The old orchard cottage

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4915 sq ft

Popular amenities

Fireplace

Free WiFi

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Washer

Outdoor space

Check out the area

Maniototo County, Saint Bathans

Maniototo Park46 min drive
Lake Dunstan76 min drive
Warbirds & Wheels96 min drive
Wanaka (WKA)97 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Located in the peaceful small historic village of St Bathans this cottage is a new build with an old feel. We used mud bricks to build the cottage in keeping with the local culture of the village, and inside we have created a lovely comfortable home with all modern facilities.
This cottage is an ideal place to base yourself if you want to explore the beautiful central Otago district. We are only 1.5 hours from Queenstown and only 40 minutes from Alexandra and Ranfurly. Nearby attractions are Naseby, Oterahura, Omakau and of course the Otago Rail Trail.
Directly across the road from the cottage is the famous Blue Lake which is a remnant of the old gold mining days, originally a 70 meter deep gold sluicing mine, now a recreational lake. The village itself is ideal for anyone who might be a history buff. There is a lot to explore and discover there. The Vulcan Hotel is about 200 metres along the road and is ideal for dining out or a convivial drink with the locals.
For night sky enthusiasts there is no light pollution and we get the most outstanding starry nights for star watching.
The climate is typical of the area with hot dry summers and brisk cool winters. St Bathans is gorgeous no matter what the weather does !
Special conditions:
Smoking allowed outside only.
No parties please.
Please take your rubbish with you when you go as St Bathans has no rubbish collection service.
Please leave the house in a tidy condition when you leave, we do ask that you do your dishes before you go.
Please leave your used linen in the washing basket in the bathroom.
There is WIFI and cell phone cover at the cottage.

Extras: Linen (included); NOTE: Under Kiwi bach tradition you are expected to do the dishes before you leave.

Property manager

Alison Fitzgerald

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Barbecue grill

Fireplace

Breakfast included

Kitchen

Living/dining area

Toys/games

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 13–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

St. Bathans

Located in St. Bathans, this cottage is in a rural area and on a lake. Local points of interest include Hayes Engineering Works. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Maniototo County, Saint Bathans

What's nearby

Maniototo Park - 46 min drive
Naseby Ice Luge - 54 min drive
Lake Dunstan - 76 min drive
Warbirds & Wheels - 96 min drive
National Transport & Toy Museum - 97 min drive

Getting around

Wanaka (WKA) - 97 min drive

Restaurants

Vulcan Hotel - 6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The old orchard cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The old orchard cottage?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The old orchard cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The old orchard cottage located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is 28.1 mi (45.2 km) from Hayes Engineering Works.

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Matthew C.

10 March 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful hideaway

A wonderful cozy, modern little batch with everything you need for an isolated and quiet getaway. The hosts presented a beautiful location with lovely touches such as a pre-laid fire, Nespresso, selection of teas and coffee, condiments, and a bookshelf full of good reads. We would absolutely stay again! Tip - do take your own fresh drinking water as suggested by the hosts. Pro Tip - watch your knuckles opening the door if you want to keep your skin!

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

anne r.

20 February 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome cottage!

Such a cute cottage, great location, great vibes, beautiful views, cozy and comfortable. The fireplace was set and ready to go which made for a fabulous evening after walking to dinner at the Vulcan Hotel. Couldn’t have asked for anything better!

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

2/10 Terrible

Sue M.

23 November 2023

Liked: Location

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

Toxic smoke inhalation from fire unit

I have not had the response I required from the owner so I am lodging a claim in the Disputes Tribunal

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gerald B.

14 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical tranquility

The property looked really good online, and in reality it was actually better than that. It was just terrific. We loved staying there. Thank you.

Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Will C.

9 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful warm winter getaway

This modern house looks timeless and fits nicely into the village. We enjoyed a warm, cosy winter stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Alison Fitzgerald

John and I purchased the land in St Bathans in 2006 and started the building of the cottage in 2008. We chose to use traditional mud bricks in keeping with the village which has the best collection of well preserved mud brick dwellings in New Zealand.
John and I are born and bred New Zealanders and are passionate about our country and where we live.

Why they chose this property

St Bathans has always been a special place for us ever since we "discovered" it in 1994. We were researching mud brick homes in NZ at the time and it was this little village that impressed us so much with nearly all the buildings being historical mud brick built cottages. Even the hotel is made from mud! For a long time we dreamt of owning a piece of this little paradise and in 2006 a small piece of land came up for sale. We bought it and now we have a delightful little cottage built for us to stay in. We decided to share our cottage in 2016 and have it available for you to stay in and enjoy our little piece of paradise.

What makes this property unique

The Old Orchard Cottage has been hand crafted to be a comfortable and pleasant experience for travellers. If you want a quiet place to stay in a beautiful part of New Zealand then this is the place for you. All the comforts of home are there and it is so relaxing to stay in.