Strolling around the Ribbonwood garden last evening I happened to notice that the warm weather had brought the Golden Rain trees out into full bloom. So beautiful and as we didn’t see a trace of yellow last year due to the late spring norwest gales, so unusual. Just goes to show that even with the impending El Niño event this summer – we are in a better position than we were at this time last year.

Our Animals

As far as the livestock are concerned Ruby (the Jersey cow) has been mated again last week – we hope that this time she will get in calf for next years milk supply. She and Dora are enjoying the spring feed supply – i wonder if they actually remember the dry hay they had to eat last summer?

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Gary & Robert

Robert Day and Gary Mitchell are your hosts at Ribbonwood Country House in Cheviot, North Canterbury.  we have a wealth of hospitality and tourism experience; … over 50 years of it!

I (Gary) am an experienced and qualified chef, kitchen manager, front office manager, front of house manager (maitre d and sommelier) HR manager and food and beverage manager all to a senior level for many cafes, restaurants and hotels.

Robert has food and beverage experience and qualifications as a Maitre D and sommelier, was duty manager for a 5 star hotel and has front office experience as well.

For the past 10 years Robert has been working for Air NZ mostly in the Koru Lounge as a duty manager / team leader.  He has a Degree in Agricultural Science from Massey University in Palmerston North and worked as an arable consultant for MAF before retraining in hospitality, an industry he worked in whilst studying.

Robert is from Ashburton but like Gary, has also lived and worked overseas namely in the UK.  Robert enjoys the outdoors mainly his gardens.  He enjoys growing veggies from seeds and tending them through to harvest when he collects his produce and gives it to me to do something with!  Robert also takes pride in his non veggie gardens which have been established over the past 4 years so still growing and developing.  When not tending his gardens Robert can be found taking care of all things maintenance and on 7.5 hectares with a 510 sqm house there is always plenty to do on his days off from his regular job.  Robert and Gary both enjoy travelling and always planning their next overseas venture especially when combining it with food and wine.

Together, from 1999 to 2004 we owned and operated a country hotel with eight motel units, then ran a B and B from their house in Christchurch before selling and moving to Cheviot to build their dream home and set up Ribbonwood Country House.

Ribbonwood and our picking garden

I  (Gary) have worked as a retail manager for a large department store, Sector Manager for TIANZ – Tourism Industry Association, NZ Post, the rag trade and is also a qualified beauty and spa therapist.  I still operate a training company which specialises in training for hospitality, tourism, retail, customer service, leadership and management and adult education.

Isla and her family

I am from Christchurch but have lived and worked overseas and many parts of NZ.  I enjoys hospitality and making people feel at home.  My’s main passion outside of work is caring for my menagerie: Isla the Border Collie, Phoebe the black moggy, the 12 sheep and their offspring and the 3 calves – one which is named Dora Belle.  Hopefully she will be our house cow.

Ribbonwood Country House

We chose Cheviot for the location.  We are inland 3km from State Highway One so easy to find and have the most gorgeous views of the Kaikoura Mountain ranges.  Cheviot is a thriving rural town with all the amenities and clubs that one needs.  It is a very caring community and a delight to be living here.  We are close to the very popular Gore Bay and not too far from Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs and Christchurch.  There is much to see and do in this unspoilt region of NZ.  In March each year Cheviot is host to the A and P show and in September each year we have the Spring Festival which has market stalls, garden tours and lots of activities for the kids to be involved in.

Our own vegetables

One of our philosophies is ‘Paddock to Plate” we grow our own veggies, fruits and herbs and use these when cooking for guests and make our own chutneys and jams etc.  We also have our own home grown lamb and will have beef in the future.  We hope Dora will provide the necessaries to have our own milk and make our own cheese.  A goat and chickens are in the pipeline but we have a good supply of eggs from the neighbour so no rush there yet!  My training in aromatherapy and herbal studies has equipped me with the knowledge and will be able to make our own soaps, shampoo and body washes for the guests.

Produce for the table

Working to each other’s strengths, we are an ideal team and we take pride in the world class customer service our guests receive from the warm and friendly welcome to the time the guests leave.  We have excellent technical skills, industry knowledge and an abundance of experience.

Our first guests stayed on 26 and 27 December 2013 and already we are listed on Trip Advisor as the number one B and B in this area.  We were also delighted to be named as finalists for our unique glass showers in the GANZ awards 2014 (Glass Association of NZ) in the Innovation section and also as a finalist in the North Canterbury Business Awards Emerging Business awards 2014.

We have a unique product and hope you will enjoy your stay with us.

Welcome aboard the Heritage “Ship”  Gary & Robert. To my shame I have passed through Cheviot just once, and that was immediately post Wahine … and in a freezing square wheeled emergency bus taking us poor stranded travelers south after getting across the Straits in an Airforce Herc. One day not too far in the future Iris & I will remedy that……  Peter (Webmeister) 

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Ribbonwood Country House offers

• Main Attractions / Activities
• Koromiko
• Rata
• Your Hosts

RIBBONWOOD COUNTRY HOUSE is an exciting new accommodation experience in the Hurunui District of New Zealand’s South Island. Providing luxury accommodation in a relaxing environment, this purpose built bed and breakfast is designed to pamper you. We are located in Cheviot district and boast 360º views of the North Canterbury countryside. The prime view from your room will be the rolling farmland looking north over the Waiau River valley to the Kaikoura Mountain range. Gary and Robert have a wealth of hospitality, tourism and spa therapy experience and look forward to welcoming you to Ribbonwood Country House.

We are just 120km north of Christchurch International Airport with a driving time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, or if you’re heading south from Kaikoura, it’s a distance of 70km which is approx. 50 minutes’ drive.

Ribbonwood is set on 7.5 hectares of prime countryside. We purchased the land in late 2009, and have since built a home and venue and established expansive gardens which we look forward to sharing with you. Ribbonwood Country House encapsulates luxury, relaxation, elegance and indulgence. It offers a place to escape from everyday pressures – come and relax for a week or a weekend and explore this delightful region of New Zealand.  Guests are able to use the guest lounge, dining room and library inside and outside enjoy a walk around the gardens and a walk to our pond or play with Isla, our resident Border Collie.

Continental and cooked breakfast is included in the room rate, evening meals are optional and extra prepared by Chef Gary using mostly local produce. For those seeking total indulgence and wanting to be pampered, you can take advantage of a spa treatment in our spa therapy room. A full list of treatments available is on our website. Please note the spa pool and sauna won’t be installed until 2015.

If you want to explore our beautiful area of North Canterbury we are not far from Hanmer Springs – the thermal region with hot pools, Kaikoura for whale watching or maybe take yourself to the beach at Gore Bay. We also have many sporting activities such as a 12 hole golf course, river or sea fishing, tennis courts and walking tracks to keep you fit and energised with our clean country air.

Koromiko has a superking bed which can be divided into two king singles (please advise at the time of booking).  

The ensuites have unique glass showers which reflect the native plant, heated towel rails and under floor heating.

Other facilities in the room include a space to hang clothes, a television,  heat pump air conditioning, comfortable chairs, hot beverage making facilities and the spacious tiled ensuites.  Each room opens to the outside through sliding doors onto your own decked seating area.

All guest rooms have a superking bed which can be divided into two king singles (please advise at the time of booking).  

 

The ensuites have unique glass showers which reflect the native plant, heated towel rails and under floor heating.

Other facilities in the room include a space to hang clothes, a television,  heat pump air conditioning, comfortable chairs, hot beverage making facilities and the spacious tiled ensuites.  Each room opens to the outside through sliding doors onto your own decked seating area.

 ABOUT GARY AND ROBERT

We welcome you to Ribbonwood Country House. Together we have a wealth of hospitality experience; over 50 years of it!

Gary is a hospitality professional who draws on many years’ experience working in top hotels, restaurants and cafés, leading department stores, tourist organisations and his own hospitality training business.

Utilising the freshest home-grown and local produce, Gary takes pleasure in offering simple, honest and tasty food for guests who stay with us and the private functions being hosted so successfully at Ribbonwood Country House. Having added beauty and spa therapy qualifications to his repertoire, Gary also looks forward to providing guests with the relaxing pleasures of a range of spa treatments.

Robert takes the front of house role at Ribbonwood Country House, drawing on his many years of experience as respected maître d’ and sommelier, and as a five star hotel duty manager. He’s also a knowledgeable gardener with a keen eye for creating the visual pleasures possible from a well-planned garden and a green thumb among the fruit and vegetables which thrive here. Ensuring our guests’ enjoyment of the whole Ribbonwood Country House experience – the property, meals, wines and activities – is what Robert does best.

Booking & Availability

RIBBONWOOD COUNTRY HOUSE TARIFFS

BOOKING DETAILS

All tariffs are per night for 2 people and include continental and cooked breakfast. It is essential to book ahead if you would like an evening meal. We provide a 3 course set menu for  $75.00 per person incl GST but not beverages. Please discuss your menu with us.

Check in: 4.00pm ( earlier by arrangement)

Check out: 10.00am (later by arrangement)

Minimum two night stays apply during public holiday weekends. Price for single occupancy on request.

SPA DISCOUNT FOR GUESTS

In-house guests wanting spa therapy treatments will be given 10% discount off the listed price. Bookings for any spa and beauty treatments are essential.

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