Kingfisher Cottage

  What a challenge but what fun! After selling or giving away most of mum's furniture, we redecorated Kingfisher Cottage Retreat as a homely, modern, and relaxing place to stay. We listed with Airbnb (a challenge in itself) and so far we have entertained four couples...one through Airbnb. All gave great reviews including 5 stars from the experienced Airbnb couple. It gave us confidence that they had stayed in 22 places around the world and told us that we were head and shoulders above any of them!  Another step on the journey! We can share our small piece of paradise here now...and hope to do that with many more couples. The added benefit is that we are getting to know many more lovely people. As introverts, that is important for us. Large numbers of people are difficult for us to process, but a few at a time are magic! The cottage is so comfortable that we are planning to spend a few nights in it ourselves...especially when we are having work done to upgrade our home. Having ...

  It is 8 years since we first started to develop Kingfisher Cottage in Matakana. In March 2024 we found ourselves in the position of having a spare, separate property on our 4 acres. My mother died in hospital and after her residence on our land for three years, we decided it was time to convert her home into a place to stay. It would be part of our plan to have several sources of income - a portfolio lifestyle. The Retreat at Kingfisher Cottage is the result. It was a hard decision to sell all of her furniture and ornaments, but we didn't want it to become a shrine to mum, we wanted it to be a new and relaxing place for couples to enjoy. This is her legacy...a beautiful place in which others can relax. It also has the most happy and positive feel to the place...we often sit there with a coffee enjoying the peace. We joke that we might actually move in there...! We are nearly there...hoping to open in Spring - maybe September. We are enjoying the process and learning a lot. It...