Your Hosts Rachel, John and Zac

Zac enjoying the late afternoon sun Photograph by Julie Carroll

Your hosts at Driftwood Cottages are Rachel Blackmore, John Robertson and Zac.

Rachel grew up in Hawke’s Bay and after studying Home Science at the University of Otago returned to Hawke’s Bay where she worked first as the Domestic Administrator at one of the local boarding schools before taking on the management of one of the first specialty shops selling microwaves – many people in Hawke’s Bay still stop her in the street and tell her that their original microwave is still going strong after more than 20 years – all be it now in their son’s or daughter’s university flat or in the shearer’s quarters.

In the mid-80s Rachel met John and together they moved to Sydney where they worked and lived for the next 20 years. Rachel’s career in Sydney continued to focus around food and her various jobs have included teaching microwave cooking, editing cookbooks and setting up and managing a food website. John, as an engineer, has also been involved in the food and beverage industry in the form of selling capital plant to Australia’s largest food and beverage can manufacturers.

In 2003 they decided that it was time for a sea change and that Hawke’s Bay with its strong food and wine activity was the place for them. In mid 2004 they returned to Hawke’s Bay and so started the search for a suitable property which has led to the establishment of Driftwood Cottages. Driftwood Cottages opened for business in September 2005.

Today John looks after the day-to-day running of Driftwood Cottages while Rachel works as a food specialist/consultant. She runs RB Food Solutions where she uses her skills to assist food businesses and the Cooking with Rachel cooking classes, she also works as the New Zealand editor for the Australian magazine recipes+ and is the Assistant Market Coordinator and Newsletter Editor for the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market.

Rachel and John are both actively involved in the local community being members of the Clive Community Group and John is a member of the Napier Host Lions Club.

Zac joined Rachel and John at Driftwood Cottages as a seven week old pup on Christmas Eve 2006 and quickly made Driftwood Cottages his home. He is a friendly dog and will come and visit you, however we ask that you do not encourage him to enter your cottage—he knows that he is allowed in our house but not the cottages.