Victoria responded quickly to our queries both before and during our week-long stay. Daisy Hill Cottage started life as a simple settler’s cottage and apparently every owner over the past 160 years has added to the original — second storey, balconies, hot tub spa, laundry/shower room and more. Four bedrooms [three double], showers and toilets on each level and a well equipped kitchen and laundry. Computer desk and Netflix were appreciated. There is parking below the house at the end of a narrow driveway shared with other residences. While it is walking distance to the two parts of “downtown”, the return uphill would be a challenge for those not used to hill work. The mature trees and shrubs surrounding the cottage ensuring a very private location, especially for the hot tub area. The cottage offers good views over Akaroa town and the surrounding hills to the east. Overall, even though the weather was a less than willing participant, Daisy Hill Cottage was a comfortable “port in the storm” and a useful base for our week on the Banks Peninsula.