Brian and Jay
New Zealand
Apr 17, 2024 - Apr 22, 2024
Became a member in: 2024
Renewal Date: 28/Feb/2025
We are a professional couple in our 40s. Seb is a Scientist specializing in Fluid dynamics, Melissa is a Speech Language Therapist, and a Breathworks Mindfulness & Meditation teacher. We have a 10 year old daughter, who is a total book worm, loves animals and horse riding. Melissa is originally from the U.K (been in NZ 16 years), and Seb is from the north of France. We love good food, travel, walking, playing and listening to music, spending time in nature, swimming and reading. We have done many years of house swapping in New Zealand, including with HomeLink a number of years ago. We have been very busy over the last few years completing Sky Dome Cottage and we are really looking forward to enjoying more free time to travel. Our daughter has been brought up with Home swap holidays, she is a very calm, and respectful home swapper, who is very particular about being the one to make the beds 'properly'!
Additional languages spoken
French
Affinities
Plants & Gardens,
Pets,
Wine Lovers,
Foodies,
The Arts,
Yoga / Meditation,
Music Lovers
MoreLessAffiliations
Teachers / Education Professionals,
Medical & Healthcare Professionals,
Science / Research
Profession
Speech Language Therapist & Scientist
Our pets
2 cats
Brian and Jay
New Zealand
John & Wendy
New Zealand
Non-simultaneous Home Exchange
Simultaneous Home Exchange
Weekend Home Exchange
Long-term Home Exchange
Pet Care Needed
Smoking Not Allowed
No Children Please
Use of Personal Car is possible
Dec 16, 2024 - Jan 26, 2025 | Scotland, UK | Northumberland, UK | London, UK |
Open to all dates | France | Spain | Sweden |
Open to all dates | New Caledonia | Fiji | Cook Islands |
Open to all dates | Mount Maunganui, New Zealand | North Island, New Zealand | Rotorua, New Zealand |
Description of the home we are offering for exchange
New Architecturally designed, 70 metre squared cottage in Raglan town. Warm sunny home,situated on an acre of land, surrounded by greenery/orchard. Some sections looking up to the hills, and some onto the veggie garden.Lovely deck wrapping around 1/2 the cottage. Private double car park area for your sole use.
Sky dome cottage has 1 bedroom (can be used as 2 king single beds or California king bed) downstairs, a large open plan lounge/dining room, reading nook and kitchenette.
There is a mezzanine bedroom/relaxing area upstairs (this has a double organic futon mattress on slat base) with a large sky dome giving great light to the whole of the upstairs and open plan downstairs area. Mega bean bag available for lying on to watch the sky or enjoy comfort on the deck. Please note there is no window cover on the sky dome, eye patches for sleeping can be provided if any of your party wishes to sleep there!
Downstairs there is a small bathroom with cubicle shower (rain head and standard head shower with good pressure) and toilet. The bathroom has a large Italian sink which can be used for washing up, as well as a Washer/drier should you need to wash clothes.
The kitchenette is very well supplied with a range of cooking appliances including a countertop oven, electric fry pan, hotplates, and microwave. A Baby Q Weber BBQ and slow cooker can also provided to you for the duration of your stay on request. Use of ukaleles,guitars & board games are also available.
Our main cottage is up at the top of the property. The two cottages share a driveway but Sky Dome cottage retains it's own privacy due to the large number of trees sheltering around each house.
Type
House - 2 or more floors/ Second home
Amenities
Entertainment
Extras
Setting
Description of our neighbourhood and surrounding area
Skydome Cottage sits in a sheltered valley on an acre of land, only 2 minutes drive to downtown Raglan, and approx 50 minutes drive to Hamilton. You can walk into the centre of town in 10-15 minutes. Please note Raglan is quite hilly, so if you have any mobility issues you may like to drive or we can offer you a lift into town if needed.
We have access to the beautiful Kaitoke walkway immediately next to the entrance to our land. Sky dome cottage looks out onto fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. It is set in a residential family area surrounded by greenery.
Raglan is reknown for it's stunning beaches which are close by and good for walking, surfing, kite surfing. The town beach at Kopua is a 5 minute( at most!) drive away or a 15 minute walk from our home.
Outdoor Activities
Leisure
Cultural Activities
Transport Nearby
Neighbourhood Services
Our home exchange - places to go and things to do while staying in our home
World class surf (reknown for left hand surf break);Stunning beaches, Bridal vale waterfall, Wainui reserve, Raglan Wharf (great fish and chips with fantastic harbour views), Kaitoke walkway.
Lovely shops and galleries. Mount Karioi and Pirongia have some good longer walks, as does the Karamu trail.
Raglan Old arts centre has film showings, art exhibitions, and music concerts, as well as regular local markets (crafts and food) on at weekends.
There is a thriving music scene with a wide range of bands regularly playing at the Yot club.
We are very lucky to have the awesome Raglan bakery which supplies daily sourdough bread.
Hamilton Gardens are world class level- well worth a visit
Our favourite restaurants
Cafés & bars
Special places to shop
Leisure and cultural activities
Walks or jogging paths
Health or fitness clubs
Interesting day trips
Our home exchange - here are our Preferences and House Rules
Please treat our house and gardens with respect. No parties or outdoor music please. We are proud of the local artwork we own, please treat these carefully.
No high heels in house, our larch wood floors are quite soft and scratch/mark easily.
Please don't cook fish or strong smelling food in house, there is a BBQ which can be made available for you.
Please leave the house clean and tidy on departure.
Thank you
Conditions
Use of Personal Car
Home Exchange Type
Became a member in: 2024
Renewal Date: 28/Feb/2025
We are a professional couple in our 40s. Seb is a Scientist specializing in Fluid dynamics, Melissa is a Speech Language Therapist, and a Breathworks Mindfulness & Meditation teacher. We have a 10 year old daughter, who is a total book worm, loves animals and horse riding. Melissa is originally from the U.K (been in NZ 16 years), and Seb is from the north of France. We love good food, travel, walking, playing and listening to music, spending time in nature, swimming and reading. We have done many years of house swapping in New Zealand, including with HomeLink a number of years ago. We have been very busy over the last few years completing Sky Dome Cottage and we are really looking forward to enjoying more free time to travel. Our daughter has been brought up with Home swap holidays, she is a very calm, and respectful home swapper, who is very particular about being the one to make the beds 'properly'!
Additional languages spoken
French
Affinities
Plants & Gardens,
Pets,
Wine Lovers,
Foodies,
The Arts,
Yoga / Meditation,
Music Lovers
MoreLessAffiliations
Teachers / Education Professionals,
Medical & Healthcare Professionals,
Science / Research
Profession
Speech Language Therapist & Scientist
Our pets
2 cats
Brian and Jay
New Zealand
John & Wendy
New Zealand
Over 70 years of home exchange experience
Local home swap representatives around the world to assist you
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