Leonie and Peter's place is a hidden gem! We stayed there for 3 weeks; every week we extended the stay longer because we fell in love with Mount Somers. It is an ideal place for outdoor activities and the people in the community are very friendly; it is a tight-knit community. Methven is a 15-minute drive, it has great local cafes. I recommend checking out the Topp Country Cafe, owned by one of the 'Topp Twins.'
For the cottage itself, the backyard area and the garden is so well maintained; it has a great front deck where you can sit back and relax- rain or shine. The inside was incredibly clean; Leonie and Peter were always willing to help with anything. I am back-packing the South Island with my friend and if you are looking for a place that is not trafficked with tourists~ I highly recommend this place!