Our last stop on a 4+ week trek through NZ and what a wonderful way to finish off our trip. This was a delightful Classic B&B experience; 1) A beautiful property steeped in long family tradition, with a stunning view of Lake Manapouri; 2) Comfortable rooms and beds each with private baths thoughtfully stocked with amenities; 3) Wonderfully hospitable inn keepers in Rob and Phillipa, who are full of historical knowledge, local sites info, and a natural charm and friendliness that makes guests feel comfortable and welcome; 4) A great breakfast with home baked goods and fresh cooked to order plates of local food; and 5) strategic access to numerous highly sought after local sites to visit, including walking distance to the Real NZ Doubtful Sound trip departures from the Manapouri Port (yep, the other “Pearl Harbor”). This inn is a great value too!
During our stay, Rob and Phillipa made sure we felt welcome and cared for. Great attention to detail on making sure we had all the comforts we needed, planning breakfast times, offering great tips on how best to navigate our itinerary, offering local recommendations on other places to see, restaurants, tracks, etc. Rob also was a great hang! A spry sense of humor and generations of family and local history to share; but, he was also mindful of whether we wanted time to ourselves or were looking for great conversation at breakfast or in the Inn’s comfy chairs and couches in the living room at night before retiring.
Within walking distance, is (as mentioned before) the Manapouri Port and a local “near private” beach after a short stroll through a quiet wooded area. But, most fun, was the “Church” right across the street. It’s actually a local pub with tasty food and good beer a fun staff, and largely full of locals. We often took the 30 min very scenic ride into TeAnu, where there also a number of nice restaurants and things to do; but, also enjoyed a couple of nights spent at the Church.
When we were looking for our place to stay while visiting this area, we initially focused on accommodations in TeAnu; but we were uninspired on much of what was offered. We found mostly travel lodge “like” options which didn’t look particularly attractive. When we came across the Murrell Grand View though, its charm and history were much more appealing. Yes, it is 30 mins outside of downtown TeAnu; but, if you like things a little more off the beaten path, a little charming, enjoy immersing yourself in the local history, and you like to support truly independent local businesses, this is a great call. Why not settle in, start off your visit with some complimentary tea out on the veranda porch looking over the gorgeous Lake Manapouri and the Fijordlands National Park, and take a step back in time and truly connect to this beautiful area of the country?
