Karen’s place in beautiful Russell was a real treat. The space itself was spacious and comfortable but it was the view and the nature that really made it exceptional. The sound of birds and insects was all around and we even heard kiwis at night (plus we briefly saw one in a nearby reservation) You can walk to Russell quite easily through a path in the adjacent reservation but we tended to drive more often. Russell itself is beautiful and charming with great restaurants and a lovely relaxed vibe. The only small thing that other people have mentioned was that if you use the crockery provided, you need to wash it in the bathroom. It’s not a problem but it felt a bit strange! Overall, I would highly recommend Karen’s place, nobody could ever get tired of that view.