Our stay in at Jensen Bay House was the highlight of our entire trip in New Zealand! From the delectable breakfast to the excellent local recommendations, Ulrike’s son, Rakiura really made our stay feel special. If you are a lover of architecture, bird-watching, or relaxing, Jensen Bay House is a must!
A perfect location for birding, we saw songbirds and Kakas right out the window in the garden and observed Tuis and Bellbirds on the hike to the lighthouse, beginning just down the street. At night, we spotted two Little Blue Penguins on the beach off the trail, but could hear hundreds of them as they swam to shore near the house, as well as Kiwis calling in the woods. Even more, there are two penguins living underneath the house, and you can hear them scrambling around under the living room. We most enjoyed exploring Ulva Island where we saw a Kiwi during the day, as well as several other rare and local species, such as South Island Saddlebacks and Grey Warblers.
An architectural marvel, Jensen Bay House is one-of-a-kind. The compression and release ceilings invite you to floor-to-ceiling windows framing spectacular views of the ocean and forest. Our room felt comfortable and warm, but also refreshingly luxurious with sleek, high quality bathroom fixtures and stylish furniture. The whole dwelling has so much personality, and the area offers an interesting peek into vernacular architecture, especially on the nearby hike, where you can find the oldest cabin on Stewart Island.
We absolutely loved our time here and recommend it as a perfect place to stay for as long as you can!