Questions,
Questions, Questions
We are frequently asked questions by our guests and we are
happy to try and answer all of them. Here is a sample of those answers that might
prove helpful before you get here or during your stay
- How far is it to/from Serendipity
to the Picton Ferry terminal?
- Where did the name Serendipity
come from?
- How long does it take to drive from Serendipity
to the Abel Tasman National Park ?
- Is the Boulder Bank that forms Nelson Haven
man-made ?
- How old is your house ?
- ....
- ....
You should allow one and three quarter hours driving time for the journey.
Although the direct
route from Picton to Havelock is very scenic and looks the
shortest, because the road
is very narrow and winding it takes just as long
travelling this way as taking the main highway
which goes near Blenheim. Many
people like to stop off at a vineyard on or near Rapaura
Road for a leisurely
lunch. Others like to have a drink or meal down at the new Waterside
cafe in Havelock.
The word was created - or "coined" - by one Horace Walpole in the
18th century from the
Persian fairytale The Three Princes of Serendip
(The old name for Sri Lanka) in which
the heroes possess "the faculty of
making fortunate discoveries by accident".
The southern gateway to the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park is at Marahau
and Kaiteriteri.
You should allow about an hour to make this 50 to 60 km
trip from Nelson.
There are a number of boats and water taxis that leave from
both places and then take visitors
right into the Park every day. If you want to
walk or Kayak into the Park then go to Marahau.
For kayak hire we recommend you make
your booking a few days beforehand during the peak
season - December to February. If you only want to walk for a few hours
then it is best to take
one of the water taxis into the middle of the park and arrange
to be picked up at another bay a
few hours later.
Nelson's boulder Bank is a geological freak of nature. There are only a few
of these tombolo
(from the Italian - originally Latin Tumulus - mound) in the world. It begins just east of Nelson at
"The Glen" and
finishes 13 km later at "The Cut" (which was man made in 1906) and Haulashore
Island. The Boulder Bank also bears a lighthouse which has been a Nelson
landmark for over
160 years
83 years old - The house was built in 1926 - and extended in the 1990s -
It
has been totally
refurbished and offers all the creature comforts of a modern home with the
benefits of larger
rooms and a higher stud height. In 2008 we installed full heating and cooling
via a large
underfloor heatpump.
