‘Bachelor cottage’ sought after by families
Pioneer’s home has been transformed into one of NZ’s most desired family baches.
From its origins as the home of a confirmed bachelor wary of “fast women and slow racehorses” to one of New Zealand’s premier family baches – that’s the story of Bill’s Cottage, Ohakune.
The winner of last year’s Family Friendly category in the 2017 Bookabach Bach of the Year Awards, Bill’s Cottage has a unique history. The 2018 award finalists have just been named https://bachoftheyear.co.nz/ and members of the public are being encouraged to vote (and be in to win $10,000 worth of bach getaways*).
Built in 1924, this four-bedroom gem in the beautiful Orautoha Valley, originally belonged to pioneer Bill McNie, one of those early settlers who won a ballot for 200 acres of farmland in 1895, when the New Zealand government was encouraging young men to farm the land to feed a hungry British market.
“He never married,” says current owner Jenny Tanner, married to Bill’s grand-nephew, Gordie McNie. “He was a confirmed bachelor. His favourite saying was that he’d seen far too many good men ruined by fast women and slow racehorses.”
But though Bill didn’t leave any descendants, he did leave a cottage which has taken on a life of its own – attracting a steady yearly flow of visitors to a valley which transports them back to a time of family values, outdoor pursuits and adventures and a genuine release from the strictures of modern living.
There’s no mobile phone coverage there, for example – a quality becoming increasingly prized by many of those usually locked into today’s “always on” demands.
But the family dimension goes way deeper than that. Gordie and Jenny’s farm is a working sheep and beef farm still – and the tradition of city kids going on holiday to a relative’s farm to experience a whole different way of life often doesn’t apply any more.
“It used to be that families nearly always had someone they were related to living on a farm,” says Jenny, “but that has faded a lot these days.
“When families stay here, the kids can fed the lambs if it’s lambing time, feed the horse, there are dogs and chickens and the farm animals, they can swim or kayak in what is a private section of the river - and they can even feed the eels.”
For small kids, there is a balance bike; a trike; a playground with swings and slide; a play hut; and even an old quad bike for imaginary adventures. You can fish right in front of the cottage and the Manganui O te Ao River, world-famous for its trout fishing, is just five minutes away for committed fishers.
Bill’s Cottage is also close to the nearby ski attractions the area is well known for and Lake Rotopounamu is just an hour’s drive away. There are walking tracks nearby and 14 mountain bike tracks to choose from in the region.
It right on the national cycleway leading to The Bridge to Nowhere Track, which winds through the 'Valley of Abandoned Dreams' to the Whanganui River, with 35km of spectacular scenery and wild beauty.
It’s a family home – and a family time. Even if you choose to simply hang around Bill’s Cottage, there are other reminders of a bygone age. The cottage has all the mod cons (including an espresso machine) but the fridge is stocked with free-range eggs (and you can see the chickens from whence they come), jam made from the fruit trees on the farm and marshmallows for toasting on the fire by the river bank.
There’s a log burner for those crisp winter nights and plenty of firewood at the door while those who crave something entirely different can try the outdoor bath, under the stars, with a glass of wine.
Jenny says their clientele is roughly 80/20 New Zealand to overseas visitors and has about a 75 per cent occupancy rate, starting from $171 a night: “We are getting more overseas visitors now but most of our guests are from New Zealand, just looking for something like this.
“It’s lovely for us, we get to meet some fabulous people. Some of our guests have been coming here for years; we meet their kids as babies and some of them are still coming here 10 years later. They become friends as well as guests – and we love that.”
*Gold, silver and bronze awards are given in eight categories with a Supreme Winner chosen as Bookabach Bach of the Year from the best of the eight category winners. To vote - and to see a list of 2018 finalists - go to the campaign website: https://bachoftheyear.co.nz/
