Fyffe Country Lodge – Heritage Inns http://www.heritageinns.co.nz the best of memories start here Mon, 22 Oct 2018 19:57:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Another Sunny Day in Kaikoura http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/another-sunny-day-in-kaikoura/ Thu, 15 Mar 2018 02:14:32 +0000 http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/?p=19554 Despite recent suffering from the effects of cyclone Gita Kaikoura has had quite an amazing summer with good tourist numbers.

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]]> Another Sunny Day in KaikouraFyffe Country Lodge

 

Despite recent suffering from the effects of cyclone Gita Kaikoura has had quite an amazing summer with good tourist numbers.
Repairs to the lodge are going well and the restrictions have been lifted. Cosmetic work will continue over the low season.
What we have noticed most of all this year is our weather…the humidity and the amount of moisture in the atmosphere not quite what we are all used to.
37o hit us one day so it was among the very top temperatures for the NZ records. All this warm weather has seen all the grass and shrubs go crazy.
The highlight of the year for us has been the erecting of a long awaited hot house. We are stoked !! The image is of some of the aubergine coloured capsicum we have grown and we have had an abundance of tomatoes so here comes tomato and red pepper soup !!

Fyffe Country Lodge

 

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]]> Fyffe Country Lodge, a year on http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/fyffe-country-lodge-year/ Thu, 21 Sep 2017 23:32:40 +0000 http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/?p=19239 A sea of orange jackets is the norm for our region with some 1300 road workers on the road and about the town not to mention the influx of contractors who are working to repair earthquake damaged homes throughout our region.

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Fyffe Country Lodge post Kaikoura QuakeFyffe Country Lodge

A sea of orange jackets is the norm for our region with some 1300 road workers on the road and about the town not to mention the influx of contractors who are working to repair earthquake damaged homes throughout our region. The pubs are doing particularly well of an evening I might add.Progress seems to be slow and maybe take longer than anyone thought. For us here at Fyffe Country Lodge the cottage block has been re blocked and the builders have a little more to do prior to the final slurry being put on the blocks.  The engineer and the council building inspector both agree it will be along time before this building is damaged again as super strengthening has been done. Then it is the plasterer and the painter and we are ready to go.

Our main building unfortunately will be out for some time to come.  All the damaged grout lines have to be raked out and re mortared. Inside and Outside I might add !! What a mission not to mention the dust. It will once again be beautiful but we will just have to exercise patience and hope the dust doesn’t kill us first.  I imagine myself going to bed in a full mask suit.

The roads North of Kaikoura I understand are going to be a nice surprise. We have heard in places it is a four-lane highway. The south through the tunnels area is still subject to rock fall and slips which pose a problem for everyone with closures at short notices.   We are becoming well a tuned to the convoys concept. I hope they are able to have the roads reopened by the end of the year as initially advised.

The Village..The main street West End has lost the long standing Adelphi Hotel. This site now sits empty but I believe there is new shops going to be erected.  A couple of other shops have been pulled down and the other Hotel Kaikoura has lost is the New Commercial which was severely damaged and now someone has set it alight.

Fyffe Country LodgeI have heard via one of the real estate agents that the demand for property here has been amazing and the new subdivisions are filling up very quickly. Perhaps that’s our silver lining to the horrible earthquake event.

Insurance Companies…believe everything that Christchurch has said about them.  Kaikoura is experiencing the same

Issues and a lot of the locals are very unhappy with the deceptive ways they conduct business.

 

Background …… 2016 Kaikoura earthquake

 

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake was a magnitude 7.8  earthquake in the South Island of New Zealand that occurred two minutes after midnight on 14 November 2016 NZDT

The earthquake started at about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-east of Culverden and 60 kilometres (37 mi) south-west of the tourist town of Kaikoura and at a depth of approximately 15 kilometres

Ruptures occurred on multiple fault lines in a complex sequence that lasted for about two minutes. The cumulative magnitude of the ruptures was 7.8, with the largest amount of that energy released far to the north of the epicentre.

The large magnitude of the quake is second to only one New Zealand earthquake since European settlement of the country Over $900 million in insurance claims were received.There were two deaths, in Kaikoura and Mount Lyford.

GNS scientists discuss the road displacement at Kekerengu, south of Ward where roadworks have been under way since the November quake. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

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]]> Fyffe Country Lodge… Renovations http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/fyffe-country-lodge-renovations/ Sat, 14 Nov 2015 04:00:32 +0000 http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/?p=18224 Fyffe Country Lodge …. Improvements We have owned the Fyffe Country Lodge for 20 years and have loved the lovely cedar doors and windows.  But with the ever increasing energy costs we reluctantly made the decision to replace them with more modern units. We approached First Doors and Windows ….. Christchurch company …..and sought their…

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]]> Fyffe Country Lodge …. Improvements
Fyffe Country Lodge

A new door slides into place

We have owned the Fyffe Country Lodge for 20 years and have loved the lovely cedar doors and windows.  But with the ever increasing energy costs we reluctantly made the decision to replace them with more modern units. We approached First Doors and Windows ….. Christchurch company …..and sought their solution.

 

This has been an interesting  project with amazing results.  Now we still have warm rooms, but with a much reduced energy bill, better security and as an extra bonus, much better soundproofing.  Our guests have told us that they were quite unaware of the nearby highway ….. 100lb earth block construction has lots of positive features ….. but we worried that with a new ferry timetable traffic noise might become an issue with more night time southbound heavy transport, all departing the Picton Ferry terminal at the same time.  But our new double glazing has reduced noise by whopping 88%

Fyffe Country Lodge

And they don’t look half bad

And with more heavy transport overnight rather than in daylight hours this will make the daytime road travel between Picton and Christchurch for our guests an even more enjoyable journey, we think it has really been a win-win exercise, even if we had to lose our lovely cedar doors.

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]]> Kaikoura, Mountains to the Sea http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/kaikoura-mountains-sea/ Thu, 13 Nov 2014 18:29:40 +0000 http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/?p=17111 Picture It !! You are driving 2 hours north of Christchurch on State Highway One and just covered the hills of the Hunderlees only to find yourself cruising alongside the most beautiful turquoise/blue coloured ocean standing out from the jagged rock along the shore, the surf a glistening white foam.  Yes !!  This is the…

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]]> Picture It !!
Kaikoura, Mountains and Sea

Kaikoura, Mountains and Sea

You are driving 2 hours north of Christchurch on State Highway One and just covered the hills of the Hunderlees only to find yourself cruising alongside the most beautiful turquoise/blue coloured ocean standing out from the jagged rock along the shore, the surf a glistening white foam.  Yes !!  This is the Kaikoura coastline.

Dolphins and Whales

Bottle Nosed Dolphins,

Bottle Nosed Dolphins,

 

 

 

Casting an eye over the surf and beyond one can be stopped in your tracks at the sheer volume of dolphins frolicking and displaying great acrobatic displays.  Here.. this is a regular occurrence to see pods of 400 – 500 dolphins very close to shore. Then just further out maybe a Humpback Whale or 2 as was the case earlier this week. The blowing of the water being the dead give way to this large gentle creature being so close.

 

New Zealand Fur Seals

New Zealand Fur Seals

Seals, Right There !!

The shoreline just covered in seals basking in the sun and often in the evening the road grass verges are lined with them and road signs reminding us that nature is so abundant in this special part of NZ.

Another dumping of snow on the Kaikoura seaward mountains tells us that winter is not quite finished with us yet but when you look it just makes spring more beautiful than ever. The roses are in full bloom and the surrounding farms are enjoying the spring flush of lush green pasture. The entire region from sea to mountains is looking pristine, everything is so alive and vibrant. Visit Kaikoura !!

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]]> Winter Gardeners at Fyffe Lodge http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/winter-gardeners-ffyfe-lodge/ Sun, 10 Aug 2014 05:51:37 +0000 http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/?p=15536 Winter at Fyffe Lodge   Like everyone else throughout New Zealand at this time of the year we have heads down and bottoms up with pruning and trimming.   With some 60 roses on site it takes us a while not to mention the grape vine and the stone fruit trees.   Stringing up the…

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Work Done Now

Hard at work

 

summer

So we and our guests can enjoy over the summer

Like everyone else throughout New Zealand at this time of the year we have heads down and bottoms up with pruning and trimming.   With some 60 roses on site it takes us a while not to mention the grape vine and the stone fruit trees.   Stringing up the orchids which are about to flower and preparing the ground for our summer vegetables.

 

 

(old saying…. To live off the Garden you almost have to live in the garden)

 

 

Some of the early peonies are up and masses of tulips so spring is going to look sensational with such colour and it is not so far away… Kaikoura has had quite a wet winter and most probably like the rest of New Zealand…Lots of moss about which we are dealing with and grass growing where it has never grown before..

 

 

And just around the corner on the 19th September…..

Cars to dream over

Cars to dream over

Don’t forget the Kaikoura Hop this year is about to kick off . We’re expecting over 800 car entries.  A petrol heads paradise, followed by a great Dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then soon after on October 4th, 2014

Kaikoura Seafest Lots of great times to be had and rooms about the town are starting to fill up fast.

Great Seafood, carnaval and danse (photo thanks to Stuff NZ)

Great Seafood, carnival and dance (photo thanks to Stuff NZ)

Sails Ashore

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…. Chris & Colin ,
Fyffe Country Lodge
458 State Highway One
Kaikoura

Ph 64 3 319 6869

www.fyffecountrylodge.com
Email [email protected]

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]]> Kaikoura Spring with Fyffe Country Lodge http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/kaikoura-spring-with-fyffe-country-lodge/ Thu, 07 Nov 2013 21:11:07 +0000 http://heritageinnsnz.wordpress.com/?p=701 Spring is Busy Busy for Kaikoura and Surrounds…….. So much activity….. The Hop Our region starts off with the Kaikoura Hop usually around the 24th September. This is great for car enthusiasts and the event attract approximately 700 car entries. The town just buzzes. Entries are from all over New Zealand and already I understand…

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]]> Spring is Busy Busy for Kaikoura and Surrounds……..
The Hop, Car Entusiasts & Rock & Roll

The Hop, Car Enthusiasts and Rock & Roll

So much activity…..

The Hop

Our region starts off with the Kaikoura Hop usually around the 24th September. This is great for car enthusiasts and the event attract approximately 700 car entries. The town just buzzes. Entries are from all over New Zealand and already I understand next year is partially booked. The dance is fab – “Rock ‘n’ Roll “ all night !!

Seafest

Mussels, Yum, Seafest

Mussels, Yum, Seafest

Then it is Seafest time and this event attracts a good crowd of about 5000 party goers with the big Bash (with great bands) on the Friday night followed by the food & wine the following day.

Seafest Party Goers,

The Bash, Party Goers,

Culverden Xmas Fete

A day in the sun at the Fete

A day in the sun at the Fete

Just a couple of weeks later everyone goes to the Culverden Xmas Fete which I never miss. Usually I make a B-Line for the peonies to add to my collection which graces the

Just one of the many stalls at The Fete (photo.. The Fete.co.nz)

Just one of the many stalls at The Fete (photo.. The Fete.co.nz)

gardens surrounding the lodge and obviously I go home with a huge bunch of cut stems. They are always an excellent talking point with the guests.

and just a few days later we all find ourselves at

The Kaikoura Races

Harness Racing on the Beach (Photo Stuff.co.nz)

Harness Racing on the Beach (Photo Stuff.co.nz)

taking a punt on our favourite horse.  The temperature was 24o Sun blazing with lots of bright hats and summery cloths and a few burnt bodies was the order of the day. The sea was a beautiful turquoise back drop to the course.  You would have though every car in New Zealand was there..it was so so busy and record crowds I am told. The town just came to a stand still !!

And our own Fyffe Country Lodge Gardens

Fyffe Country Lodge Gardens

Fyffe Country Lodge Gardens

Now that we have all enjoyed such a busy start to the spring calendar it is time to put in some hard labour into the gardens. The buxus is a show piece and is always commented on.

Our orchid collection demands spring attention with dividing and re-potting.

The Hobby

The Hobby

(This is a relatively new hobby – perhaps age related – but most enjoyable)

Holidaying in Kaikoura between late September to Late October will always provide you with some great festive events to attend.

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Sails Ashore

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…. Chris & Colin ,
Fyffe Country Lodge
458 State Highway One
Kaikoura

Ph 64 3 319 6869

www.fyffecountrylodge.com
Email [email protected]

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]]> Fyffe Country Lodge – Kaikoura http://www.heritageinns.co.nz/fyffe-country-lodge-kaikoura/ Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:34:47 +0000 http://heritageinnsnz.wordpress.com/?p=105 Cabin fever was starting to set in and thankfully we had the Olympic Games to enjoy over the past 2 weeks of downpours. The ground so soggy and small lakes everywhere. Alas… we woke to the pristine snow capped mountain vista of Kaikoura.  It was absolutely idyllic.  We drove our Russian guests to the water…

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]]> Cabin fever was starting to set in and thankfully we had the Olympic Games to enjoy over the past 2 weeks of downpours. The ground so soggy and small lakes everywhere.
Alas… we woke to the pristine snow capped mountain vista of Kaikoura.  It was absolutely idyllic.  We drove our Russian guests to the water tank lookout to view the region at its best.  It
was absolutely breathtaking.  Blue skies and not a breath of wind…the sea with hardly a ripple.
Our guests helicopter was soon to arrive to take them to the Huka Lodge in Taupo for 2 days and some more rain and for us to return to our mundane task of moving furniture to continue with our redecorating.
A welcome breather comes every four hours with a few moments with our new arrival “Sooty” a jet black lamb to which we are “Mum”.  I am always amazed at how knowing they get !!

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We get bunted everywhere hoping his milk will just appear !!
Spring is not so far away…the tulips are up..and we all hope to start picking up a few guests.

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Kaikoura’s Whale run kicks off on the 15 September then we all look forward to the annual “Seafest” which attract about 8,000 visitors to the region for the festival. A superb variety of wines and seafood is to be had not to mention a good selection of live entertainment.  A reprieve from the empty accommodations of the winter months.
The men’s open Golf Day followed by the Kaikoura Trotting Cup all are great fun days
which are growing annually with guests coming from all over the South Island…and usually Kaikoura can turn on the weather…and crayfish…

www.fyffecountrylodge.com

Chris Rye and Colin Ashworth
Fyffe Country lodge
458 State Highway One
Kaikoura.

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