Cedar House Hotel is a small white house with a carved wooden frieze around the small hall's ceiling, colourful stained glass on the staircase. When we arrived late afternoon our two hosts were out at work so it was weird stepping into a white ghost house.
However, they soon arrived, all smiles, with time to tell us all aout the recent history of the small town, and its' ups and downs in the property market, their business, how a cyclone and flooding had displaced people from riverside property, which was still boarded up with red danger signs. Luckily for the owners of the affected property, local government had paid for six months rental, and bought them out of the uninhabitable property, compansating them at the market rate. When discouraged people moved away, prices dropped, so those who chose to stay were able to upgrade into grander homes or those with greater land area.
Different from the UK where homes have fallen off cliffs, and unsympathetic locals comment, why should others through their taxes companesate people who chose to buy homes in dangerous places.\
The outdoor pool was too cold for much swimming for my husband, for any swiming for me. However, we happily used the outdoor sauna.
The upstairs communal fridge was handy.
Breakfast was included. My husband prefers to say, built into the price. As is usually the case in New Zealand, there was no marmalade. The continental breakfast had a couple of kinds of fruit and tinned peaches. Toast was provided, but no protein (meat, fish, eggs, cheese). We had brought out own nuts and cheese elsewhere, but felt such a glamorous hotel with an upmarket price tag would attract people who expected a better breakfast.
If you like lovely surroundings and aren't fussed about breakfast, or are willing and warned to bring your own supplements, a lovely place.
What to do in Gisborne
Go down to the wharf for dinner. I loved the Lone Star restaurant's food in Tex-mex rock surroundings. Almost next door is a smarter, pricier restaurant.
Shops included a large thrift store (second hand shop).
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