Making the move from motel/hotel accommodation to a B&B was a decision I didn’t make lightly. But I did, and I am glad. Would I do it again? Definitely!!
Rain on the plane’s windows speckled the view of Nelson’s water-soaked tarmac. But Nelson is supposed to be sunny, I hear you say. Doesn’t it have the highest number of sunshine hours per year across New Zealand? That maybe so, but that’s not the welcome that greeted Teddy & Me today. Our plane was forced to circle for a few minutes while the a backlog of flights negotiated the misty conditions. We touched down with no drama and only a few minutes later than scheduled. And the rain persisted.
But it’s only water. And water will dampen the air but it takes more than a few raindrops to dampen our spirits. We didn’t come all the way from Auckland for the rugby just to be wussy about the weather. On the other hand however, I was still a tad tentative about my decision to book a B&B for our two-day stay.
Collingwood Manor – A Grand Old Lady
I discovered this B&B by accident as I was looking to book some weekend accommodation. We wanted something close to Nelson’s Trafalgar Park as that’s where the rugby was to be played. Collingwood Manor was the closest to the Park that offered excellent overnight rates. But I’d never stayed in a B&B before and I had no idea what to expect.
I’d booked a twin room, (which is usual when Teddy and I travel) but when the hosts were forced to juggle the rooms prior to our arrival, we were upgraded to a king-sized room each. I guess the other guests had a greater need for the twin room than we did. I mean, who objects to an upgrade? Not us that’s for sure.
But we still had no idea what would greet us on our arrival.
As we pulled into the driveway, I was entranced by the grand stature of a century old villa.
I sensed a journey to another time, but my t/shirt and cord jeans were no substitute for the flowing dresses that would have once adorned the veranda ahead. Its grandeur demanded my brief acknowledgment to the history and stories that lay within the sturdy walls.
I felt like an intruder as I approached the large wooden door that greeted me. We were met by Jules, the lady half of the hosting couple who ushered us inside. I’m sure I could hear the whispering walls unveiling their secrets as we were shown through the home and given the ancient keys to our rooms. I was surprised by the warmth exuding from every nook and cranny of the home. I could feel it wrap around and protect me from the cold chill of the flash-back winter outside.
Old and Traditional meets New and Quirky
Our rooms were a homely blend of old and new. Heat pumps in each room had replaced crackling wood fires, but it didn’t detract from the olde charm. The modern touches throughout the establishment melded well with the solid wooden archways, high ceilings, dado strips and stained glass windows gazing out onto the verandah. The ensuites in every room proudly displayed their old kauri floors and old style plumbing fixtures. It was perfect. The large sash windows framed the garden scenery beyond, but in the evening, modern roller blinds blocked out any intruding night. Their subtlety in no way detracted from the early twentieth century ambiance in the rooms. The guests dining come family room sat radiantly at the front of the home. With its bay window and stained glass panels above, I was reminded of scenes from early movies where the family would gather around the fireplace and tell stories recounting their adventures of the day.
Art and Artisans
Nelson is a city rich in the arts, and Ray & Jules have adorned so much of this home with local treasures. Ray’s insights into some of the pieces in the home is fascinating. Paintings and prints, ornaments and figurines, glassware and pottery. My head was filled with the visions of many artisans, toiling over their lathes, easels, and pottery wheels. And evidence of his search for the home’s history hangs in the grand entrance hallway where framed newspaper articles show details dating back to the late 19th Century when the home was built.
Snuggle Down in Modern Comfort
In the bedrooms, a modern stand-alone wardrobe provides a hanging place for clothes but lying on their tops sit old battered suitcases with stories they could tell from times long passed. Each room was like a history lesson but without the head ma’am at the front of the room. At each turn I could take myself back to earlier generations and wonder at their daily lives. I didn’t get to sit on the enveloping verandah as the rain and cool air persisted. But that can wait till another day when the sun will allow me to experience the delight of the home in summer.
A Bonus Find
The purpose of our journey was to attend a rugby match and the park was just a five minute walk away. But little did we know at the time, that enroute to the game we would be spoiled by a stroll along historic Elliott Street, a street of picket fences, fences protecting creeping wisteria, framing plots of standard roses and clumps of bright blue hydrangeas. Elliott Street is registered with the Historic Places Trust because of the row of restored century old homes standing at attention along the narrow street. Thirtyone of the homes are listed as heritage buildings. The homes have been restored to their original charm and my historic journey continued as I wandered past fences draped with clinging vines of delicate flowers in picks and whites. How beautiful this all looked and not in the least dampened by the persisting drizzle throughout the day.
We’ll Be Back!
Our little sojourn to Nelson was a journey of discovery. Even when your rugby team loses, a warm welcome and comfortable surroundings are a great magnet to draw you back. Not only to hear Ray’s history lessons of a place that oozes its own personality but also to wander at leisure along Elliott Street on a sunny day. Will we return? Most definitely! And the answer to the question…it’s a thumbs up for the B&B.
(Disclosure: Several of the photographs used here, have been “borrowed” from the Collingwood Manor website. The rest I have taken myself.)
Gallery
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Cheers,
Teddy & June
