Arles is a country home just minutes from the centre of Wanganui city and adjacent to the Whanganui River. It was built in the mid-1880s and renovated in the Edwardian style around 1914.
Your hosts are Sue and Tom.

Sue and Tom came to Arles in March 2002. Since then they have extensively refurbished the rambling gardens - a job that will never be finished. It was a joy to find plants and trees spring into life once more when the sunlight could get through. Now the property hosts many different native birds which feed off the 'fruits of the land' and are a constant delight.

The saltwater swimming pool was also given a makeover and is the perfect spot on a hot summer's day or in the evening to relax and cool off.

There is always ongoing maintenance in and on the house and the library is the latest project. There is a computer set up for guests' use and a vast array of books, games and jigsaw puzzles to satisfy all tastes.

Sue was born in Wanganui and has lived here all her life apart from 6 years spent in Vancouver, Canada where she met Tom. They moved back to New Zealand in 1974 with their children and, appreciating the lifestyle Wanganui has to offer, put down their roots.

Tom owns a successful business in the computer industry and works from home while Sue manages the daily running of the busy household.
They both enjoy vintage cars and own a 1928 Ford Model A Phaeton, a 1930 Model A Tudor and a 1957 MGA. Although it is not possible to rally often, the cars are used on a regular basis for outings around town.

Sue and Tom are keen travelers. In 2005 they cruised from Vancouver through the Inside Passage to Anchorage and drove back down to Seattle through Dawson City, Whitehorse, Prince George and Vancouver. Tom is pictured with their grandson Toby, whilst Sue is ‘dressed up’ to go to a luncheon with the local chapter of The Red Hat Society. It was Sue’s birthday month hence the ‘opposite colours’.