Kowhai Cottage | Rustic Stargazing Retreat

Entire cottage in Twizel, New Zealand

  1. 4 guests
  2. 2 bedrooms
  3. 3 beds
  4. 1 bath
Hosted by Jana
  1. Superhost
  2. 7 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 5% of homes

This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews and reliability.

Unwind in the hot tub

This is one of the few places in the area with this amenity.

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the key safe.
🏔️ Peak winter season – cosy stays after a day on the slopes or exploring the alpine landscape.

Tucked away in Twizel, our cosy Kowhai Cottage is a peaceful retreat in the Mackenzie Basin, and a great base for exploring Aoraki / Mt Cook and beautiful Lake Pukaki.

Soak in the outdoor bath, curl up in the window seat or watch the stars through the large stargazing window in the master bedroom - or just enjoy a warm, relaxed stay.

The space
Our first Kowhai Cottage was completed in 2019 and truly was a labour of love. My partner built the cottage himself, while I helped shape the vision, design and finishing touches to create a warm and welcoming space for our guests.

Inside the cottage you will find thoughtful features designed for comfort and relaxation, including the large stargazing window in the master bedroom, a tiled bathroom with underfloor heating, a cosy window seat and sunny decking areas. There is also an outdoor bath where you can soak in fresh water and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Twizel.

The cottage has two carpeted bedrooms – a master bedroom with a king bed and a second single bedroom with the option of a pull-out bed. Wooden floors in the living areas and a wooden ceiling throughout the house create a warm cottage atmosphere, supported by excellent insulation and several heating options to keep you cosy in every season.

The bathroom includes underfloor heating as well as a washing machine and ironing facilities for longer stays.

The fully equipped kitchen includes a glass-top stove, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and Nespresso machine, along with cooking utensils, teas, coffees, spices and basic sauces so you can easily prepare meals during your stay.

The lounge area comfortably seats three people and features a large-screen Android Smart TV with Netflix, along with board games, cards and books for relaxed evenings. For younger visitors, there are also books and toys tucked away in baskets below the TV area.

Families travelling with babies or small children are welcome. We can provide infant gear, including a travel cot with bedding, a baby bath and a toddler toilet seat, and we are happy to set these up for you before arrival if required.

The cottage comfortably sleeps three guests, with a fourth guest possible using the pull-out bed in the smaller bedroom.

Fast, free WiFi is available throughout the cottage, should you wish to stay connected, work remotely or attend online meetings while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the Mackenzie High Country.

We also host a second private Kowhai Cottage on the property. If this cottage is unavailable for your dates, or if you are travelling with friends or family, you may like to view our other listing on our host profile.

Guest access
You will have the entire cottage to yourself and the outside space is completely separate from the space the property owners occupy. We are very happy to meet and greet you, but we are also very respectful of your privacy during your time at Kowhai Cottage.

Where you'll sleep

What this place offers

Garden view
Lake access
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

Accessibility features

This info was provided by the Host and reviewed by Airbnb.
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Rated 4.98 out of 5 from 527 reviews.

Guest favourite
This home is in the top 5% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 98% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 1% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Twizel, Canterbury, New Zealand

Staying in our accommodation on North West Arch allows you to enjoy a bit more space and privacy than being right in the town centre as most properties on our street are larger and often covered in trees. There is very little traffic on the road and rarely any barking dogs - so come and enjoy the piece and quiet our cottage offers.

Meet your host

Superhost
742 reviews
4.99 out of 5 average rating
7 years of hosting
Where I went to school: in Germany
My work: Mapping and Health
We are an outdoors oriented family who enjoy skiing in winter and exploring, hiking and camping in summer. My partner Sean, who is a self employed builder, and myself designed and built our cottage together in 2019. We have a passion for natural materials, sustainability and quality workmanship and wanted to create a space that is relaxing and and a bit special.

Jana is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly-rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-Hosts

  • Sean

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 3:00 pm
Checkout before 10:00 am
4 guests maximum
Safety & property
Climbing or play structure
Carbon monoxide detector not required
Smoke alarm