Your Hosts: Peter and Katalina

Your Hosts: Peter and Katalina

Hi, we're Peter, Katalina!

Peter, Katalina and our daughter Natasha have owned and managed Tarlton's Lodge since March 2014.  

Peter and Katalina have a long history together, having been married for 42 years.  We met in the Vava'u Group of the Tongan Islands, Katalina's birthplace, in 1980 and have been inseparable ever since.  

In 1980 Peter was sailing single-handed across the Pacific, bound for Australia, in his engineless 25 foot sailboat. He stopped in the Vava'u Group of the Tongan Islands. On his second day there, he met Katalina, who with her brothers and sisters, were performing traditional Tongan Dance,  at a Tongan Feast on a beach for tourists. Following that day, the  Australian destination was abandoned and three months later they were married in Neafu, in a traditional Tongan ceremony. 

Since then,  we have travelled extensively, in the Pacific Islands, in our 50 foot steel, blue water sailing yacht which Peter built on Vancouver Island. Additionally we have lived a gypsy’s life while Peter was employed in the Oil and Gas, Cross-Country Pipeline Construction Industry, worldwide. We have lived and worked in many countries in Europe, S.E. Asia, North Africa, South America, the Caucasus, Turkey, Australia, Canada and the US.  Our home base for sixteen years, prior to moving to New Zealand to manage Tarltons Lodge was in the Fiji Islands, where we still have a home. 

We all have incredible stories to tell. Katalina and I most enjoy hearing the stories our guests have to share with us. 

We look forward to meeting you....