TIMBER TRAIL CENTRE
a little piece of paradise
at the end of the Timber Trail Cycleway (Ongarue)
We are excited to be the new owners
of Timber Trail Centre...
Once we've settled in, we will be reopening
for your accommodation needs in Ongarue
(hopefully by mid December 2024)
Any queries please email us
jenandrichardrobinson@gmail.com
The Timber Trail Centre is a little piece of heaven in the heart of New Zealand's North Island. It is one of only two accommodation options at the end of the famous Timber Trail Cycle Way. Apart from cycling, our region offers many, many spectacular adventures and tourist attractions (see Blog" and "See & Do" pages above). Our grounds include nearly 2 hectares (over 3 acres) of gardens, orchards, olives and grassland, flowing down to a natural spring-fed stream on one boundary and the trout-filled Ongarue River on another.
Guests have full use of two buildings, both over a century old and built of native timbers:
- the Miller's Cottage This is the main accommodation for guests, with five bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, kitchen/dining area and lounge (more info, next page).
- the Old Ongarue School This huge building has an additional lounge/dining area and a recreation room with pool table (currently unavailable for use of guests).
To book a room click on the blue "Check Availability" button at the top of this page. For more information, see the next page.
To book the entire Cottage, check availability as above, and then email or phone us to finalise (automatic booking/payment is not possible for whole Cottage bookings)
The Church, next door to the Cottage, is the home of Jennifer and Richard, your hosts. At 140 years old, this is one of the oldest buildings in NZ.
OUR ROOMS
The Miller's Cottage is a century-old gem that offers five individually decorated bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, and each named after one of NZ's beautiful native trees. One room (Kanuka) is a family room with two beds.
To book an individual room, click on the "check availability" blue button at the top of the home page. You will then see a calendar showing all room availabilities at a glance. For detailed information on each room (they're all different), click on the name of the room in that calendar.
The Cottage can sleep 11 guests in total. If you are interested in booking the WHOLE Cottage... ring Jennifer and Richard at 0272579960 or email: jenandrichardrobinson@gmail.com
The Cottage has a basic but fully equipped kitchen with two dining tables, a lounge, laundry, verandas with two BBQs and outside eating options. Guests can also enjoy our concrete hot pool for 10 (it's fired up when we have a full house or have guests staying for several days), hammocks under the trees, our extensive orchards, and a huge nearby swimming hole, full of trout, with its own small pomace sand beach.
Your hosts
Jennifer and Richard are both Kiwis, over the years we have travelled to many places around the world. In 2012 we had a Catamaran built and set sail from Cape Town, spending 7 years sailing 3/4 of the way around the world, visiting 32 countries - a truly wonderful and rewarding time, so we’re right at home looking after guests from all around the world.
Prior to purchasing the Timber Trail Centre we have run Boutique Accommodation in Norfolk Island and New Zealand. Run Top 10 Holiday Parks in New Zealand. Set up and run a ski lodge in Japan, prior to this we were involved in property.
We love good food, wine, gardening (luckily as we have 3 1/2 acres of mature heritage apples and pears, and many other fruit and olive trees). We are looking forward to you enjoying our little piece of paradise.
OUR SERVICES
Meals
Guests have a full equipped (but not flashy) kitchen available. Food can be be purchased in Taumarunui (20 km away), where there is also a range of restaurants. For those without a car and no ability bring food with them, we can provide a range of ingredients for guests to cook with in the kitchen. Please email Jennifer and Richard several days before you arrive, stating any dietary restrictions and the meals that you need to prepare - price will depend on requested food.
Relax
There are relaxation opportunities galore at the Centre - a soak in our hot tub (when it's fired up), fishing in the river on our border, a sunbathe on the beach by the awesome 70 m long swimming hole nearby... and of course you could do absolutely nothing, in one of our hammocks.
Cars/Bikes
There's plenty of free and secure car parking on the property, as well as a room for bike storage. There are also repair shops/car garages in nearby Taumarunui. There are various bike hire/transport companies, however we recommend timbertrailshuttles.com which is located in Ongarue Village and will pick you up from our Centre.
Stay in Touch
Our WIFI's free and draws from a nearby fibre optic tower. Occasionally the reception is not perfect, especially if it's raining, but mobile reception is also pretty good, as an internet back-up. Please avoid downloading movies via our WIFI while you are with us!
Explore
We can help you book your adventure programme too - cycling, canoeing, trout fishing, jet boating, a visit to NZ's largest Alpaca farm down the road, numerous walks , Waitomo Caves, Tongariro National Park and Ski-fields, Forgotten World, Republic of Wangamamona etc (see
Blogs and See & Do pages on this websit and contact us if you'd like some help).
Inner Calm
You're welcome to stroll down to our river, or set yourself up under one of our beautiful trees to sit and relax,
have a picnic or enjoy a glass of wine.
You're also welcome to borrow a book from our extensive range
GALLERY
SEE & DO
(for lots more information on each of activity below, click on the "Blog" at the top)
Cycling
(Timber Trail Cycleway)
One of NZ's top two cycle trails, this ends at our village of Ongarue. The full Trail is 84 km, but you can also cycle the easier bottom half (45 km). You will pass through 4 types of podocarp forest, across 35 cycle bridges (one of which is the longest suspension bridge in the southern hemipshere) and have a never to be forgotten experience.
Fishing
(Lake Taupo)
Turangi, on the edge of NZ's largest lake, has been named "Trout Fishing Capitol of the World". You can also go for a sail or visit the Maori cliff carvings by launch.
But actually..... the trout fishing is just as good if not better in the river that borders our Centre and in our spectacular 70 m swimming hole down the road. Hosts record? - five trout in two hours!
Walking/Ski-ing
(Tongariro National Park)
The world's second National Park and a Unesco World Heritage site. Try a "high tea" with scones and cream in one of NZ's most beautiful hotels - "The Chateau", then head up the gondola for lunch in NZ's highest cafe. The Wakapapa ski-fields are the largeest in the southern hemisphere.
Rail Cart Adventure
(Forgotten World Adventures)
Up to 3 days of adventure on your own rail cart, through magnificent forests, farmland and tunnels - nearly all the way to the west coast of NZ.
Caving & Glow Worms
(Waitomo Caves)
These are the most visited caves in the southern hemisphere, with a spectacular show of glow worms and, if you're keen, a black-water raftingexperience.
Volcano Walk
(The Alpine Crossing)
One of NZ's top attractions and described as "NZ's finest one-day walk" - Lonely Planet Travel Guide. This walk will take you through wild volcanic terrain, with spectacular views across the plains.
Canoing/Jet Boating
(Whanganui River Adventures)
Jetboating and canoing for up to four days, through specular forests and ravines, along NZ's longest navigatable river, a river that is sacred to NZ's Maori and was the first river in the world to be given a legal status with the same rights to protection as humans.
Journey Into the Past
(Republic of Whangamamona)
Follow the wild Forgotten World Highway and you'll arrive at Whangamamona - a self-proclaimed independent republic, with its own passports and president (sometimes a human, but previously a goat, a sheep and a gumboot!).
Mountaineering/Forest Walks
(Short and Long)
There are many shorter loacal walks (see www.taumarunuitrampingclub.com/home for lots of ideas). For longer ones, try the Alpine Crossing (see above) or moss forested walks on Mt Taranaki, NZ's most beautiful (this one's 3 hours drive).
GUEST REVIEWS for the past Owners...
