As others mentioned, the security system caused a minor issue upon arrival. The code was provided but I entered it wrong causing the loud alarm for a few seconds. But after that, this was a wonder house for family (myself, wife, 2 daughters and my mother) during our trip to New Zealand for the Womens World Cup. House was very comfortable once the heater was running (we were there in July during winter). Kitchen was great to prepare snacks and small meals. Fridge/washer/dryer all as expected. I wish we could have spent more time outside in the lovely yard with the amazing plants but it was cold and rainy for much of our trip. Communication was good to send info and when I entered the alarm code wrong (opps!)

Overall , suited our needs for a five weeks stay, plenty of space. All amenities available with supermarket only 2 kms away.

Lovely peaceful and comfortable stay. Everything you could need and plenty of room for 6 people.

A charming and very comfortable cottage furnished with antiques in a tranquil native tree setting

will be back

Stayed 5 nights in late Sep/early Oct. I needed a kind of quiet, tranquil haven in order to do some detailed research & writing on a full-time basis over a number of days. Looked at a significant number of accommodation options throughout the Greater Wellington & Kapiti regions & this house was the frontrunner from the start. I wasn't disappointed ... beautifully quiet for the vast majority of time I was there. A very clean, immaculately presented home in really attractive gardens (with a fantastic little babbling brook out front & lots of babbling birds in the trees ... in both cases the sort of sounds I'm more than happy to hear ... beautiful tranquil nature). Loved the quirky stained glass windows too. Also want to emphasise the exceptional value for money (I've seen places that are little more than glorified sheds that charge a higher nightly fee ... whereas this is a gorgeous 3 bedroom home with fantastic expansive gardens & lawn). Suggesting hosts Madeleine et al are reasonable & generous people. Not out to make a quick buck. As with all accommodation (even the very best like Twin Totara Cottage) there were a few minor niggles ... but really too minor to mention ... dwarfed by the overall excellent quality of house & gardens and superb value for money. On a personal note: I must apologise for blotting my copybook right at the end of the stay. I closely followed all the house rules right up to the final 5 mins of my stay ... when - due to tiredness (went to bed far too late) - I reset the house alarm in the wrong sequence ... so the (remarkably loud !!!) alarm went off (wouldn't want to be a burglar in that situation ... eardrums almost bursting :-)) ... hence I ended up inadvertently breaking 2 or 3 house rules right in the last 5 mins of my stay. Entirely my own fault ... no doubt sending my BaB ratings into freefall :-) Overall, though, easily a 5 out of 5 home ... Grab this place with both hands if it becomes available.

On arrival we had a couple of minor glitches getting in – but Madeleine was available by phone and we got in okay (that time). Inside (yes, some of those are genuine antiques!) we found the security understandable and the furnishings a little intimidating, but we learned to relax with the heirlooms over time. That security system, however… While the heating system instructions were clear, and the clothes-washer, dish-washer, cooktop were of species familiar to us, the oven/griller was not. So on day 2, returning ‘home’, the security system shrieked and played up (a little – we got it right eventually but the NOISE!) and in the evening when I finally got the griller working (It’s ‘two ovens’ – different knobs apply!)) I burned the sausages and the system went off again and automatically called the Fire Brigade. But hey – what we paid for an entire nice, rather formal, house in a beautiful garden in a quiet suburban dendrite, one could have paid for a motel room the size of just the main bedroom. Off-street parking id problematic for cars with low clearance; but street parking availability is no problem. There is a choice of two patios, both pretty private (and a little chilly). It has a small, noisy creek running through the front garden. One tends to pause on the bridge. Adjoining forest walks are ‘private property, keep out’ (and very steep), and the Countdown supermarket is a 2.3km walk each way. On a walk up the street we met friendly neighbours (but this was before that ALARM X2?). If you rejoice in Formal, with no shoes permitted, this place utterly suits. It’s well equipped, some condiments were available, a bewildering array of crockery, etc. In fact, the longer we stayed, the more I liked the place.

Madeleine was very helpful when I struggled to complete booking payment and amend numbers staying. Excellent information via email, text and on-site.