The 2012 Woollaston Jazz and Blues Festival celebrates its 21st birthday with a 6 day musical party in parks, bars aacross the Nelson Tasman region. Over 200 musicians and 50 events equals a summer feat of music in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet! All the events are individually listed on the ItsOn website.

The festival kicks off wiht the Port Nelson Fairfield Park Concert featuring Oval Offic from Christchurch, Tessa Quayle (a 2011 Jazz Tui Award finalist), the amazing Spiral from Auckland and Aaron Saxon and his ANZAC Fusion Band – a band featuring some of the best jazz and funk players in Australasia. Look out for the Woollaston Estates Gala concert Series featuring Erna Ferry and her stellar band with a tribute to the great Peggy Lee and return of one of the masters of the jazz songbook, internationally renowned jazz singer Malcolm McNeill.

We would particularly like to welcome Christchurch to the festival. We know how tought this year has been and we have gone out of our way to host Canterbury musicians. The only ground shaking over the week of the festival will be from dancing feet and clapping hands!

No matter what music you are into their is something in the programme for everyone…enjoy!

Kathleen & Bill Rohnkohl – U.K: Such a pleasure to share Christmas holidays @ Bronte Country Estate again. We so enjoyed your hospitality and piece of heaven here in Nelson.

Gwynn & Mitch August – U.S.A: What a lovely estate. We loved our views and especially your peaceful garden. Hope to return

Uma & Jason Van Itallie – U.S.A: Beautiful place and such wonderful hospitality!! Thank you for hosting us on our honeymoon!

Bob & Myrna Witt – CA, US – This place is like how we grow up in the 50′s, peaceful, honest people, in a wonderful setting. Thank you!

Derrick & margaret Johnson – US – Just wish we could stay longer in this lovely place. Very special and a cery warm welcoming homestead.

Rita & Brent Danielsen – Denmark – What a beautiful place! great accommodation, lovely people delicious breakfast! Thank you, we will be back!

On one of their full days off they enjoyed a 3 hour Helipro trip over the Abel Tasman National Park and some of the Lord of the Rings sites. They all had a great day out!!

Joe & Sasha, Houston Texas, USA – It was especially lovely to watch the tide going in and out and it was a most comfortable restful time.

McDill Family, UK – Thank you for a lovely relaxing Christmas 2010. What a beautiful place you have and your hospitality has been fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect place for Christmas away from home. Thank you!

Mike/Joan Jones & Mattrew/Sarah Prescott UK – We enjoyed it so much last time that we came back! We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here again – thank you very much

Jim & Barbara Beasley US – What a delighful experience. Our stay was perfect, Daniel & Shauna are excellent hosts.

Colleen & David NZ – (return guests) Our favourite holiday spot. Thanks Daniel & team

Tim MacKay

Tim MacKay stayed with us for a few days in Decemeber 08, enjoying Nelson’s lovely weather, the Abel Tasman National Park and other activities the Nelson region has to offer. Tragically he lost his life on the 17th of July 09 in Jakarta from a bomb blast while attending a meeting at his hotel. Tim enjoyed his stay with us very much and left a lovely comment in our visitor’s book which later was published in our new brochure.

We wish to convey our sincere condolences to his family.

From the Fraser Family and the staff at Bronte Country Estate, Nelson, New Zealand