More than a bed for the night: Inside award-winning Tūrangi accommodation, The Olive Rabbit

There is a good chance Mary and Tim Wood will know more about your Tūrangi holiday than you do.

Because while running The Olive Rabbit, they have learned that a truly memorable hosted stay is about far more than providing a comfortable bed and a good breakfast.

It is about knowing when the weather is right for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, where to go when it isn’t, which walks will suit different energy levels, where to fish, which guides to recommend, where to eat, and sometimes even jumping in the car to rescue guests whose travel plans have gone awry.

Making the most of a Tūrangi stay

For Mary and Tim, hospitality is about helping people make the most of their time in the Central Plateau, not simply giving them somewhere to sleep.

And that approach has recently earned The Olive Rabbit national recognition, with the Tūrangi accommodation taking out both Exceptional B&B Business of the Year and Supreme B&B Business of the Year at the 2026 Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand Conference in Christchurch.

But while the awards and recognition from their peers are appreciated, Mary and Tim say the real value comes from what they encourage them to do.

“Entering awards encourages us to review everything we do and ask where we can improve,” Mary says. “They may highlight something we have overlooked, so they keep us learning and moving forward.”

It is a philosophy that has become central to the way they operate.

Turning a love of past adventures into a new beginning

Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Mary and Tim spent almost 20 years living and working in Wellington before making the move to the Central Plateau. However, their connection with the region had begun decades earlier.

As a teacher, Mary had been bringing school groups to the Tongariro area since she was in her twenties, while the Wood family spent years skiing, exploring and building memories in the region before purchasing a holiday home at Kuratau in 2008.

Eventually, their son Andrew and his wife Liliana relocated to Tūrangi, and it was while helping them look for a house that Mary and Tim discovered the property that would become The Olive Rabbit.

“It was the flag outside this place,” Mary recalls. “We came in and looked at each other and thought, ‘Whoa, let’s toss in our careers and move here.’”

The property had originally been architecturally designed as a B&B and had previously operated as one, but it had been closed for six years.

“That meant we had to completely start from scratch and rebrand,” Mary says. “So, we went home, sold up and moved north.”

Then came the realisation that they had a lot to learn. They had never been B&B hosts before, and hospitality was an entirely new industry.

“Surrounded by boxes, we looked at one another and asked, ‘What have we just done?’” Mary laughs. “Apart from buying embroidered pillowcases, collecting a few breakfast recipes and joining the Bed & Breakfast Association of New Zealand, that was it.”

The making of The Olive Rabbit

Not long after, the pandemic arrived. While it created uncertainty for many businesses, it also gave Mary and Tim time to slow down, reflect and learn more about the industry they had entered.

Joining BBANZ changed everything, as did a visit from fellow B&B operators Garth and Angie London of Whakaipo Lodge.

One memorable planning session involved two days around the dining table with laptops, notebooks and a few bottles of wine. It opened their eyes to the business they were actually in.

Mary believes that desire to keep learning goes back much further. She spent almost 20 years teaching at a Wellington college where one of the school’s guiding philosophies was to develop “lifelong learners,” not only among students, but also among staff.

“I guess that mindset became ingrained,” she says. “I’ve never stopped learning.”

That curiosity has shaped everything The Olive Rabbit has become.

“We soon realised it wasn’t just about selling rooms,” Mary says. “It was actually about our location and ensuring guests had the best experience when it came to every aspect of their travel, no matter why they were here or what they wanted to do.” That became the heart of The Olive Rabbit.

Guests come for the Crossing, fishing or scenery… stay for the experience

The name and logo of The Olive Rabbit are a nod to the region’s history and fishing culture, with the accommodation’s four rooms named after historic fishing pools on the Tongariro River. Each room tells the story of the person behind its name, connecting guests not only with where they are staying, but with the place itself.

And whether Mary and Tim are sharing those stories, or their guests are creating new ones, there is never a shortage of memorable moments.

Their evening ‘Port & Chats’ in the lounge have become a favourite part of the guest experience, a relaxed opportunity to connect over a drink, share travel stories and help guests plan the next day’s adventures.

“One of our most interesting guests was a retired astronaut from the United States who was staying with us while on a speaking tour,” Tim says. “She was incredibly humble, so we only discovered this on her second night. When she offered us the opportunity to listen to her presentation, we didn’t have to be asked twice.”

They invited a couple of neighbours along too, creating a memorable evening that extended beyond the walls of The Olive Rabbit.

Then there are the stories that demonstrate just how far Mary and Tim will go to help their guests.

One couple had travelled on the train to Waimarino but had no transport arranged to get them from the station to Tūrangi. Mary drove almost 50 kilometres to collect them, then became their unofficial driver and guide, helping them discover parts of the region they may otherwise have missed.

Another guest experience remains particularly special. A husband had booked a white-water rafting adventure, but his wife was far from convinced. She planned to stay behind with a book.

“I finally said, ‘No, you’ve got to go too! It’s only Grade 3 rafting. It’ll be a bit bumpy, but it’s not terrifying,’” Mary laughs.

Somehow, she persuaded her. The couple had already checked out, but Mary was so keen to hear how the experience had gone that she wandered down at lunchtime to find out.

“She came off the river absolutely beaming and said, ‘My family will never believe I did this!’”

The guest was wet and tired, so Mary offered her a shower and a hot drink before she continued her journey.

“That is what a hosted stay is about,” Mary says. “We hope they don’t just remember the bed or the breakfast, but the whole experience.”

Tūrangi: exploring beyond the bucket list

Over the years, the Woods have noticed a common pattern among visitors. Many arrive with one key experience at the top of their list, often the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, without realising how much more there is to discover.

Part of Mary and Tim’s role is helping guests see beyond that first attraction.

The weather forecast may change the order of an itinerary. A rainy day might mean a different walk. Someone who is not suited to the Crossing may discover another part of the national park or a quieter local experience instead.

“For guests who have just arrived after a long drive, we often recommend the Tūrangi River Trail,” Tim says. “There are waterfalls, scenic walks, horse trekking, rafting and plenty of opportunities to explore the wider Tongariro region. And, of course, the fishing.”

For those who want to try their hand at fly fishing, Mary and Tim can arrange guides for anything from half a day to a full day, with the destination determined by where the fish are running rather than simply following the crowds.

And when it comes to how long visitors should stay, Mary believes three days is a good starting point, although four is even better. Guests often discover this themselves.

“We get a lot of people leave here, get into their car in the car park and say, ‘Oh, I wish we could have stayed longer.’”

Little things can turn a stay into a lasting memory

For the Woods, hospitality is not necessarily about grand gestures. It’s about paying attention.

Over time, they have become skilled at reading their guests, understanding cultural differences at breakfast, adapting recommendations to suit different interests, and simply listening carefully to what people are saying, or sometimes what they are not saying.

“It can also mean knowing when someone wants to talk and when they’d rather be left alone,” Mary says.

That balance is what transforms a stay from a transaction into a genuine welcome.

One couple from Belgium perhaps captured it best in The Olive Rabbit’s visitor book. They wrote that Mary and Tim had helped shape their New Zealand journey even before they arrived, and when restaurants were fully booked, the couple simply cooked dinner for them.

“This was more than a stay,” they wrote. “Thank you for your kindness and warmth. We will always remember you.” For Mary and Tim, that is the real reward.

Guests have arrived from across Europe, the United States, Scandinavia, the Middle East and even Réunion Island. Some have stayed in touch long after returning home, while others have inspired the Woods’ own travels.

And while visitors come to Tūrangi looking for adventure, the relationship works both ways.

“They don’t realise that they’ve actually enriched our lives as well,” Mary says.

A family connection that keeps growing

The Woods’ connection with Tūrangi has continued to deepen through their family and their involvement in the local community.

Their son Andrew and his wife Liliana have become part of the region’s hospitality story through their own businesses, Hare & Copper Eatery and The Anglers’ Table. Andrew, a chef with more than 25 years’ experience, and Liliana, who has a background in tourism and restaurant management, share the same passion for creating memorable local experiences.

Meanwhile, although still based in Hawke’s Bay, their eldest son Richard, one of New Zealand's most decorated photographers, is increasingly working throughout the Tūrangi and Taupō region and beyond, including with local accommodation and tourism businesses.

Mary and Tim have also become increasingly involved in the community they now call home. They volunteer with the Tongariro National Trout Centre, help organise activities for local residents through their Probus Club, and are creating a community library at The Anglers’ Table, which Mary will help oversee once it is operating.

For them, these connections are all part of belonging.

“Moving here was never just about running a business,” Mary says. “It was about becoming part of the community and sharing everything we love about this place.”

More than a place to stay

While The Olive Rabbit may have started almost by accident, the Woods have spent the past six years building something far more meaningful than somewhere for visitors to rest a tired head.

They have created a place where guests connect with the people, stories and landscapes of Tūrangi, where a conversation over breakfast can change an itinerary, a local recommendation can lead to an unexpected adventure, and a simple welcome can become a lasting memory.

For Mary and Tim, the greatest measure of success is not simply that guests enjoyed their stay. It’s that they leave with a deeper connection to the place they came to experience.

And often, they leave already planning their return.