Rowan's little cottage was like staying in a fairy tale. Incredibly tranquil, right on the river surrounded by beautiful flowers. The place had a fun vintage vibe! Comfy bed and tasty spreads for breakfast. We enjoyed sitting on the deck, soaking in the views of the hillside and watching the birds. Great location for exploring the Banks Peninsula. We recommend visiting Tumbledown Bay for great swimming and it is relatively nearby. The drive there is also fun and stunning! Also if you are going to take the scenic route to Akaroa, the one that drives along the ridge of the peninsula, we'd recommend going the fast way to Akaroa and then taking the scenic route back as you'll be able to stop more easily to take pictures. Something to note about the cottage: The living room/kitchen and bedroom are inside together separated with a wall/door. To access the toilet and shower which are separate spaces, you have to step briefly outside. Not a big deal even if it is raining since you are still under a roof and they are both about a meter from the door. However if it is dark and you have any lights on inside, even just the one lamp and curtains drawn, the lake flies will invade en masse the second you open the door! We learned the hard way the first night and the second night we left all lights off and used a provided torch when needed and had no problems stepping out to use the loo. Luckily the days were long so this wasn't too big of an issue and I believe lake flies aren't around yearlong and thank goodness they don't bite!