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TIMBER TRAIL  CENTRE

a little piece of paradise at the end of the Timber Trail Cycleway (Ongarue)

PLEASE NOTE, OUR CENTRE IS FOR SALE,
SO NOT TAKING BOOKINGS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING THE LUCKY NEW OWNER - SEND US AN EMAIL!!




 
ABOUT

The Timber Trail Centre is a little piece of heaven in the heart of New Zealand's North Island.  It is one of only two accommodation options at the end of the famous Timber Trail Cycle Way.  Apart from cycling, our region offers many, many spectacular adventures and tourist attractions (see Blog" and "See & Do" pages above).  Our grounds include nearly 2 hectares (over 3 acres) of gardens, orchards, olives and grassland, flowing down to a natural spring-fed stream on one boundary and the trout-filled Ongarue River on another. 

Guests have full use of two buildings, both over a century old and built of native timbers: 

- the Miller's Cottage   This is the main accommodation for guests, with five bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, kitchen/dining area and lounge (more info, next page).

- the Old Ongarue School   This huge building has an additional lounge/dining area and a recreation room with pool table.

To book a room click on the blue "Check Availability" button at the top of this page.  For more information, see the next page. 

To book the entire Cottage, check availability as above, and then email or phone us to finalise (automatic booking/payment is not possible for whole Cottage bookings)

The Church, next door to the Cottage, is the home of Marty and Sylvie, your hosts.  At 140 years old, this is one of the oldest buildings in NZ, and as you'll see when you are here, is spectacular inside.

All profits from the Timber Trail Centre go towards our non-profit publishing and video company, through which we prepare books and videos for young people, on life skills (emotional, physical and financial literacy).

OUR ROOMS

The Miller's Cottage is a century-old gem that offers five individually decorated bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, and each  named after one of NZ's beautiful native trees.   One room (Kanuka) is a family room with two beds.

To book an individual room, click on the "check availability" blue button at the top of the home page.  You will then see a calendar showing all room availabilities at a glance.  For detailed information on each room (they're all different), click on the name of the room in that calendar.

The Cottage can sleep 11 guests in total (13 at a pinch).  If you are interested in booking the WHOLE Cottage...

ring Marty at 0210688640 or email:  iamfreejustlikeyou@protonmail.com. 

The Cottage has a basic but fully equipped kitchen with two dining tables, a lounge, laundry, verandas with two BBQs and outside eating options.  Guests can also enjoy our concrete hot pool for 10 (it's fired up when we have a full house or have guests staying for several days), a petanque/boules court, hammocks under the trees, our extensive orchards, and a huge nearby swimming hole, full of trout, with its own small pomace sand beach.

Your host

 

Marty is a fifth-generation New Zealander with roots in this region and a long history of social activism (including a campaign to stop logging of the native forests in New Zealand).  Sylvie hails from Normandy, France but is really an international citizen.  Together, we speak four languages, have lived in seven countries and worked in over thirty, so we’re right at home looking after guests from all around the world.


Prior to establishing the Timber Trail Centre 10 years ago...

- Marty’s career history has included:   paramedic in the slums of Calcutta (with Mother Teresa), senior policy maker in the NZ Treasury (Ministry of Finance), development banker in poor countries, serial entrepreneur (wine, Perigord truffles and olive oil), advisor to many governments on economic and other reforms and founder of a retreat centre for young people with addiction, mental health and other challenges. He is currently finishing four books on life skills for young adults and working on a school curriculum covering the same.

- Sylvie’s more sensible career history has included:  many years in the health/wellness sectors, managing her own organics business in the French Riviera, and chef on luxury yachts around the Mediterranean, including that of the Royal Family of Monaco.

Apart from the Timber Trail Centre, we run a non-profit publishing and video company (www.mindfulworldfilms.com) and an international nature photography business (www.sacrednaturedesigns.com).

The profits from Timber Trail Centre are used to further our work with young people.

OUR SERVICES

OUR SERVICES

Meals

Guests have a full equipped (but not flashy) kitchen available.  Food can be be purchased in Taumarunui (20 km away), where there are also a range of restaurants.  For those without a car and no ability bring food with the, we can provide a range of ingredients for guests to cook with in the kitchen.  Please email Marty several days before you arrive, stating any dietary restrictions and the meals that you need to prepare ($45 for dinner and breakfast/per person).  

Relax
There are relaxation opportunities galore at the Centre - a soak in our hot tub (when it's fired up), a game of petanque , snooker in the School, fishing in the river on our border, a sunbathe on the beach by the awesome 70 m long swimming hole nearby... and of course you could do absolutely nothing, in one of our hammocks.
Cars/Bikes

There's plenty of free and secure car parking on the property, as well as a room for bike storage.  We can help with minor bicycle repairs.  There are also repair shops/car garages in nearby Taumarunui.  There are various bike hire/transport companies, but we recommend timbertrailshuttles.com which is located in Ongarue Village and will pick you up from our Centre.

Stay in Touch

Our WIFI's free and draws from a nearby fibre optic tower.  Occasionally the reception is not perfect, especially if it's raining, but mobile reception is also pretty good, as an internet back-up.   Please avoid downloading movies via our WIFI while you are with us!

Explore
We can help you book your adventure programme too - cycling, canoeing, trout fishing, jet boating, a visit to NZ's largest Alpaca farm down the road, numerous walks , Waitomo Caves, Tongariro National Park and Ski-fields, Forgotten World, Republic of Wangamamona etc (see
Blogs and See & Do pages
on this websit and contact us if you'd like some help).
Inner Calm
Marty & Sylvie have been practicing yoga, Chi Gong and various meditation techniques for over 20 years and you are welcome to join us in free classes.  You're also welcome to borrow a book from our extensive library on inner and outer well-being.
GALLERY

GALLERY

SEE & DO

SEE & DO
(for lots  more information on each of activity below, click on the "Blog"  at the top)

Cycling
(Timber Trail Cycleway)

One of NZ's top two cycle trails, this ends at our village of Ongarue.  The full Trail is 84 km, but you can also cycle the easier bottom half (45 km).  You will pass through 4 types of podocarp forest, across 35 cycle bridges (one of which is the longest suspension bridge in the southern hemipshere) and have a never to be forgotten experience.

Fishing
(Lake Taupo)

Turangi, on the edge of NZ's largest lake, has been named "Trout Fishing Capitol of the World".   You can also  go for a sail or visit the Maori cliff carvings by launch.

But actually..... the trout fishing is just as good if not better in the river that borders our Centre and in our spectacular 70 m swimming hole down the road.  Hosts record? - five trout in two hours!

Walking/Ski-ing
(Tongariro National Park)
The world's second National Park and a Unesco World Heritage site.  Try a "high tea" with scones and cream in one of NZ's most beautiful hotels - "The Chateau", then head up the gondola for lunch in NZ's highest cafe.  The Wakapapa ski-fields are the largeest in the southern hemisphere. 
Rail Cart Adventure
(Forgotten World Adventures)

Up to 3 days of adventure on your own rail cart, through magnificent forests, farmland and tunnels - nearly all the way to the west coast of NZ.

Caving & Glow Worms
(Waitomo Caves)

These are the most visited caves in the southern hemisphere, with a spectacular show of glow worms and, if you're keen, a black-water  raftingexperience.

Volcano Walk
(The Alpine Crossing)
One of NZ's top attractions and described as "NZ's finest one-day walk" - Lonely Planet  Travel Guide.  This walk will take you through wild volcanic terrain, with spectacular views across the plains.
Canoing/Jet Boating
(Whanganui River Adventures)

Jetboating and canoing for up to four days, through specular forests and ravines, along NZ's longest navigatable river, a river that is sacred to NZ's Maori and was the first river in the world to be given a legal status with the same rights to protection as humans.

Journey Into the Past
(Republic of Whangamamona)
Follow the wild Forgotten World Highway and you'll arrive at Whangamamona - a self-proclaimed independent republic, with its own passports and president (sometimes a human, but previously a goat, a sheep and a gumboot!).
Mountaineering/Forest Walks
(Short and Long)
There are many shorter loacal walks (see www.taumarunuitrampingclub.com/home for lots of ideas).   For longer ones, try the  Alpine Crossing (see above) or moss forested walks on Mt Taranaki, NZ's most beautiful (this one's 3 hours drive).
Guest Revew

GUEST REVIEWS

This was one of the most unique and wonderful places we’ve ever stayed. So much beautiful nature surrounding these gorgeous cottages. Amazing hosts that go above and beyond and they are fascinating to chat with too. Everything was clean and awesome including all the food. Thank you, we will be back. (Tasha, NZ)

Completely unique location, an eclectic collection of original buildings and decorations. Martyn and Sylvia were great hosts. We had dinner in the old school house, with silver candelabra and flowers. Excellent. (Jim, UK)

Staying at Marty & Sylvie’s place was a truly lovely experience. It was inspiring to see the space  that they have built around them and their lovely relation with the earth. The experience goes far beyond the concept of accommodation. I am looking forward to staying again! (Raphael, NZ)

An amazing hidden gem! Super comfortable stay with inspirational hosts. (Odonbayar, Mongolia)

Historic accommodation in a gorgeous setting. Bedroom was lovely and bed was comfortable. Perfect location for a rural NZ retreat and just a couple of minutes from the Timber Trail. I cooked myself but had food envy from what the others were eating! Marty even offered a free shower after I finished the trail. Would stay again. (Rochelle, NZ)

We've stayed at Timber Trail Centre several times and always love it.  Peaceful, beautiful, wonderful hosts. (Garth, NZ)

Contact
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