Where do I begin? Romy and I have been lucky to see a lot of the world, but we've never been anywhere quite like Te Papa. Perched on your own hill overlooking the rivers, you will not believe that you're within an hour of Auckland airport. The cottage itself was beautiful, well appointed with everything you could need, simply idyllic. We could have drunk that view in for days. The lush green fields, dotted with friendly cows, soothed the soul. The fireplace was utterly charming and immediately lit by Kim on arrival. The farm eggs, milk, and cream (good lord the cream!) were worth the price alone. The bed was fantastic and has made us unsatisfied with the bed we have at home. The bathtub was everything the photo makes it out to be. This is a cottage that makes you want to retire early and try your hand at writing a novel, and maybe keep a few cows for company.
Stu and Kim were the perfect hosts. As warm and welcoming as you could ask for and more, they happily led us through the fields to the cottage straight away and made sure we had everything we needed. I mentioned that I had forgotten to get wine in the nearby town and without hesitation Stu said he'd go and get one for us. For this alone I cannot thank him enough.
Trust me, I could go on. This cottage could have cost twice as much and still been excellent value. When you come and stay and eventually, reluctantly, leave, please only tell your worthy friends about it. Something this special is to be treasured.
To Stu and Kim- we'll see you again soon!