Moon Gate Villa

Kerikeri's orchard hedges surround Moon Gate Villa, a short drive from the Bay of Islands coast and its beaches, boat cruises and deep-sea fishing. The villa holds three suites and takes up to seven guests. A wide timber door opens onto an atrium where a stream runs the length of the entrance, fed by a small waterfall. The house itself was shaped by a European architect for a romance novelist, its curved plan and a garden pergola both aligned toward a sculpture called the Moon Gate. Outside, 1.5 acres of grounds divide into distinct garden rooms, tropical, native, bromeliad and European, with lawns linking them and a secret garden reached from the Deluxe suite's terrace. A solar-heated pool sits among the beds. Rooms keep private entrances, indoor and outdoor seating, and ensuite bathrooms; the Premium Suite has a deep bath and views over the pond and gardens. The Cottage stands apart, with its own kitchenette and an outdoor lounge for cooler evenings. Breakfast is included, and guests are offered traditional Maori dishes alongside it. Host Lionel is Maori, and his family history reaches back to a signatory of the Waitangi treaty; carvings and family heirlooms are on display through the house. Kerikeri village is three minutes away, with markets, a wood carver, and chocolate makers within walking distance. Wi-Fi runs free throughout.