The View from our Lodge in Taranaki

We're settling into our digs at the lovely Kaitake Lodge. Little did we know that we'd have this whole fantastic mountaintop two-bedroom house to ourselves for our visit here to NZ's west coast. The views stretch way, way out all the way to the sea, in between are impossibly green and lush fields, forest and ferns.

The owner here, Ross Henry, said he likes to vacate when he has guests so that newlyweds and others have the privacy they want. He hosted the producer for The Last Samaurai here, and showed the place to moviestar Tom Cruise. But the big guy wanted a bigger place, and asked if they'd build three more bedrooms. Ross said no but got to watch the star's helicopter taking off and landing in a bigger spread he rented down near the beach. Ross practices Gigong healing and offers people a chance to gain wellness through these arts.