KEY POINTS:
The old woman in the nursery rhyme might have had "so many children, she
didn't know what to do", but the 21st-century version of the shoe in which she lived is definitely off limits to kids.
The shoe is more like the classic illustration that went with the rhyme: a big boot. Recreated in a grove of hazelnut trees, it's completely hidden from the road, not far from the tiny settlement of Tasman, 35km
from Nelson.
And in this particular footwear-shaped house, little old single ladies are as rare as noisy children.
The Boot is bed and breakfast accommodation strictly for two - a cute, cosy and private sanctuary for couples who want a romantic getaway to
reconnect with each other, far from the stresses of work, children, television and telephones.
Its owners, Steve and Judy Richards, were inspired by an old lamp-base found in a house bought by Steve's parents.
The lamp-base - slightly worse for wear and quirky enough to be considered a treasure by collectors of kitsch - was moulded in the
shape of the nursery rhyme boot lived in by the little old lady and her many children.
It now has pride of place on the kitchen shelf in The Boot bed and breakfast.
"We thought straight lines were a bit dull," says Judy. "We wanted to build something unique - something with a real point of difference."
An avid teapot collector, she toyed with the idea of having a bed and breakfast cottage built in the shape of a teapot. She considered a toadstool or a mushroom - something rounded that would nestle gently into the landscape. Then Steve's parents found the lamp-base.
A subtle theme of romance runs throughout the cottage - from a vintage
coffee table that features a carved love-heart-shaped top to just enough seating for two in front of an open fire. There are just two chairs at the dining table, two champagne flutes and two tea cups in the cupboard.
The boot is surprisingly roomy. Its "heel" houses a spacious bathroom that includes a huge modern shower, and the bedroom fills the upstairs level, complete with a Juliet balcony snuggled into the "boot laces". The walls and ceilings are all rounded, gentle curves that enhance the welcoming and cosy feel of the place.
Nearby - behind trees, shrubs and fencing on their 2.5ha property - the Richards run Jester House Cafe, which they started 17 years ago. It's known for its organic foods, much of it grown in the cafe garden; its
wood-fired pizza oven (the Richards refuse to own a microwave); and its stock of locally brewed craft beers and wines from nearby wineries. The Richards' are also recognised for their conservation-minded lifestyle, having built their home, the cafe and The Boot with composting toilets.
Guests at the bed and breakfast can order a platter of home-cooked
snacks and local wine or beer in the evenings.
"In the mornings, they can come over to the cafe, but most choose to
breakfast by the fire or, in summer, in The Boot's private courtyard," says Judy. "There are lots of tuis, fantails, waxeyes and bellbirds. It's beautiful and very peaceful - and quite a treat for the city people who don't get to see native birds very often."
While hefty work boots are not exactly romantic things in the real world, this larger-than-life fairytale stomper has so much loving ambience about it, it's become a popular destination for honeymooners.
It's just a five-minute drive to the seaside village of Mapua's restaurants and art galleries, and more than a dozen working artists are
based within 10km.
The Tasman Golf Course, with spectacular Tasman Sea vistas, is close,
and Motueka is 10km away - much of the highway flanked by a picturesque tidal estuary. For day-trippers, there's the Abel Tasman National Park's beaches and walking tracks and activities ranging from
kayaking and sailing to swimming with seals. And, over the hill, is Golden Bay and Farewell Spit.
GETTING THERE:
Nelson is an 80-minute direct flight from Auckland and Air New Zealand flies the route about 70 times a week. See www.airnz.co.nz.
Rental vehicles are readily available at Nelson's airport.
The Boot is on the same property as Jester House Café on the main highway to Motueka, the Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay and is less than 35km from Nelson city.
FURTHER INFORMATION
See www.theboot.co.nz or ring (03) 526 6742.
