Harlau House & Lighthouse

OVERVIEW

Savor afternoon tea in the relaxed elegant setting of Harlau House Café followed by a look at one of the few remaining wooden lighthouses in New Zealand. Originally the stables for the homestead, the building was redesigned and repurposed as a café full of character and history. Designer Maree Hynes will greet you at this 19th-century landmark and share the rich heritage of the estate, the details of which you will later discover in her interior showroom. A signature cheese puff will be served with the tea to add a regional touch. You will also have time to stroll through the idyllic gardens of Harlau House, a serene and inspiring setting that perfectly complements the French-influenced retreat. Built a few decades earlier, Blackett’s Lighthouse was designed to be constructed of stone, but timber was used for financial reasons. The historical beacon has been relocated twice, most recently above the Benvenue Cliffs.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an elegant tea at a café that was originally the stables of Harlau House.
• Meet the designer of the café and browse her interior showroom.
• Discover the history of Harlau House, a landmark in the outskirts of Timaru.
• Stop at a 19th-century lighthouse that is one of the country’s few wooden beacons.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.