Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power
This iconic Provence style Cottage (built by a French theatre set designer) is a much admired eco-friendly and sustainable 2b/r stone cottage built of local stone and native timber with outstanding views of valley, river and mountains. Near to Carterton, Greytown and Masterton to access vineyard and restaurant treats..
In the very private and picturesque setting, drink pure artesian spring water while listening to abundant birds on your sunny veranda. The 225 acre unspoilt property has its own clean solar/hydro power generation system and the water comes from an artesian spring - tested to exceed treated domestic water. This is a heritage 'Dark Sky' site for stargazing.
Go for a bush walk on the property or in the National Park just across the river, explore Mt Holdsworth, go biking, play golf - or sit around the cosy fire and play games, or visit the popular vineyards and restaurants for a vibrant good-time.
Around 20 minutes to Carterton/Greytown/Masterton or less than 30 mins to Martinborough this is an adventure escape that represents the Wairarapa 'good life'. Come and Enjoy our environment and escape pressures for a while!
TRAVEL TIP: You can bring your bike on the train from Wellington and it is a flat 17K ride on rural roads to the Cottage from Carterton rail station.
Property manager
kieran shaw
Premier Host
Languages
Dutch, English, German
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Celebrations only for registered guests
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses wind and solar energy, plus a grey water recycling system and eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 7817801
About the area
West Taratahi
Located in West Taratahi, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Vintage Aviation Museum and Old Stick & Rudder Company are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Gladstone Vineyard and Johner Estate. Travelling with kids? Consider Fell Locomotive Museum, or check out an event or a game at Kartsport Wellington. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
West Taratahi, Wellington
What's nearby
Vintage Aviation Museum - 28 min drive - 21.9 km
Henley Lake - 31 min drive - 23.9 km
Queen Elizabeth Park - 31 min drive - 24.1 km
Shear Discovery - 31 min drive - 24.2 km
Aratoi: Wairarapa Museum of Art and History - 31 min drive - 24.2 km
Getting around
Paraparaumu (PPQ) - 103 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power have a pool?
Yes, this property has a pool.
Is Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Provence Stone Cottage - Wairarapa Retreat with spring water and natural power located?
Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly cottage is within 16 mi (25 km) of Vintage Aviation Museum, Henley Lake and Queen Elizabeth Park. Old Stick & Rudder Company and Museum of Early Childhood are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
remote and private authentic european styled stone cottage, reminiscent of centuries old, once off main roads only about 6 km of single lane unsealed road, easily driven.
This small cottage in the steep, verdant hills of West Taratahi will surely take you back years to a much less hurried and harried time.Unplug your phone and recharge your soul. The repurposed interior doors and rough-hewn kitchen cabinets, counter top and tree-trunk end caps are enchanting. Well done Kieran and Susie.
Fantastic romantic retreat in the middle of nature.
Loved the extra large bath and outdoor shower, but the amount of stars to see at night is just beautiful!
A true disconnect from everything to relax, read and take in the amazing scenery.
We were craving some isolation, some lush family time, and this place was perfection. I only wish we'd stayed longer! My toddler loved sitting on the deck watching the bees in the rosemary and walking down to visit the dog.
We had a cozy stay at the Stone Cottage. Our hosts were very lovely and accommodating, and their very special dog came to visit us for a scratch each night. The surrounding area is gorgeous - even in what turned out to be a rainy couple of days. The sun came out long enough for a hike up to the top of the hill for a beautiful view of the Wairapa. The wood stove kept us warm, and the bath was a welcome end to each day. Looking forward to visiting again with family!
lovely to get away from everything and relax in the cutest cottage. Fire was very cosy and needed to be on for our winter visit. Great for board games.
We absolutely loved it here!
It was just what we needed.
Highlights:
Hot wood burner
Great big relaxing bath
Sunny private deck
No cell reception
We highly recommend this place.
We'll be back again.
Ngā mihi
A beautiful setting for a gorgeous cottage with everything we needed.
Wonderful place to unwind and relax (as much as possible with an almost 3 year old). Comfortable beds, great selection of magazines and reading material and a great kitchen to cook in. We appreciated the coffee and muesli provided. We visited the river several times and our wee one delighted in throwing stones into the river. Thank you Susie and Kerry.
From the welcoming fire on arrival and smell of natural wood furnishings, to the hot shower shared with birdsong and misty trees outdoors, this immaculately renovated cottage made time stand still. Hosts Susie and Kieran were lovely, even going the extra mile offering to bring our pillows to us in Wellington when we left them there! 17 hours was not enough, we will be back and for longer next time.
We stayed for two nights on a wet and stormy winter’s weekend. We were greeted by the gorgeous pup Charlie and the owner Susie, who already put the fire on to welcome us in this treasure of a cottage, miles away from it all. The cottage has a lot of Charme upon arrival and gets even better once inside. We felt home instantly, and feel that it is not just perfect for a wet and windy weekend but also in any type of weather. Very private and memorable stay. Thank you for sharing your beautiful cottage with the world. We will be back.
We loved breathing in the bush air from the porch or the outdoor shower, cosying up to the fire reading a book, having a romantic bath and getting away from the screens! A lovely relaxing stay and we will definitely be back.
Daile L.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
10/10 Excellent
Carolyn
18 July 2022
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We stayed at the stone cottage before and loved it so much that we treated our sister and brother-in-law to a birthday weekend away.
They did not want to leave.
The cottage is perfect in any weather, sunny or not, rainy or not, stormy or not…highly recommended!!
We had a lovely relaxing 2 nights here. Enjoyed the local walks into the valley with the local dog Charlie. The quietness with the river in the background was perfect. Really enjoyed the outside shower even when it was drizzling. Lovely friendly hosts too.
Perfect stay
Get away from the rat race in this cosy cottage. Well appointed but NO internet or mobile phone or TV (YAY!!!).
This is the ultimate "green prescription". Bush views, walks, exhilarating outdoor shower, log burner, comfy bed.
But if you cannot go cold turkey, then civilisation is just a short 25 minute drive away. And if you are willing, then Charlie the cool laid-back dog will happily spend time with you too!
We’ll love this little cabin and the fireplace. Perfect for a relaxing getaway
Beatriz S.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021
About the host
Hosted by kieran shaw
Kieran - CEO of a professional organisation and past senior manager of large international engineering projects. Long-time music composer and performer - well known sessions musician in seventies London.. Widely travelled and indulgent in cuisine and experiences.
Susie - Pilates teacher, writer, author of cooking/nutrition books, natural health advocate and creator of fine cuisine. Loves biking, hiking and travelling.
Why they chose this property
We came to this region from Queenstown and found it to be unspoilt with unique beauty.
What makes this property unique
There is no other property similar to the French Village Estate anywhere in NZ - maybe only to be found in South of France.
Languages:
English, German, Dutch
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests