|
Corru Gate, Mapua, Nelson.
Corru Gate Accommodation is a sunny 3-bedroom designer cottage nestled on a 7-acre farm near the coastal village of Mapua, Ruby Bay and the beaches in Tasman Bay, near Nelson. A fusion of retro and modern, city and rural chic, Corru Gate has a point of difference - stylish self-contained accommodation that is both artistically charming and child-friendly. Our artistic focus is on corrugated iron and koru - hence the name - with other New Zealand flavours thrown into the mix, like flaxes, ferns, railway iron and sleepers. Being on a small farm, Corru Gate's corrugated iron art reflects iconic farm buildings and the 'arty' lifestyle of Nelson.
Why create a corrugated-themed cottage? As a child, Roger made his own corrugated iron canoes and paddled them for miles through the secretive mangrove swamps of the Kaipara Harbour. The trick was to scrape the melted bitumen off the road on a hot summer's day and use it to waterproof the canoe. With lunch in the stern and compass embedded in the 'bridge' of the Arawata, he would set off on long adventures. No wonder Roger became a kayaking instructor later in life! It was inevitable that when Adele and Roger thought about a themed approach to their accommodation project, that they would come up with corrugated iron and other kiwi characteristics for their cottage. Being creative and having an entrepreneurial streak, designing and project managing Corru Gate was an ideal project for Adele, whilst working part time and child rearing. What is special about the coastal Mapua and Ruby Bay area? Corru Gate is at the heart of the Nelson Bays vineyard, art outlet and beach hub of Mapua. This seaside village is strategically located between Abel Tasman National Park and Nelson (25 mins) and boasts a fantastic wharf area for swimming, dining (the best restaurants in Nelson are right here!), and soaking up that famous Nelson sunshine. Guests love biking the country roads or experiencing the 3 National Parks nearby, the superb river swimming, long empty beaches like Rabbit Island, plenty of golfing, mountain-biking, fishing - or just chilling out on the deck and sipping G&Ts infused with lemon picked fresh from the orchard.
|
Best season Of course Nelson summers are renowned, and need no more introduction, but winter is also especially welcoming - fine warm days with crisp mornings and star-filled evenings, and deserted beaches for walking and contemplation. The markets and art studios of Nelson, along with winter festivals and events are also a lure, as is the temptation of skiing at Rainbow Ski-field - less than 90 minutes away! "A wonderfully quiet, warm, comfortable retro-quirky bach. A wonderful place to retreat from the world, but only minutes from restaurants, shopping and beaches - a memorable few days."
Favourite past-times - Looking for peace and quiet? - Looking for beaches and rivers? - Wanting to experience Abel Tasman? - Feeling like indulging in wine and art? - Fancy a spot of fishing or boating? - Need to entertain the kids? "At Corru Gate we discovered everything that we most enjoy about holiday accommodation; peace and privacy in the lovely courtyard and strolling through the property (P was delighted to see lambs). We loved all the cool creative arty touches as well as the contemporary design of the cottage. Enjoyed the bath and very efficient "pot belly" - really cosy at night! Thankyou, we've had a great weekend."
Best spot Nothing beats being in the quiet freshness of the coastal countryside, lying under an orchard tree with the stunning view over Tasman Bay to Nelson as the backdrop, and looking down the valley towards Mapua and Ruby Bay. |
Must do's - Walking or riding the country road to the wacky Jester House café "A lovely spot to relax and enjoy the surrounding sights and activities. Corru Gate is located so close to many family activities - it was hard to fit them all in in a week."
How child-friendly is Corru Gate? In their travels to and from visiting family in the North Island, Adele and Roger often noticed that accommodation and holiday homes were child-friendly or stylish - never both! So they set about creating accommodation that not only had lovely touches of art and individualistic and iconic kiwi style, but also came with a playground, tree-hut, waterslide, dams to swim in, and secret places to explore. Most popular, of course, is Corru Gate's own babysitter list! What's more, the cottage is fully fenced and has a bath with shower over, a port-a-cot, high chair, mountain buggy and so on.
"There's something very 'organic' about this region... If you would like to book this bach or find out more, you can view the listing here. |
