NEW Special rate for ONE person stays of $135 per night.
TWO people stays are $220 night . Extra guests are $25 night,
When guests leave the holiday home in the same way that they enjoyed on their arrival ,clean tidy and ordered, they have the $200 Bond Refunded within seven working days of their departure
At a mere 45 minutes easy scenic drive from Christchurch City, you reach an entirely new rural environment with the sea at your doorstep.!
From Moananui lodge's superb waterfront location , you can explore the varied natural coastline of Lyttelton Harbour & Banks Peninsula.
The Location....
Accessed from Christchurch city via Dyers Pass, Gebbies Pass or Lyttelton, Moananui Lodge is situated on the beach front at the midpoint of Purau Bay amidst a generous, landscaped, fenced coastal garden, just two kms drive beyond Diamond Harbour.
Wander over to the water’s edge and the shelly beach, merely a stone’s throw away from the decking!
With commanding views from every window, this 2 storey holiday home has been newly carpeted & has new vinyl' planking throughout in its well equipped kitchen & in all service areas.
Tastefully decorated with new curtaining and blinds, the lodge's spacious interior has many professionally framed pictures themed around NZ artists interpretations of a wealth of NZ birds and quaint holiday baches.
The generous living area has a cosy log fire and electric heating & with some new double glazing, ensures guests are warm & comfortable as they relax with a book or game from the library wardrobe or chill out in front of the 65 inch freeview TV.
three spacious bedrooms boast king and queen sized beds plus a single and double bunks ensure there is space for all the family or a group of adults.
With its extensive decking & outdoor furniture & a gas hooded barbeque, you can while away the morning or afternoon or evening watching the changes in the sea, the surrounding hills and the wide sky as the sun arcs across it.
In 2023 a great new extensive verandah roof was installed,ensuring more quality time outdoors with some shade or in showery weather.
As dusk falls, beautiful sunset colours are great to watch from the the beach out front with a chilled something in hand or from the extensive decking as the lowering sun lights up the tall craggy eastern hills turning them gold.
Wait in anticipation on a clear evening for a spectacular no moon night sky, not spoiled by city reflection or street lighting. Walk the length of the beach at this time, it's awesome or anytime throughout the day!
There's a cricket set, skipping ropes & French bowls to play outside.
Take a canoe out or swim offshore in the wide safe bay or boogie in the surf at Camp Bay only 12 mins drive away with the best sandy beach in Lyttelton Harbour.
The ground floor bathroom has a brand new shower cubicle & vanity with quality Greens tapware. On the first floor the Captains Room has a queen bedroom, cute outdoor decking and its own ensuite with a new shower rose & lovely views right round fro the sea right round to the Purau Valley and beyond.
Enjoy the changing views of rugged volcanic mountain tops & seascape vistas from dawn til dusk and a stunning night sky free of city reflection and street lights & watch and listen to the wonderful bird life ranging from every habitat., hence the awesome new framed quality pictures housed so attractively.
The Surroundings
Purau is a wide, safe swimming, sheltered bay popular with boaties, kayakers, swimmers and all manner of water sports or just laze on the beach just over the road enjoying a good book, a cuppa or better still a chilled something!
There is a tradition there I call sixes[six oclock]
Take the plastic chairs over to the beach & best at high tide, drop your feet into the the gentle waves & clink glasses with friends and family!
Frequent ferries from Diamond Harbour take you to cafes, sightseeing and eateries at historic Port Lyttelton and it's well known Saturday Farmers Market.[10 am til 10 pm]
Book a harbour cruise, explore historic and scenic Quail Island.
There is now a new Four Square supermarket & a new Two Thumbs Brewing beer Company bar and cafe at Diamond Harbour sharing the generous Supermarket car parking area. Well worth a visit to sample the fresh beers and wines and the new pizza oven & choice of other meals either inside or outside dining.
Good Live music Fridays and occasional Saturdays.
Cool off in the sea at a variety of beaches and try the many walking tracks such as the highest point of Banks peninsula, Te Ahu Patiki [Herbert Peak] walking from the Port Levy Saddle, or stroll the lovely morning clifftop walkway from Purau Beach back to Diamond Harbour which also links up with Church Bay & Charteris Bay.
More walks & picnic spots can be enjoyed at Orton Bradley Park where there's also tennis courts and an awesome Golf course with amazing views. while at Diamond Harbour itself, there's a friendly bowling club so go along as a visitor. You'll be welcome.
Drive further afield to explore sandy swimming beaches at Camp Bay, Ripapa Island or at Port Levy.
Drive to Akaroa [via Gebbies Pass] just over an hour away on the good sealed highway, a very scenic drive passing Birdlings Flat beach[bracing walks, great sea air, gem stones & fishing] and the popular Little River Store for yummy snacks, coffee, an ice cream and browse its Art gallery & bookshop.
Stop off at the hilltop for the panaramic and taste and buy some great cheeses at the award winning Barrys Bay Cheese factory, the first bay off the hill.
Back to Purau............... If you miss a grocery item or two, there's now a new good sized Four Square supermarket , a beer brewing cafe and bar called Two Thumbs, a fish n chip /burger takeaway called Salt & self serve NCP petrol at Church Bay all in same location about 7 minutes drive back from Purau Bay.
On a clear morning, drive up Purau valley to the Port Levy saddle, & from there walk about an hour & a half to the loftiest point on Banks Peninsula,Te Ahu Patiki, 920m, [Herbert Peak] with its stunning 360 degree panoramic views over the entire peninsula, then return to your car or walk down to Diamond Harbour or for the more adventurous, continue to Rod Donald hut towards along the peaks to Mount Sinclair and Pigeon Bay or to Mt Bradley & the Packhorse hut and down to Orton Bradley park or via Gebbies Pass, [2 cars one at each end is essential for this longer medium fitness tramping trip.
Then return to the lodge to relax and enjoy its comfort and tranquillity & the inspiring photos you have taken!
Take the plastic chairs across the road pre dinner to the beach and enjoy something chilled while you yourself 'chill out' with the lapping of waves as the sun slides down towards the Diamond harbour spur to the west & wait for some stunning sunset lit skies & watch the craggy hills change colour & glow before your eyes into deeper and deeper shades of orange.
Special Conditions:
Weekends: Two nights minimum stay. Long weekends: Three nights minimum stay.
Easter: Four nights minimum stay.
Rates vary depending on time of year, length of stay and number of guests.
From April/May, Moananui Lodge can be made available for 3 to 6+ months short term guest rental. This also applies to my La Vie En Rose Cottage, Akaroa which you are welcome to book for another stay sometime.
Conservative and careful use of Water is to be observed throughout the year, especially during summer months as Moananui Lodge relies, like all Purau residents & holiday home owners, on its rain fed water tank.
Guests are asked to bring lots of fresh drinking water to supplement the household supply.
Pets on holiday can be discussed with owner & usually pose no problem.
All Guest groups pay a Cleaning Fee of $200 which is FULLY REFUNDABLE when the guests leave the property in the same clean, tidy & ordered way that they enjoyed on their arrival.
Guests are encouraged to take pics of all interior rooms before they move their gear in And to take an identical set of pics just before they vacate the property.
This ensures to guarantee the Full Refund of the $200 Cleaning fee to the guests account within 14 working days of their leaving.
[ 99 % of guests receive their full refund of $200!]
A checklist of house rules is provided in the Moananui Lodge booklet which is emailed to guests once fees have been fully paid.
Entry is from 2pm and vacating on the final day is by 12 noon. These can be flexible, You just need to contact the owner.
Bedding Arrangements.....
My holiday homes like most other NZ holiday homes have always worked on a ”Bring your own Linen basis” that is .....your own sheets, pillowslips, towels & tea towels for your own use.
However, Hired Linen Sets @ $35 per bed used per stay can be made available on request.
Ced Configuration is Master bedroom ..King bed suite with access onto main decking.
Second Bedroom first floor ..Queen bed with ensuite and balcony.
Third Bedroom...Double bottom/ single top bunk set and a single Bed.
Go on! You deserve it! Don't delay ....Book today!
