Meals are served from a varied menu and are to be eaten in the restaurant or ordered from the bar and eaten on the outdoor patio. There is a pool table, golf course, spa baths, riverside walk, and relaxing gardens.

When we were there, friends had a guy dressed in a woman’s flowered dress, wearing a hat, tights, and lipstick, and handcuffed to the patio rail. They were not being a nuisance, just enjoying themselves, and everyone joined in the fun. After we had lunch, our men played golf whilst we walked along the river and on the grounds and then sat on the grass and relaxed.

Nearby is the small town of Tirau, where there are antique and arts-and-craft shops, and best of all (if anyone is into teddy bears), The Teddy Bear Maker shop. This is the home of Heatherbelle and Bear With Us bears, which are all made out of fur. Thinking about it, this is quite a good idea, as lots of people have fur coats that they cannot wear anymore and are just stuck in cupboards. These can be taken to this shop, which they then make into teddy bears, and so the old coat has a use again. My friend’s mother had two bears made from one coat. They were about 12 to 15 inches high and cost her about NZ$150 each. It takes about 15 hours to make one bear, and there are all shapes and sizes to choose from. Unfortunately, they do not have a website yet.