a good level of privacy we were also greeted by a number of Piwakawaka – NZ native Fantails!
After settling in to our accommodation for the night we explored the property.
The centrally located house has rooms that can be rented separately, or as the entire house.
The property also has large open spaces and a big, tent-like marquee perfect for events or parties.
Meadowood has been set up so the entire site can be hired out as a whole event and accommodation venue for weddings and the like.
Hosts Emma and Colin live on site with their family, so they can quickly and easily attend to guests’ needs.
Our daughter was quickly playing with theirs’ while the family four-legged food quality controller, the aptly named labrador “Kai” kept an eye on my dinner.
An outside barbecue area features a grill, shade tent with seats and bean bags, a brazier and a spa pool.
Meadowood is far enough away from the light pollution of the twin cities that some amazingly clear star-gazing around the fire, or in the spa is a real possibility during your nights’ stay.
Sadly for us it was overcast overnight, but there were some gorgeous lights close by.
The Art Deco-inspired “Speakeasy” (the house’s converted garage) acts as a bar, a movie theater and a breakfast nook.
Featuring a couches, projector and screen, fridges and the world’s flashest toaster it is a great place to socialise, sample some of the local liquids, or watch some old-time and classic movies.
We wandered back to our tent illuminated by more fantastic fairy lights and settled down for the night.
Our tent was configured with a big, amazingly comfortable and warm queen sized bed for my wife and I, and a single bed for our daughter, along with a comfy couch and storage.
They usually feature just the more intimate queen or king bed for couples, but they can be set up almost however you want.
Far from my last aforementioned experience in a tent this was the warmest, coziest night under canvas I have experienced!
We are woken early the next morning by a mixture of the sun, our daughter and the call of nature (no, not a fantail dawn chorus, the “other” one..)
Meadowood’s glampimg amenities block looks a bit like your typical NZ country longdrop but are far from it.
Flushing toilets and a pristine basin set a more refined tone, while the private, yet OUTDOOR shower proves both stylish and popular.
Over breakfast in the Speakeasy we met some of our fellow guests.
A young ex-pat South African couple were having a tour of NZ’s regions to find somewhere more affordable to move to, while a Mum from author Bill Bryson’s hometown, Des Moines Iowa in the United States and her Auckland-based teacher son were taking a road trip holiday.
While only recently opened Meadowood is indeed proving popular, which explains why they recently won the Hawke’s Bay Tourism “Rising Star” Award!
Hawke’s Bay keeps attracting great people with bright ideas and Emma, Colin and their family.are no exception.
From being friends online to friends “IRL” (In Real Life) it yet again shows how HB’s Twitter community puts the “Social” into Social Media!
Meadowood is well worth a stay if you are visiting Hawke’s Bay or even if, like us, you are locals just needing a break or “staycation”.
Please check them out!
