During the seven weeks that my husband and I waited out New Zealand’s COVID-19 Level 4 and 3 stay-at-home order, we never lost sight of how lucky we were to self-isolate at The Brown House. Our extended stay allowed us to fully experience all the house has to offer, as well as Janet’s kind and generous hospitality; our hope is to relay our wonderful rental experience through this review.
Nestled in the foothills of a beautiful mountainous area, the location of the house is truly breathtaking. There are two stunning lakes that are a short walk from the house: Lake Ohau is the star, an Instagram-perfect glacial lake surrounded by mountains, but we also really loved the smaller, tree-lined Lake Middleton, where graceful black swans swim peacefully alongside local ducks. We also had the opportunity to hike some of the nearby tracks; if you have the time to explore locally, the Freehold Creek track offers some beautiful views of Lake Ohau and the surrounding area.
The house itself was a dream property, an amenity-filled mountain lodge with beautiful design touches. As others have mentioned, the stone-walled shower room is a highlight, as are the glass window-doors that open up the living room and the backyard-facing bedrooms to spectacular mountain views. Other special design details that won’t escape your notice: the lovely window seat in the living room (perfect for reading, bird watching and sunset viewing), the choice of beautiful, natural materials throughout the space, the custom built-in bunk beds, the striking slant of the roof.
There are two significant, special additions made to the house since the photos were taken: 1) a large picnic table built as an extension to the backyard deck, which can comfortably seat 10, and 2) a wood-fired, cedar-lined hot tub, also located in the backyard. Some of our favorite memories at the house include the meals we enjoyed outdoors at that table and the star-scattered night sky (next-level wonderful on a clear night) we viewed from that hot tub.
The kitchen is extremely well-equipped. In addition to a nicely stocked pantry (sugar, salt, spices, flour) and a small herb garden grown in a charming bathtub planter out front, the kitchen had everything from a hand-held mixer and a 9” springform pan to a mini food processor. Make sure to do a grocery run before heading to the house, as the closest market is a 25 minute drive away.
Additional amenities we enjoyed: fast Wi-Fi, a Netflix and Chromecast-capable TV, a vast DVD collection to suit a variety of tastes, ample supply of firewood, wood-heater.
One last note about Janet, our gracious host. She was a joy to communicate with, always quick to respond and helpful in her messages. She exudes empathy and kindness. She is the A+ host of a stellar property that we felt very fortunate to call home for seven weeks.