Our first home is a 4 bedroom new 2 story house in Tawa, 15 minutes drive from Wellington CBD, with a private backyard and deck. There is a double garage with easy drive on. On the ground floor there are two bedrooms (one very large double and one single) a bathroom and separate toilet. On the first floor is the open plan kitchen, dining and lounge with grand piano, TV and stereo, the master bedroom, ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and study with two computers, broadband internet and printers, scanner etc.

The second home which we can also offer for exchange is in Martinborough (a wine village 1 hour's drive from Wellington) - a completely self-contained 1 bedroomed flat (1 queen bed and 1 single bed), its own kitchen and bathroom - converted from my original music room. The living/dining area is pleasant and catches the afternoon sun. There is a TV, radio and CD player. We can leave a small laptop for your use if pre-arranged. It has its own private entrance and patio. This flat is attached to our country house where our son lives for most of the year. The house is set in a rural block of one acre, with a few sheep, cattle and a donkey grazing nearby.

Tawa is a pleasant suburb of Wellington, 15 minutes by car, train or bus from the CBD. It is served by a supermarket and other shops and a few cafes/restaurants, library, medical centre. The shopping centre is a 10 - 15 minute walk from the house, as is the railway station. Wellington, NZ's capital city is packed with very attractive cultural attractions and waterfront. In particular check out the cable car, botanical gardens, the National Museum (Te Papa) and the Beehive (Parliament Buildings.) Other attractions: the Karori Sanctuary; Wellywood - the Weta Workshop - where Lord of the Rings special effects were created; Carter Observatory. See the websites at foot of page.

Martinborough is a new tourist town. Originally a small service centre for the local farming community, it now boasts a number of boutique vineyards, a brewery and olive groves which attract many tourists and weekenders. A number of delightful cafes and restaurants have sprung up over recent years along with boutique shops (gifts, clothes, arts and crafts) . We now have an arthouse cinema and a number of art galleries and a museum. A new attraction, just 15 mins drive away, is "Stonehenge Aoteoroa" a replica of the original on the Salisbury Plains, created by a local Astronomer. Also only 15 minutes drive away is the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride over the fantastic scenery of the Wairarapa early morning countryside (Champagne breakfast included in the cost). Local attractions include the golf course (5 minute walk) and white water rafting, canoes, pig-hunting, glow-worm caves, fishing. Within a 30 minute drive trampers and walkers can get away into Mount Holdsworth or do the 3 day "Tora" walk. A 30 minute drive to the South takes you to Lake Ferry for whitebaiting and fishing and/or a fabulous walk to the Pinnacles. See the website link at the foot of the page. The nearest city is Masterton, a 30 minute drive.

We are non smokers and appreciate you not smoking inside.
We could act as chauffeur for some visits if our guests would like that arrangement.
We may be able to meet you at Wellington airport or rail depending on your arrival time.
We prefer non simultaneous exchanges but hospitality is a possibility at the Tawa house.
If an exchange cannot be effected to your part of the world, our Martinborough apartment is available for rental. Our rates are $NZ90 per night for the whole apartment or longer periods by arrangement. (Payment in cash please). We also offer hospitality in our Tawa house, as our guests have 2 bedrooms and separate bathroom downstairs. Dates available throughout the year.

Open to any dates

Our next trip in 2012 we hope to return to Europe to explore the United Kingdom, South of France, Northern Italy and anywhere else that might offer us attractive homeexchanges!

Jancis is late 60s, recently retired from working as Head of Music Department in large secondary school. Since retiring she enjoys acting in local amateur theatre. David, also late 60s, is an ex TV producer, latterly organic farmer and computer geek. Our 2 adult children are mostly away - son Kim, an entertainer, lives in the Martinborough house or travels to summer festivals all over the world. Daughter Mardi, actor, musician, currently works in the fashion retail industry. We have only recently (first trip in 2001) begun to travel and have loved visits to European cities and would like to see more of both Europe and the UK. We are interested in historical and cultural sites and architecture, as well as theatre and music. We walk where we can or use rail travel when the distances are greater. We completed, in November 2007, a three month trip round England, Ireland, with side trips of one week each to Berlin, Delft and Paris. In 2008 our holiday was to Brisbane and Sydney, Australia and our last trip for 2 months in 2010 covered Russia, Scandinavia and Canada.
We sometimes travel with brother and sister-in-law.

English