After many, many hours of travel from the US, and one little leg of the journey to The Nelson Coastal Barnstay left to go, we couldn't wait to finally be still. We were pooped!
But when we turned onto the gravel path up the gentle hill, the gardens and farmland rolling off in all directions, we immediately felt renewed with an indescribable breath of life.
We were initially greeted by Raymond and Stanley, the family Alpacas, and then by Dudley, the potbelly pig. Then out the house came David with a big smile on his face and a warm welcome. After a brief tour and chat we settled in to our rustic digs which were quaint, clean, and perfect for the simple life. No frills, no fuss, but all the essentials, and even some non-essentials like fresh flowers and lemons on the table from their garden. We were just two but there is ample room for a cozy-minded family of 6.
After a quick cleanup we drove 15 minutes north to the nearest town center and did some shopping for our two night stay. We used the kitchen and the grill both breakfast and dinner which were more than adequate. And the local New World supermarket had everything you could expect, including a tourist card to get the discounted savings.
We didn't see much of David during our stay - we were in and out and just didn't cross paths. And though he and his partner live there I can't imagine one would feel encumbered by their presence. We enjoyed our privacy for a much needed recharging of the batteries after alot of travel and a day hike into Abel Tasman (only about 1 hour away). Definitely a great location for accessing Abel Tasman.
The icing on the cake is by far the walk along the grassy cliffs to the ocean which is right along the back of the property. The views are sensational -- bring a camera and go at sunset and you will have a memory for a life time!
We could not recommend this accommodation more and we wish we could have stayed but had to move on to Marlborough for wine (the road trip was fantastic and I'd highly recommend it). We would go back there in a heartbeat though - it was a perfect start to our honeymoon.
Do not miss this wonderful barnstay!