Riverside Homestead Waitangi

About us

The Riverside Homestead is a spacious lodge-style hosted guest accommodation in the Bay of Islands, with lawns running down to the Waitangi River. This modern accommodation in the Bay of Islands features comfortable ensuite rooms, river valley views, high quality breakfasts featuring natural estate ingredients. Central to tours, shopping, restaurants, wineries. Conveniently situated on its private 1.5 Hectare estate, between Paihia’s tourism mecca and Kerikeri’s reginal hub, the Riverside Homestead celebrates organic and creative wholesome cuisine and offers fine New Zealand wines to a maximum of 4 guests. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are downriver, just a 5-minute drive away, so the Riverside Homestead is perfectly placed for exploring the unique bicultural history of our country, and enjoying some of the country’s best cuisine and nearby vineyards.

Riverside Modern accommodation Bay of Islands
Modern accommodation Bay of Islands, lodge style


Rev Chris Wharehinga Swannell and wine and food tutor/writer Michael Hooper are your professional, attentive hosts, assisted by curious alpacas, a flock of free-ranging hens (The Breakfast Committee) and two adorable, well-behaved pussycats.

Our leather-appointed electric limo is available to transport guests

We are driven by quality, unpretentious comfort with style, high service standards and fastidious housekeeping, a great wine list and respect for the natural river environment over which our olive grove, greenhouse and pastures are perched.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the piers and pleasure craft of Paihia, creative Kerikeri markets, the award-winning Mahoe cheese factory, accoladed Maha Restaurant and scenic Haruru Falls, there is no better location.

We request guests to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and may request proof. Your hosts are fully vaccinated and follow all recommended and mandated health and safety requirements for operating under Covid-19 (coronavirus) alert levels. In our modern accommodation in the Bay of Islands, we are pleased to deliver breakfast to the guest balcony with no physical contact, should you prefer.