A Haven for Relaxation and Renewal

• The perfect place to reload your batteries

  The perfect place to reload your batteries

  • Guest Beat and Anita
  • Date of stay 11/27/09
  • Review Submitted 01/30/10
  You can read all about the attractions and the beauty of Big Island in appropriate travel guides. So, let's concentrate on Tara Cottage, the cottage surroundings and the host Michael. We arrived at night after a long trip and did not take much notice of anything and went to sleep in the very big and comfortable bed. When we woke up the next morning, we could admire the sheer beauty of it all: the view over the Pacific Ocean and Kealakekua Bay, the very tastefully furnished cottage, the exquisite choice of classical music CDs, the vast assortment of books on the shelves, the welcoming basket of treats that waited for us (including delicious coffee from the farm Tara Cottage is located on). To make a long story short: we had the feeling, we had arrived in paradise and this cannot get any better... but then we met Michael, our host. He is the most charming man you can imagine: warm, friendly, very willing to share his knowledge, considerate and always observing our privacy. The whole atmosphere in and around Tara Cottage is the perfect place to relax and reload your batteries or for a romantic time-out with your significant other. We decided and promised to come back and can hardly wait to do so. It is a pity that I only have the possibility to assign 5 stars here. I would like to add a PLUS.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Peaceful paradise

  Peaceful paradise

  • Guest Russ & Jeanne
  • Date of stay 11/05/12
  • Review Submitted 04/19/13
  Tara Cottage is a fabulous place to relax and unwind from the cares of the world. This was our first trip to Tara and hopefully not our last! Michael was a wonderful host, spoiling us with fruit, nuts, granola and carrot bread. The outdoor shower is awesome! Breakfast on the deck with my gecko friends was daily delight! The view is spectacular. If you want to avoid the hustle bustle of a resort, Tara Cottage is a must. And the estate coffee shouldn't be missed!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+.

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• A Magical Retreat in Paradise

  A Magical Retreat in Paradise

  • Guest kelldee62
  • Date of stay 03/06/13
  • Review Submitted 04/09/13
  This was our first visit to Tara cottage but it will definitely not be our last! Nestled into a peaceful corner of Coffee County, our host Michael has created an outdoor space that frames the breath-taking views of the ocean and coast with a magical landscape design. He has artistically integrated the paradise outdoors through the décor and floor plan of the cottage. Each corner of the cottage provides a new place for rejuvenation and reflection. The outdoor shower is heavenly and made private by beautiful bamboo, a sloping rock garden and strategically placed pottery. We loved it so much that we rarely left the property. Michael's own home is on the property but is not easily seen from the cottage and he is very respectful of his guests’ privacy. The magical accommodations and breath-taking views are an expression of Michael's aesthetic and of his generous personality. We were greeted by him and given a quick tour. To make us feel welcome, he made several floral arrangements for us using plants from the property as well as assembled an amazing welcome basket that included wonderful coffee from his farm, macadamia nuts grown nearby, home grown granola, fruit and more! Michael has anticipated and provided for his guests every need. The kitchen is well-equipped. There are lots of beach towels, chairs and coolers which are perfect for picnicking while visiting "Two-Step" for snorkeling or "The City of Refuge" which are a 10 minute drive from Tara cottage. Our 16 year old loved the excellent Wi-Fi! Tara is a magical place! We can't wait to go back!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

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• Tara Cottage

  Tara Cottage

  • Guest Neil
  • Date of stay 02/22/13
  • Review Submitted 03/04/13
  It is easy to imagine your self tucked away in the secluded corner of a grand Hawaiian estate, the guest of an owner who prides himself in giving his closest friends a retreat with all the amenities, privacy and elegance that one could want. Well, Michael is the owner and you can be the guest. We would feel privledged to return any time.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• A place of Peace and Serenity

  A place of Peace and Serenity

  • Guest Banjo
  • Date of stay 06/27/12
  • Review Submitted 09/19/12
  If you want a place to relax and unwind this is it. The cottage is beautifully furnished and the landscaping outside is lovely. Michael is an very considerate and friendly person who goes out of his way to make you feel welcome at his property. It's difficult to put into to words just how pleasant this place is; the view of the bay overlooking Captain Cook's Monument, the backround noise of the birds and wildlife, the warm air, the vibe inside the cottage in the afternoon while relaxing in the reading nook, the sunsets, morning Kona coffee on the patio, the geckos, the sound system and the selection of music provided, the library of books, the outdoor solar shower, the list just goes on and on... Go and treat yourself to some quality downtime, you'll have no regrets.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

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• A Wonderful Week At Tara Cottage

  A Wonderful Week At Tara Cottage

  • Guest marion n.
  • Date of stay 08/25/12
  • Review Submitted 09/14/12
  I loved every moment of my stay at Tara Cottage. It's a perfect location in an interesting, convenient part of the Big Island. The cottage has a very well equipped kitchen. I especially appreciated the wonderful variety of condiments and spices on hand and the filtered water dispenser. Michael has truly considered and provided anything that I could possibly need for a Hawaii vacation rental. I could stay here a year and not fully browse his library.....good stuff, too. A really interesting collection. He provides a large selection of CD's. I found some old favorites and also set the mood with some Hawiian and Classical music. His DVD collection contained movies that I would actlually like to watch, if I did that sort of thing on vacation. The view and the tropical plantings and grounds are spectacular. I loved lounging on the sundeck with the adorable geckos. The outdoor shower is dreamy and the sheets are high quality. I also loved the sweet birds splashing in the birdbath. Staying in an octagonal dwelling is lovely and I slept great here. There is lots of cool lighting to adjust the ambience at night. Oh, did I mention the view!!!! Tara Cottage has it all........ comfortable, stylish, well equipped, private, great location, stunning setting, thoughtful host. I totaly recomend it.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, sightseeing.

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• Tara Cottage A Perfect Cottage in Every Respect

  Tara Cottage A Perfect Cottage in Every Respect

  • Guest Mayneexplorers
  • Date of stay 01/10/11
  • Review Submitted 02/17/12
  Tara Cottage sets the Gold Standard for what other small cottages should try and be like in so may ways. Where to start. The kitchen is the best stocked for cooking equipment as well as the Bar-B- Q,we have ever had in any VRBO, so if you like to cook you will not be disapointed in that regards. If you don't want to cook there a some very nice breakfast place with in a few mintues drive for breakfast or lunch.Ask Mike where he gets the nut loaf he has on hand when you first arrive and go there for more. What a great view from the deck to have breakfast on, why would any one want to go out to eat when you can take you coffee or tea and sit at the table on the deck and see the Ocean at the end of the yard or lay on the lounges and do the same thing. We arrived to late at night to get milk for our breakfast the next morning and Mike knowing that to be the case asked us what we liked and he had it wating for us in the fridge so we did not have to get up the next morning and go out trying to find a place to buy milk. NO OTHER VRBO has every bother to ask us or do this for us. The out door shower was great. The selection of books is like going to a well stocked library. Like wise the selection of CDs. if you like Irish Acapella then check out the cd by the Irish group called ANUNA, I could not believe Mike had this group as I thought they were only know in Ireland and the UK. If you want to hear the neighbours talk throught the walls, then Tara Cottage this is not the place for you. If on the other hand you want a wounderfly appointed and pieceful cottage,situated on a beautifully kept yard that also has fnatastic view of the ocean, so much so that you may find you had spend the whole day on the deck watching the world go buy, then TARA COTTAGE is the place. The pictures do not do the cottage justice. We stayed at two other place on the Big Island and neither one of them came close to the standard that Tara Cottage and Mike has set. If you want to take in free Ukelele strumming sessions go to the Out Rigger Hotel in Kona at 5:30 on Wednesdays great fun. Mike is a wounderful host as is his 128 year old ( in human years) wounder dog who is very friendly. In all Tara Cottage is the one place we will GO TO FIRST when we next go the the Big Island for our winter get away

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Paradise Found

  Paradise Found

  • Guest IslandLover 1
  • Date of stay 10/18/11
  • Review Submitted 10/30/11
  We just returned from a week at Tara Cottage. Trying to find the words to describe our stay is difficult; Paradise is an understatement to be certain. From the minute you enter the driveway to Tara Cottage you know you are entering a magical place. The grounds are as beautiful and well kept as any resort we have ever stayed at in our 15+ years visiting the Hawai’ian Islands. The comforts of Tara Cottage reveal themselves one after the other. The bread, nuts, chocolate, bananas, papaya and lilikoi waiting for us on arrival were just the beginning. We love to cook and the kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed to prepare all of our meals, including roasted coffee beans from the coffee trees on the property. If you are a coffee lover, you are in for a treat. The sky light directly over the bed makes for great late night star gazing. The outdoor shower was a lot of fun, hands down the most beautiful showers you will ever have in your life. From the top of the line Bosch washer and dryer, snorkel gear, beach chairs, boogie boards, gas barbeque, flat screen TV with DVD player (and library) and a nice stereo system that is I-Pod ready and a great mix of music CDs, Tara Cottage has it all. Speaking of libraries, you will have a hard time choosing which book to start first, when you have time to read, that is. Kealakekua Bay is about a 10 minute drive down the hill with lots to do and see. There is a real local feel to the place with friendly people. It is an interesting place, activity wise and historical. One neighborhood lady proudly told me the bay was the world’s largest aquarium, plus you could swim in it. The City of Refuge is nearby. All this is within minutes of Tara. There are good groceries stores, local restaurants; and the produce is the best with organic veggies and fruit found everywhere. Speaking of fruit, in addition to coffee trees and pineapple there are mango, breadfruit and lime trees right outside. You can see them from the lanai while taking in the view of the bay from above. Simply put, a week at Tara Cottage will add weeks to your life.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

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• Private, tranquil, beautiful, and romantic.

  Private, tranquil, beautiful, and romantic.

  • Guest Marie M.
  • Date of stay 05/17/11
  • Review Submitted 08/12/11
  We had very high expectations for Tara Cottage and they were completely exceeded - what a rare pleasure. Tara is the perfect Hawaiian getaway - all the comforts of a close-in resort but none of the crush or regimen. It's extremely private, tranquil, beautiful, and romantic. Every convenience and eye-catching detail has been thought out and is lovingly maintained by Michael, the warm but very unobtrusive host (who lives nearby). Inside, the furnishings are tasteful and comfortable and include a fair-sized and varied collection of good books, music, and DVDs. The kitchen is small but well-equipped. Basically, nothing seems extraneous and nothing has been overlooked. Everything is very clean and in good shape, no signs of wear or damage. Outside, the patio and sunny deck overlook lush and colorful, well-tended grounds. The care shows. From almost anywhere, inside or out, you have a panoramic view of the Kealakakua Bay and the peninsula enfolding it. Walking the rural neighborhood lanes, you see the locals just living their various but distinctly Hawaiian lives in pleasant places tucked among vegetable gardens, fruit and macadamia orchards, and coffee groves; An older style of Hawaii seems to persist here. The Painted Church and a lovely zen garden are both within reasonable walking distance. Nearby restuarants and cafes offer excellent food and coffee beverages - but don't miss the coffee grown at Tara (or other treats provided by Michael) and definitely plan to cook and dine there often because the view from the tables, inside or out, is endlessly beautiful and romantic, perfect for watching the sunsets. And it all feels like yours alone. On clear nights, the sky is thick with stars - a good time to lie on the deck or perhaps enjoy the unique outdoor shower. Want to know what to see on Hawaii? Ask Michael, who also gives perfect, vivid directions to get there. Ask even if you have a destination in mind because so many special and worthwhile places lie just off every route. There's a lot to visit on the Big Island but don't schedule heavily if you stay at Tara because ... you will be inclined to STAY at Tara. We thoroughly enjoyed the place and the host and we will definitely be back.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Amazing Getaway

  Amazing Getaway

  • Guest Katy
  • Date of stay 11/21/10
  • Review Submitted 05/26/11
  What a wonderful place! Staying at Tara was like having our own private estate. Michael was helpful and gracious, and the house and grounds are exquisite. We stayed last year and can hardly wait to get back!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway, adventure seekers, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

Additional information about rental rates

Rates are subject to charge at any time until the reservation has been confirmed.

Ask about discounts for longer stays.

Tax !D# W21736723-01

A 50% Deposit is due within 10 days of the reservation.

The Balance Payment due date varies from 30-90 days prior to the arrival date, depending on the time of year and length of stay.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

Rates are for 2 adults. Add $15/night, $70/week for a 3rd person.

Maximum occupancy is 3 adults/older children

Two Taxes Total 13.416%:

GET Tax (General Excise Tax) of 4.166%

TAT Tax (Transient Accommodations Tax) of 9.25%

Out Cleaning Fee $80