The Cottage at Te Mata House is a brand new, self-contained luxury accommodation option in Havelock North. Photo / Supplied
The Cottage at Te Mata House is a brand new, self-contained luxury accommodation option in Havelock North. Photo / Supplied
Rachel Canning stays in a brand new cottage built within the grounds of 1850's Hawke's Bay heritage property Te Mata House
Location: A 25-minute drive from Hawke's Bay Airport, a few minutes from the town of Havelock North, just off SH2.
Style: A brand new, 80m2 fully self-contained luxury cottage sleeping up to four people, with everything you could need for a weekend or a week-long stay. Architecture is light and airy. Nestled within the 1.1ha grounds of heritage homestead Te Mata House, the cottage offers a high degree of privacy.
First impressions: This is holiday accommodation where you will want to spend just as much time outside as in. The epic garden from landscape gardener Paul Bangay has extensive lawns fringed with layers of mass plantings and begs to be explored. Roses, lavender balls and alpacas are set against horse paddocks with vineyards rolling all the way to the ranges.
Perfect for: A romantic weekend exploring the vineyards, a family holiday with young children, a calm environment for a competing equestrian with horses, a wedding venue or accommodation for a wedding party.
Price: From $585 per night, with a minimum two-night stay.
Rooms: The Cottage has two luxurious bedrooms with king-sized beds. Relax into the spacious lounge, or gather in the walled courtyard or entertainer's kitchen. Throw open all the windows and doors and drink in the country air.
The Cottage at Te Mata House is a brand new, self-contained luxury accommodation option in Havelock North. Photo / Supplied
Bathroom: There's an ensuite off the master bedroom and a second bathroom for everyone else. Underfloor heating will keep you cosy, even during winter stays. Luxury toiletries from Hawke's Bay company Real World.
Food and drink: On arrival we found a bottle of Hawke's Bay wine waiting for us in the fridge and a fruit platter with seasonal organic produce from the garden. For breakfast, there is artisan cereal and bread made in Hawke's Bay, spreads, butter and milk. The Cottage has full self-catering facilities available, including a Miele induction top oven and microwave, Nespresso machine and Weber baby barbecue. You're only a short drive from many of the area's amazing wineries, restaurants and cafes.
Facilities: All the creature comforts you'll need for a home away from home, including superfast broadband, guest Spotify, a television enabled with Sky and Apple TV, a Sonos sound system, indoor gas fire, air conditioning, and washing machine/tumble dryer. Those staying seven nights or more can opt for a mid-stay clean and linen change. On the grounds, you'll find an 18m swimming pool set in a pool house, which also has corporate meeting facilities. Three town cruiser bikes and a mountain bike are available for use, and guests are encouraged to use the garden games: croquet, petanque, giant Jenga and giant noughts and crosses.
Family friendly: Tree house with flying fox and Eagle's Nest, tennis court, schoolhouse filled with crafty things to keep children entertained, large picnic rug for relaxing in the garden, nuts to feed the alpacas and sheep. Babysitting service by prior arrangement.
Equestrian facilities: There are two full-size stables, a tack room, wash pad, corral and yards, ample parking for horse floats or trucks, grass paddocks, and a lime-sand dressage arena.
Parking: Space for two cars. Boat or trailer by arrangement.
In the neighbourhood: Set in the countryside just out of Havelock North, Te Mata Estate winery is literally on the doorstep, and it's just a few minutes drive to iconic regional wineries Craggy Range and Black Barn Winery, 15 to 20 minutes drive to Ocean Beach/Waimārama Beach, and easy to connect to the Hawke's Bay cycle trail.
