New Zealand

Location: Gisborne

Knapdale is a tranquil utopia, only 10 minutes from Gisborne airport and yet a world apart from urban living. Gisborne is the First City in the World to greet the Sun each day. It is located on the East Coast of New Zealand. Here you will find breathtaking beaches with excellent surf and freedom camping is allowed.

Accommodation

At Knapdale Eco Lodge you can relax and enjoy superb food which is mostly grown in the Lodge’s own garden, go for a leisurely stroll around the lake or through the well tracked forest, feed the animals or pick some oranges for your freshly squeezed breakfast juice or listen to the birds and look out over a stunning landscape while enjoying award winning Gisborne wines.

Eco Policies

Eco-Design - The Knapdale Eco Lodge itself was completed in 2004 and built of materials with as small an ecological foot print as possible. Most structural timber was sourced within a 20 km radius and was milled by a local 2 man operation sawmill. The timbers used were non-native and not imported but were sustainably grown in a forest park. 90% of the timber used was Lawson’s cypress, which is naturally durable. Other species used were Macrocarpa and Douglas fir. Ply cladding was of sustainably managed Radiata pine but was treated to provide durability.

Energy - Hot water is provided by a large solar panel in summer and a wetback fire stove in winter. For 8 to 9 months a year the Lodge is disconnected from the electrical grid for its hot water needs. There is a passive solar under-floor heating system, which does not draw any electricity barring a very small water circulation pump.

Conservation - Knapdale Eco Lodge is a 32 ha sustainably managed, semi-permacultural operation with a variety of sustainable agro-forestry projects, starting16 years ago with closed canopy plantings of Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus radiata and Acacia melanoxylon to combat rampant soil erosion on the steeper areas of the farm. At present about 10 ha of the farm is in forest with a variety of species and offering a very attractive mosaic of green colours on a formerly denuded and actively eroding landscape.
The Knapdale Eco Lodge is recognised by the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association, Forest & Bird and the Gisborne Regional Council as an example of outstanding environmental protection.

Ecological sustainability - Ingredients grown at Knapdale are used as much as possible in the gourmet meals, including organically grown beef, lamb, venison, a multitude of vegetables and fruit, as well as the ecolodge’s own honey and avocado.
Rainwater, which is collected in 3 large underground tanks, is used exclusively. Drinking water is filtered but even without filtering is of an extremely high purity and clarity.
Grey waste water is produced from the sewage which irrigates a small native tree plantation at the bottom of the Lodge’s garden.

Community – Although the lodge owners undertake most activities on the Knapdale farm/forest themselves, local people are employed for the big jobs. These people are from the neighbouring village, and often Maori, with whom the Lodge have an excellent relationship.
Eco tourism ventures include visits by Waka Toa, a local Maori cultural performance group to the 2 historic Maori sites in the forest on the farm. Waka Toa is an active partner in developing authentic Maori experiences for overseas visitors to these historic sites.

Facilities

- Because of the Lodge’s location, with the nearest restaurant 5 km away, it is recommended that you dine at Knapdale at least for the first night after travelling to Gisborne. Gourmet dinners can be prepared for NZ$75 per person – the Lodge will discuss your requirements with you once your room reservation has been confirmed.
- Full Kitchen facilities are available including deep fryer, large and small ovens, 6 hob gas burner, micro wave, sterilizer washing machine, large preparation tables and 2 basins.
- Tea and coffee making facilities in the kitchen
- Living room with TV
- Broadband Internet / Email facilities are available to guests free of charge in their rooms.
- Fax/modem facilities from the office
- Meeting Facilities are available for up to 44 persons.
- In-room safes are floor mounted in each room.
- Car Parking is available.
- Dry cleaning is available in Gisborne and can be organised.
- Laundry service at the Knapdale Eco Lodge is available free of charge.

Things To See And Do

Activities available at the Knapdale Eco Lodge include interaction with the farm animals including cows and cattle, deer which you can hand feed, Mosi the horse, chickens, Knor the piglet, dogs Baxter and Walker as well as the goats Liesje and Geit Twee.

A variety of nature walks are available on and from Knapdale from leisurely strolls around the lake to a 2 hour forest walk requiring a high level of fitness, or climb to the former Maori Terraces with stunning views over the Gisborne Plains and view the sunrise or the sunset (reasonable level of agility required for this 10 minute walk).

Waka Toa offers a wide variety of personalised experiences in Maori culture including a formal welcome ceremony (Powhiri), music and dance performances, sharing of real life testimonies that will leave you with a heartfelt connection as well as learning some aspects of Maori culture.

Personal yoga trainers are available for an unforgettable and spiritual experience in a stunning rural landscape. Visiting masseurs or masseuses can also be arranged.

Alternatively you could enjoy award-winning Chardonnay grown at neighbouring properties while consuming Knapdale produced venison salami and a variety of Gisborne cheese.

In Gisborne, 8km from the Lodge, you will find excellent fishing and hunting, golden beaches as far as the eye can see, a heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre, tennis court(s), golf, beauty salon, babysitting service and a playground / kid’s activities.

Room Description

There are two rooms available at Knapdale Eco Lodge – the Deluxe Room and the Romance Room.
The Deluxe room has a bedroom with king size bed, fantastic views of the Knapdale Forest and Lake and a separate, private bathroom with a shower and a bath. A tasteful screen is erected so that this private bathroom functions as an en-suite – no other guests will use this bathroom during a guest’s occupancy. This room sleeps a maximum of 2 adults.
The Romance room has a spacious bedroom with a king size bed, private balcony, stunning views over the Knapdale farm and wider landscape, TV and telephone. The room also has an en-suite bathroom with a large spa bath and a shower.

Prices & Booking Policies

Currency: NZ dollar (NZ$)
Prices and inclusions: The price for 2 adults in the Deluxe room is NZ$275 (approx £105) per night until 30th September 2008, increasing to NZ$305 (approx £116) per night from October 2008-September 2009. There is a reduction of NZ$25 (to Sep’08) / NZ$30 (Oct’08-Sep’09) on the Deluxe room rate for sole occupancy.
The price for 1 or 2 adults in the Romance room is NZ$330 (approx £125) per night until 30th September 2008, increasing to NZ$363 (approx £138) per night from October 2008-September 2009.
Prices are for accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and include return courtesy airport / local transfers, free late check-out room if the room is not booked for the next day and taxes.
Child prices: Infants aged 0-1 years old go free and are welcome at the Knapdale Eco Lodge. There is a crib/cot available on the premises. Children aged 2-12 years can sleep in the Twin bedroom at a cost of NZ$55 per night until 30th September 2008, or NZ$60 per night from October’08 to September’09.
Extra adult prices: A third adult can not fit into either of the rooms. However, for a booking of 3 adults, the extra adult can stay in a separate twin room for a cost of NZ$150 (to Sep’08) / NZ$165 (Oct’08-Sep’09) per night.
Special offers: Discounts are available when staying for 4 or more nights - your 4th and 5th nights are half price with prices returning to normal for the 6th night of your stay onwards.
Check-in / Check-out times: Check-in time is 3pm and check out is 11am.
Opening dates: Knapdale Eco Lodge is open all year round. Bookings are currently being taken until 30th September 2009.
Restrictions: From 24th December to 10th January a minimum stay of 2 nights is applicable.
Deposit: A deposit of 30% of the total booking price is required to secure your reservation. Payment in full is then required 14 days prior to arrival. You will be provided with a secure link to make this payment by Visa or MasterCard.  Your booking will not be fully confirmed until this payment has been received.
Cancellation policy: A full refund of the deposit will be given if you cancel your booking 30 days or more prior to arrival. Cancellations between 30 and 14 days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 60% of the booking value and cancellations less than 14 days prior to arrival will forfeit the full 100% value of their booking.
Payment methods: Cash or Visa / Mastercard.

Getting There And Around

When flying into Gisborne, Knapdale Eco Lodge will do free pick ups from the airport.

Driving Directions:
- Coming from Opotiki on the State Highway 2 take the first road left past Ormond Village. This road, the Back Ormond Road, is sign posted as: "Gisborne, via Mangapapa". Snowsill Rd is your first road to the left and the Knapdale Eco Lodge is sign posted.
- Coming from Hawkes Bay, also on SH2, turn left at Makaraka, direction Opotiki. Turn right 5 km past Makaraka where the large green sign post indicates: "Gisborne, via Mangapapa". Snowsill Rd is your first road to the left and the Knapdale Eco Lodge is sign posted.
- Coming from Gisborne: Snowsill Rd is the last road on the right before reaching State Highway 2 on the Back Ormond Rd. Snowsill Rd is about 8 km from the City boundary.
- Coming from the East Cape: When leaving SH 35 keep driving into Gisborne either via Gladstone road or Childers Road. Turn right at Roebuck or Lytton roundabout. Turn left into the Back Ormond Rd. Drive for about 8 km until you see the Knapdale Eco Lodge sign on your right.