Stay at Lake House near Whangarei and you can languish on a comfortable couch under a 17th Century tapestry drinking fine wine from glasses which once belonged to Queen Mary, wife of George V.

REFRESHING: Guests can make use of the outdoor swimming pool with panoramic views.

Alternatively, like many other Kiwis intent on the outdoor life, you can pull on your tramping boots and hike up neighbouring Maungatapere Mountain. Set in a picturesque, rural valley, overlooking a small lake, this bed and breakfast idyll is perfect for a romantic getaway or as a comfortable base for a Northland tour. 

The charming hosts are New Zealand-born Chris Alves and his English wife, Susan, who have lived between both countries and in 26 houses throughout their 33-year marriage.  Three years ago, after more than two decades in England where they owned an antique business in Tunbridge Wells, the couple returned to New Zealand. They built Lake House in 2005.

Today, the property successfully incorporates both cultures just like the surrounding countryside where native bush flourishes alongside rows of oaks and English-style stone walls.

The house has been built on contemporary lines with the native and sub-tropical garden – along with large swimming pool and decks – blending into the Northland backdrop.  

The couple had the home designed with two criteria in mind – it had to be suitable for a bed and breakfast and the drawing room had to be big enough to accommodate Susan’s tapestry made in Lille and bought at Sotheby’s of London.

In particular, the amazing collection of antiques sweep guests into another era. I particularly enjoyed hearing wonderful stories relating to each piece as well as colourful anecdotes about how this intriguing couple discovered them. Chris tells a delightful tale about those glasses from Queen Mary.

 “Queen Mary donated them to a fete as a special prize. The letter we have is from her Lady in Waiting giving HM’s best wishes. The glasses date from 1790 and are a perfectly matched set which is pretty amazing as they are hand-blown.

REGAL: The cabinet at the head of the dining table dates back to 1670.

“However, we understand Mary was a dreadful old woman who was the scourge of Church St Kensington in the ’20s when it was the home of the top antique dealers. She would descend on some poor sod and say she liked something and he was expected to give it to her. He would send his boy off up the street to warn the other dealers she was on her way and they would hide away all their new stock. However, she certainly had the “eye” and acquired only the best.” 

The cabinet at the head of the Lake House dining table is another English treasure, dating back to 1670, whilst not quite so romantic is a collection of antique syringes including one for treating the pox. The set is dated 1830s and marked with the Prince of Wales’ insignia.

Two guest rooms are also furnished with fine antiques, along with many special touches such as fine Egyptian cotton sheets, antique French pillow shams, perfumed candles and exquisite lavender toiletries.

Situated in a separate wing, both have been designed for absolute privacy (with special sound-proofing also installed) and overnight guests might hear only the distant call of a morepork or the ducks as they skim across the lake.

The Green Room has a super king size bed and the Yellow Room has a super king or two king single beds. Both have large, well-appointed en suites and one has wheelchair access. Each room includes television, DVD, and CD players, together with a fridge for the “bubbles” as well as tea and coffee-making facilities and homemade biscuits – no shortage of luxuries here.

French doors lead to a private deck area with panoramic views. Guests can use the swimming pool or curl up in the drawing room with a good book from the well-stocked library.

 A full cooked or Continental breakfast is served either in the elegant dining room or alfresco and a four-course dinner can be served subject to prior arrangement. Morning and afternoon teas are on request. Both devoted foodies, Chris and Susan use local products as much as possible and ensure menus are innovative.

After devouring a delicious fusion of flavours including a seafood entrée, beef with a rich English gravy, mouth-watering Chestnut patties and a Mediterranean eggplant specialty followed by a ripe Northland Camembert and almond tart, I strongly recommend the dinner option. Wines are selected with great care and even the range of background music is chosen specifically for the guests.  Susan is, herself, a fine mezzo-soprano, who has performed in many theatrical productions in the UK and in Northland.

For the energetic, there’s the Mt Maungatapere walking track while shoppers will enjoy the Saturday Market in Whangarei with its huge range of local produce, arts and crafts. Northland’s kauri forests and the picturesque beaches of the west and east coasts are all within easy driving distance.

It takes about three hours to drive from Auckland but visitors feel much further away in this wonderful little oasis of indulgence. And with all those royal connections one can’t help but feel totally regal.