Thank you Linda and Paul for a magical 2 week holiday in the Motueka Valley. From the home-made baked bread on arrival to the delicious home cooked meals we shared with you at your home we always ate well and enjoyed the local produce. The cottage on the hill overlooking the beautiful Motueka river is a dream location – the peace and tranquility of the place is hard to describe. The cottage is supplied with everything our family of 6 required. A highlight of the location were the daily swims in the crystal clear Motueka river, the kids climbing over the rocks in the middle of the river, jumping into the current and being carried down the river to where we sat. We also loved going with you to the Abel Tasman National Park and visiting the local farmer’s market – you can’t beat your local knowledge. We look forward to our return.
The songs of the bell birds and tuis which greet us through the clear morning air, the glorious views of distant mountains and the majestic Motueka wending its way down the valley, not to mention world class sight fishing for big brown trout, are just a few of the reasons why we keep returning to Ithilien.
On each of our six visits, we have stayed in Paul and Linda’s well appointed, light and airy hillside cabin and have been allowed free run of Linda’s vegetable garden; her Jersey Benne potatoes, salad leaves and herbs are to die for !
Paul, Linda and family have become very good friends and have treated us to generous hospitality on each of our visits. Our sunny Christmas lunches together have been truly memorable with freshly smoked trout from the river and local wines.
Ithilien is a great base for the northern part of South Island and such attractions as Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes National Parks, Marlborough Sounds and Kaikoura, with its wonderful whale and dolphin watching experiences.
We have also particularly enjoyed heli-fishing adventures into the Kahurangi wilderness, river swimming with Paul, Linda and the dogs, trekking in the mountains and buying varied fresh fruits and berries on our way home.
We love Ithilien and can’t wait for our next visit !
Ithilien, a cottage in the Montueka River Valley near Nelson, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi National Park and most everything on the northern end of the South Island, was the highlight of our trip from the USA, and we only wish we had stayed much longer than 4 nights. The cottage is perched on the side of the valley overlooking the river and the mountains beyond, on acres of green pastures (complete with 4 very curious steer), woods, flowers and birds. Our hosts, Paul and Linda, told us that they had to keep pinching themselves to believe they really lived in such a beautiful place, and it is clear why. They were the best hosts we could imagine – the two-bedroom cabin was spotless, had modern amenities, was stocked with home-made bread and jams, and Paul and Linda were full of helpful ideas about how we could best spend our time. The location is excellent for visiting beaches, mountains, wineries, national parks and much more. This was our first trip to New Zealand, and next time we would like to spend most, if not all, of our stay at Ithilean.
We had a wonderful time in this idyllic spot, with views of a gorgeous valley with olive groves and mountains in the distance. Birds, bulls and ducks make you feel welcome, as do the incredibly warm and friendly hosts, who supply you with homemade bread and produce from their garden, We hope to go back one day, but until then we will think of it often, and it will always make us smile.