New Zealand Adventures: More than a Bed & Breakfast

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Angela Tidey was looking for a change of occupation and explored various options. She settled on the hospitality industry and began looking for opportunities somewhere in New Zealand where she could invest the equity she had earned in her home. Over a two year period several opportunities came along to buy a hotel, a restaurant or something similar. An old house was for sale in Dunedin (roughly translated, Little Edinburgh) at the opposite end of the country and she decided she would make a move.

The house had been built in 1908. It was a single story home with an Edwardian (1901-1910) flavor. When she found it, college students were sharing the many bedrooms but they had taken surprisingly good care of things. Tin-pressed ceilings, wide wood trim and plaster walls were in good shape. The old doors could be refinished and the outside siding was still intact. She took on many of the restoration tasks singlehandedly, hiring an electrician and a plumber to do more specialized work. Within four months, back in 2007, she had rooms ready to rent as a Bed & Breakfast. She named her home Bygone Era Bed & Breakfast. It fit in well in a city that prided itself for it Scottish connections.

Back in 2007 Angela had a list of 500 things that needed attention, expense and energy. Five years later, the list is down to to 250 or so. Carpeting has been cleaned, walls are freshly painted in Edwardian hues, walls and ceilings are insulated for the first time, and plumbing and electricity are updated. There are now seven bedrooms and five full baths in the house. Baths are modern, clean and tidy. A wood burning stove heats the entire house in the winter with supplemental heat from electric space heaters in each room. All beds have electric blankets. Art work from local artists hang in every room and in the spacious main hallway. A living room which all share has a TV, piano and reading materials. There was tea and coffee available at all hours and even a supply of fresh cookies.

Add to all of this Angela’s congenial personality, eagerness to share her story and her genuine interest in people and you have a wonderful guest experience. She also has cooking skill and demonstrated it with a sumptuous breakfast. Sandra chose scrambled eggs which were the fluffiest she had ever experienced. I had French toast, which Angela served on her “pretty plate.” Both of us had thick pieces of delicious bacon. While we waited for the main course, we enjoyed pieces of toast served with homemade jams a friend had recently delivered. Her eggs come from free range chickens raised by a 12-year old girl who personally delivers fresh eggs as needed. Tea, coffee and juice accompanied the meal and Angela also sat down for a time to answer our many questions.

This was our first B & B experience and it was wonderful. If you are coming to New Zealand, there is much to see and do in Dunedin. You could occupy several days soaking up the history and culture of the area. It’s also a vibrant university town with about 25,000 people connected to South Otago University as students, faculty and staff. But make sure you consider spending at least a night at the Bygone Era Bed & Breakfast. You will be blessed and impressed.