“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets.” - Oscar Wilde

An appetite for exploring and experiencing everything the world has to offer has given Jacqueline Taylor a rich appreciation of what makes a stay away from home truly unforgettable.

“Some of my favourite travel memories have been the little moments – staying at a quirky bed and breakfast in Ypres, Belgium run by a wonderful couple that transformed it into a restaurant for locals each evening. Or enjoying muesli and fresh fruit while hens scratched at the ground in a garden in France, then borrowing the hosts’ rickety bikes to pedal around the village. I remember thinking that one day, I’d like to welcome visitors to my own bed and breakfast, never imagining then that Te Mata House was in my future.”

Jacqueline and her family moved from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay in 2016, where she managed the restoration of the homestead, stables, facilities and grounds.

Now Jacqueline, whose diverse background spans magazine production, education, finance and governance, is ready to share her warm hospitality and graceful heritage property with visitors to her very special corner of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

“I want my guests to make their own memories here and still be talking about the special spots they uncovered, the people they met and the way Hawke’s Bay made them feel, for many years to come.”