Take a walk through our heritage lodge...

Where history comes alive

Share personal recollections of our forebears, the Hadfield family. Discover the real stories behind European settlement of Whakatu (renamed Nelson).

Each room at Meadowbank features one of the Hadfield family. Diary extracts, photos and memories tell each person's story.

It also echoes the tales of those who went before – the Māori people who camped and fished along these shores, the first European sailors who made welcome landfall, and the sawyers and boat builders who explored the valleys looking for timber.

The original Meadowbank Homestead was built in 1884 by William Hadfield. A home for his wife, Adele, and their children. He chose the ‘finest site in Awaroa Bay’ for its stunning panoramic views and all-year-round sun on the edge of the inlet.

More than a century later, William’s great-granddaughter Lynette and her family built a replica homestead on the same site, allowing future generations and their guests a chance to enjoy this special place with all the comfort and conveniences of modern times.

As the tides ebb and flow, so have people come and gone – each adding their thread to the story of Awaroa.

Haere mai ra, e te manuhiri tuarangi – welcome to all our guests.

The Meadowbank experience

Set amongst Meadowbank’s historic gardens bursting with camellia and rhododendron, the homestead has retained its peaceful, pioneering character while offering all the modern comforts and a light environmental footprint despite its remote location well away from the hubbub of town.

Built on the original homestead site in 1994, the Homestead is fashioned from recycled timbers and features heirlooms and local heritage artefacts passed down through eight generations of the Hadfield family.

There are thirteen comfortable, ensuite twin/double guest rooms, each named after a family member who lived at Meadowbank in days gone by.

The ground floor is the heart of the Homestead, with a large lounge and dining room where meals, drinks and socialising can be enjoyed.

Looking out over the front garden, the veranda is also a popular spot to meet and chat, or just savour some quiet moments surrounded by stunning inlet views.

'From my initial enquiry by e-mail to the end of our five-day walk, we received prompt, friendly and professional service from everyone at Wilsons. Meadowbank Homestead was the jewel in the crown. A truly stunning location and spacious, spotless and very comfortable accommodation. We arrived damp and tired following a day's walking to be welcomed with hot drinks, clothes drying facilities, an open fire and delicious food. We felt we were house guests rather than simply paying customers. It doesn't get much better than this.' 

A note on Awaroa accommodation: To experience our special welcome, ask to stay in Meadowbank Homestead at Awaroa.
The Awaroa Lodge is a commercial hotel in the Awaroa Inlet, not associated with the Wilson family.

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