Hello Fellow Travelers! I have to say that the River Apartment exceeded my expectations. I don't think the photos do it justice. The apartment is very cozy and dry. The gas fireplace was perfect for the chilly damp days and nights of winter. You get the warmth and glow of a fire without the hassle of wood and smoke. I must admit that when I saw the plaid carpet in the photos, I was wondering if it was" vintage" carpet, but rest assured it is nice, and relatively new carpet. It's actually super cute in person. The apartment was also very clean. No mold in the bathroom!! Hallelujah; I'm finding to be commonplace in a lot of Airbnb bathrooms in NZ.
The apartment is literally steps away from the gorgeous river, so it's perfect for all you fishing fanatics. If your kids (or you) need space to run around, there's a large backyard and the park next door. The proximity to the park allowed us to watch the kiddos play at the park from the window in the living room. There are also a few games and books for school aged kids. You'll have all the basics as far as kitchen gear goes, except for a freezer in the apartment. If they hosts are there you can use their freezer, but if not, don't buy ice cream. ha We loved being able to use the outdoor fireplace. We were able to make s'mores and star gaze by the warmth of the fire.
The best part of the stay was the kindness and generosity of the hosts Katie and Sam. They made sure the heat had been on so that the apartment was warm and cozy when we arrived. We lucked out that they were in town at the same time, so if we needed assistance, they were happy to help. This little rental is not to be missed. I can honesty say, that since living in NZ, there have only been two Airbnb's I would pay to stay in again and this is one of them. I'm so glad I trusted the reviews on this one and didn't miss out on a wonderful stay.