We pulled up in front of the bright and cheerful Post Office B & B, then read the note asking us to call the hosts to let them know we were there. As I searched for my mobile phone a lovely, local man pulled up in his car, gave us a beautiful toothless smile and asked if we needed help or if he could call Bill for us. What a lovely start to our arrival in Tokomaru!
Lounge, with one bedroom off of it
Bill arrived and gave us a warm welcome and offered us the choice in rooms as we were there for two nights, then gave us a lovely glass of home made ginger beer. The charming Post Office is homely, with a large living area for guests to share and a small kitchen offering the opportunity to self-cater. A selection of provisions are available to make yourself breakfast in the morning, from fruit and cereal to eggs and bread.
Cosy bedroom
The bedroom we selected was smaller than the other double, but cosy and comfortable and closer to the bathroom than the other rooms, although lacking in hanging space for clothes. Due to the historic nature of the over 100 year old building, there are no en-suite bathrooms but you do get your ‘own’ bathroom to use with an excellent shower, although the bathrooms could do with modernising to get rid of that utilitarian feel and add a bit of comfort. A shelf to put toiletries on would have been handy too!
Perfectly located for the beach and a walk to the Toko Tavern (the only eatery in the village), the only downside to the accommodation was the noise of traffic all through the night – heavy vehicles carrying logs to Gisborne for shipping screech their way down the hill and break outside the B&B before turning the corner just past it on the way to Gissy, … light sleepers beware.
Bill is an outstanding host and an interesting man to chat to. On the way out of the bay we stopped outside the school he teaches in to admire the scarecrow he’d told us about. We got an invite to pop in but in city-slicker mode we refused as we had a bit of a trip ahead,… and needless to say 10 mins later we both conceded we should have taken the opportunity to pop in and say Kia ora to the kids! Opportunity missed, lesson learnt.
P.S. Bring cash to pay, or do an online payment – they don’t take credit cards or eftpos.
Te Poutapeta – The Post Office, 8 Waimana Street – Tokomaru Bay – Eastland – 06 864 5411
