Introduction

This page covers background information on using this site and its contents. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, then the site map may help.

The editorials on each page aim to cover all the relevant details the discerning traveller needs to know. Because conventions vary and overseas terminology is not always consistent with that used in New Zealand, we have compiled and updated the following explanations for clarity.

Tariffs

Tariffs are calculated in New Zealand dollars and include GST (Goods & Services Tax of 12.5%). They indicate a nightly rate for double occupancy unless otherwise stated.

• Double indicates the tariff for two people sharing one double or one twin room.
• Single indicates the tariff for one person occupying a room.
• Room rate indicates the tariff for one room, single or double.
• Cottage, Apartment or Holiday Home rate indicates the rate for up to the stated number of people.

All tariffs were correct at time of printing and being subject to change, must be confirmed with your hosts at the time of booking. Please note that there is often an additional per person charge for additional people in a room.

When booking, a deposit is usually required and as late cancellations can have a significant impact on our hosts, late cancellation fees may apply. Please check the terms and conditions of each host that you book with.

Bookings

New Zealand is a popular holiday destination, so we strongly recommend that all accommodation and some activity bookings are made well in advance of your travel, particularly in the peak season of December to March inclusive.

With deposit and cancellation policies varying between hosts, we advise that you check these when making an enquiry or booking.

Single, private, exclusive, or one-party bookings mean that only one group of associated people is booked at a time.

For those hosts who offer lunch or dinner that is NOT included in the tariff, pre-booking these meals will ensure that the ingredients for your meal are fresh. This is especially true for hosts who are remote from main cities and towns.

Pets are generally not welcome unless specified and by prior arrangement with your host.

Rooms

The following abbreviations may be used:

bdrm

bedroom

enst

ensuite bath or shower room

prbth

private bath or shower room

Below are some further definitions:

• Ensuite: An ensuite means a bathroom directly adjoining a bedroom. An ensuite can include just a shower and toilet, or else it can be a spacious bathroom incorporating a bath or even spa bath. "Ensuite" does not indicate size, only position.
• Private bathroom: A private bathroom, including a shower and toilet and maybe a bath, is separated from the bedroom, perhaps across the hallway, but is dedicated for that bedroom's sole use. If single-party bookings are indicated, the bathroom is private to that one party. Bathrobes are usually supplied for guests' use.
• Guest-share bathroom: This bathroom is usually shared between two guest bedrooms, occasionally more, within the same party. It is not shared with the hosts. If only one bedroom is occupied, it becomes that room's private bathroom. It contains shower, toilet and maybe a bath.
• King/twin: This is either a king zipper bed or two singles that can be configured as one king-size or two single beds.
• Super-king: This bed is 15cm longer than king-size.
• Californian-king: This is 15cm wider than super-king.
• Queen: This is 15cm narrower than a king-size bed. A queen/twin means either that the bed can be configured as two singles, or that an extra bed is available, as a triple.
• Double: This means one double bed. An additional single bed may be available, sometimes indicated as double/twin. This can also be referred to as a triple.
• Twin: This means two separate beds. Often both are single beds, and occasionally one or both twin beds may be double beds. If the twin room can sleep three guests, it is sometimes known as triple.
• King-single: This means a single bed, an extra 15cm long.
• Suite: This means a bedroom and an ensuite bathroom, as well as an additional room, usually a separate lounge that belongs exclusively to that guest's bedroom.

Meals

• Breakfast or a breakfast basket or provisions is included in the tariff unless a separate charge is stated.
  • A continental breakfast can be buffet style or quite elaborate, but excludes cooked dishes.
  • A cooked breakfast may also be offered, either included in the tariff or charged in addition to a continental breakfast, as indicated.
• Occasionally tariffs include dinner or all meals as stated.
• Sometimes lunch is available, by prior request and usually at an extra charge, and may be either a light luncheon, a full lunch with wine, or a picnic hamper.
• Self-catering means that there is a kitchen sufficiently equipped to enable guests to make their own meals. If full cooking facilities are not provided, it is referred to as a kitchenette. Tea, coffee and sometimes provisions or a pantry are supplied.
• Dinner may be available, usually by prior arrangement. Courtesy transport may be provided to nearby restaurants.
• Booking is usually necessary for lunch or dinner, unless included in the tariff. Hosts need at least a few hours' notice, unless there is an in-house restaurant. Most hosts cater for vegetarian or other dietary requirements if notified in time.
• Lunch and dinner charges are per person.
• Drinks are complimentary if indicated, otherwise charged separately.
• À la carte means there is a menu choice.
• Table d'hôte indicates a fixed menu.
• BYO means you can Bring Your Own alcohol. Licensed means all the alcohol is sold on the premises. Even without a licence, alcohol or wine with meals can be charged for as long as the number of guests does not exceed 11.
• The meal options available from each of our hosts are shown on their respective page with an icon indicating one or more of Bamp;B, DBB and self-catering. These options are defined in the facilities section of this page.

Tours

Pre-planned tours and itinerary planning are accessible throughout this site - just click the add to My Route link on Places to Stay, Sights to See or Things to Do pages to build your itinerary and then use the My Route page to finalise it. To view a selection of pre-planned itineraries in different interest themes, go to our pre-planned itineraries page.

Driving

When booking for the winter months, please check road conditions with hosts, in case icy conditions or snow makes driving hazardous.

Off-street or on-site parking is usually indicated, and sometimes garaging is available.

New mapping technology is being implemented on this site to enable travellers to print both detailed and general maps for locating accommodation, attractions and activities. In addition, GPS Exchange (GPX) route files are available for download to GPS units, and the directions given beneath each map are intended to guide self-driving guests to their destinations.

Air travel

An airport shuttle service delivering passengers to their destination is available in most major cities and some hosts operate a courtesy passenger transfer service.

Where indicated, a helipad is available for helicopter transfers.

Some hosts may offer a transfer service from local airfields for pilots flying their own aircraft.

Facility icons

Most of the icons used on this site are self-explanatory (e.g. Visa icon means that VISA card is accepted). Below are specific facility icons with their meaning - clicking on an icons in the listing pages will display the following information about them.

A bed and breakfast option is available. This means means that without prior arrangements, you can enjoy a continental or in many cases cooked breakfast, which is included in the room tariff. In some self-contained accommodations, a breakfast hamper or provisions are supplied for you to prepare yourself.

A dinner, bed and breakfast option is available. This may be included in the room tariff or it may be an option at extra cost. Often dinner needs to be arranged with the host prior to your arrival to allow time to obtain fresh ingredients. Please check with your host.

A self-catering option is available. This means that kitchen or kitchenette facilities sufficient for you to be able to prepare basic meals is available. Often, provisions or a hamper are provided for the first morning's breakfast.

Icon indicates wheelchair access to at least one bedroom, and there are wheelchair facilities available in at least one ensuite or private bathroom

Icon indicates that there is a professionally qualified chef. Dinner may be offered, ranging from home cooking to gourmet cuisine, and vegetarians may be catered for. Meals are usually available only by prior arrangement.

Icon indicates that smoking restrictions are to be observed - these vary, but often limit smoking to outdoors. Some establishments do not permit smoking at all. Please enquire. If there is no smoking restriction symbol, then smoking is permitted.

Icon indicates child-friendly accommodation and it means children are accepted by arrangement. Children are the responsibility of their parents or guardians unless otherwise arranged with the hosts. Reduced tariffs may apply. Age restrictions often apply. Some places are unsuitable for children and for pets.

Associations

Accommodation providers may choose to belong to many industry associations and marketing groups. In the list below, each icon allows you to find out what Friars Guides properties are members of the particular association by using the link.

Member of @home New Zealand Association: (26 hosts)

Member of Select Hotels and Resorts: (1 hosts)

Member of Green Globe: (2 hosts)

Member of New Zealand Lodge Association: (4 hosts)

Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World: (2 hosts)

Member of Heritage & Character Inns of New Zealand: (15 hosts)

Accreditation

The two main accreditation bodies in New Zealand are Qualmark for Quality assessments and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust for buildings of national significance.

New Zealand Historic Places Trust - Pouhere Taonga

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Classifcation One
(show 2 properties in this category)

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Classifcation Two
(show 8 properties in this category)

Qualmark

Qualmark is a government supported tourism rating system. Accommodation providers are rated from one to five stars, with an extra level between each digit (e.g. four star plus). All of the properties in Friars Guide that are qualmark assessed, are rated at four stars or higher in one of the categories: Guest and Hosted, Holiday Home, Hotel and Self-Contained and Serviced or a new category of Exclusive, equivalent to 5+. Qualmark uses a quantitative (check-list) methodology to rate accommodation and is very different from the qualitative assessments applied by Friars Guides to our four quality aspects of location, building character, services and amenities and, most importantly, hosting. Our belief is that each of our hosts, if they chose to apply, would achieve a four star or better Qualmark rating. Below is a count of Qualmark rated hosts in each category.

• Guest and Hosted Accommodation category with four stars: 5 hosts
• Guest and Hosted Accommodation category with four stars+: 30 hosts
• Guest and Hosted Accommodation category with five stars: 41 hosts
• Self Contained Accommodation category with four stars: 2 hosts
• Self Contained Accommodation category with four stars+: 3 hosts
• Self Contained Accommodation category with five stars: 4 hosts
• Hotel category with four stars: 1 host
• Hotel category with four stars+: 1 host
• Exclusive category with exclusive: 1 host
• Holiday Homes category with four stars+: 4 hosts
• Holiday Homes category with five stars: 1 host

Compability

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This site is made for the latest versions of browsing software such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera and Netscape. Earlier versions (e.g. Netscape 4.7) may limit your options in using this site.

We strongly recommend using the latest version of your browser of choice - our recommendations for browsers are:

• Opera
• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Windows Update
• Safari (for Mac users)

If you have still problems then please contact us with a description of the problem.

For those who find it hard to reader smaller font sizes, all fonts on this website are scalable. Under view in your browser menu you should be able to adjust the page/text size as required.

Disclaimer

All wording in these editorials is based on information provided by the hosts who have approved proofs before publication. It is the hosts' responsibility to check that the details on their webpage - any errors or omissions found will be corrected. However, we believe that the contents of this Guide were correct at the time of publication and Friars Guides can accept no responsibility for consequential losses resulting for any errors, ommissions or changes to details on this website.

Copyright

© All material from the book and this website is copyrighted to Allen Consulting Ltd, trading as Friars Guides.

Feedback

Each property showcased on this website is personally evaluated and recommended by John and Lois Allen. Whilst we have visited every property, and are confident in our recommendations, our tastes and experiences may not be similar to yours so we appreciate all comments from guests who stay at any accommodation included on this site.

If you would like us to consider other accommodation for inclusion in Friars Guide, please forward your recommendation to us.

To help us keep this website easy to use and current, feedback on useability issues is sought - please send your remarks, comments, suggestions, or complaints: feedback@friars.co.nz.

We will follow up suggestions that will improve the site and respond to all feedback and suggestions concerning our hosts.