Located in Tekapo, this farm stay is in a rural area. Lake Tekapo and Lake Tekapō Regional Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Dark Sky Project and Mount John Observatory. Take in the nearby slopes with skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating and sledging.
Church of the Good Shepherd - 9 min drive - 11.2 km
Sheepdog Statue - 9 min drive - 11.2 km
Dark Sky Project - 10 min drive - 12.0 km
Tekapo Springs - 12 min drive - 13.8 km
Restaurants
Jack Rabbit - 8 min drive
Greedy Cow - 9 min drive
Blue Lake Eatery & Bar - 9 min drive
Better Batter - 9 min drive
TLV Restaurant & Bar - 10 min drive
About this property
Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage
Open for bookings for a couple of months our -
The Sawdon Station Allanvilla Farm Cottage is a family friendly, rural hideaway. It is our staff house normally, and we are opening for a couple of months between staff members.
Cute cosy cottage offers spectacular views out over the farm and to the southern alps. A real high country experience.
Whether you are after a relaxing get away or fun filled adventure, we would love to accommodate you.
The cosy cottage stays warm and cosy in winter with the great log fire(and heat pump) and is a sun trap in summer.
This cottage is very retro, and a kiwi bach (older).
We have a maximum of 4 adults for this cottage. Full tea, coffee and sugar supplied, but no milk. Just need to bring your clothing, and food.
We received a BRONZE award for the Golden Piwa Awards for best child friendly Bach. Thank you for nominations - please read our excellent reviews/guest comments. We love to show you around our piece of paradise.
Have a long weekend, in front of the fire, watching movies and reading books, or skating, tubing and hot pools with the kids. Summer months enjoy some extra days walking, cycling, or just spending time with family.
For January and July School Holidays only taking 4 night minimum bookings so that we can spend time with our family over these school holidays.
Close to Lake Tekapo, with its excellent hot pools, skating in winter, the night sky, the lake for swimming, boat cruising, and fishing. Walking to the top of Mt John for the best cafe in the world, and the best Japanese restaurant in the country! In the winter, two ski fields one (Roundhill) 30 minutes from the cottage, and the other (Mt Dobson) 40 minutes.
Please note the following as booking: Please ensure as you book you let me know and actual numbers staying, so I can give you the correct price per night.
Special conditions: * Smoking outside only. * The cottage is located on a working high country farm so caution is to be taken as there are many hazards. * If you decide to leave before the end of your stay there is no refund of nights accommodation.
Amenities
Air conditioning
Parking available
Laundry
House Rules
Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events
No events allowed
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Pets
No pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
Frequently asked questions
Is Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage?
As of 27 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage on 1 April 2026 start from NZ$189, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage located?
Situated in a rural location, this farm stay is within 6 miles (10 km) of Lake Tekapō Regional Park, Sheepdog Statue and Church of the Good Shepherd. Cowans Hill Walkway and Maclaren Footbridge are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Cute, Retro, cosy two bedroom farm cottage Reviews
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Cute little cottage in a stunning part of NZ, with very welcoming and helpful hosts. Loved the retro wallpapers, easy access to our own star gazing right outside the door.
This cottage is on the owners beautiful family farm. If you’re a retro lover you’ll be thrilled with the authentic 70’s decor. The cottage was perfectly equipped and really great for getting away from it all .
Heather R.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Archival
10/10 Excellent
14 January 2016
Idyllic little cottage - just what our family needed.
Idyllic little cottage - just what our family needed. We all thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would love to transport this little cottage around NZ so we could keep staying in it. No complaints at all - 100% recommend for relaxing - we miss it already!
Archival
8/10 Good
Sue H.
3 December 2017
The only negative comment I have is the amount of cleaning required on checkout.
The only negative comment I have is the amount of cleaning required on checkout. We expect to strip beds put out garbage and leave the property neat and tidy. We do not expect to wash floors and vacuum. Our assumption is the amount we pay for the bach covers cleaning.
Sue H.
Verified
6/10 Okay
Elizabeth B.
9 March 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Nice place but a little rusty experience
A comfy cabin, but communication was not great. For example, I had to ask twice for the address and directions before our trip (with spotty internet, we wanted it on hand). Sue finally sent it, but said she typically only gives that info out the day before arrival. Once we got there, we had a few minor issues. The light was burned out in the bedroom. I emailed and Sue said she’d drop off a new bulb the next day, but she didn’t. We ended up swapping out a bulb from another room. There was about an inch of watered-down body wash in an old bottle in the shower -- I asked Sue if she had any more, and she said she planned on buying some the next day (which she did). It felt odd. Why not replace it before we got there? The kitchen was well stocked with pots and pans but had no staples, not even salt and pepper. There was a list of house rules but no info about resources or restaurants in town -- some local guidance would have been nice. Sue lives on the property, but we never met until we passed her in the driveway on our way out. Previous guests have described warm interactions with the hosts, but that was not our experience. It felt vaguely like we were an inconvenience and had come at a bad time. It’s a cozy place and the starry sky at night is lovely, but we were pretty much on our own.
Everything we needed was there (including a washing m/c which not ALL bachs provide).
Everything we needed was there (including a washing m/c which not ALL bachs provide). Nice enough distance out of town (Tekapo) for peace and quiet and great for drooling over the Milky Way and counting shooting stars :)
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
7 October 2020
Loved being on a farm and all that that entails.
Loved being on a farm and all that that entails... Sheep and chook feeding was so much fun for our wee kids. So quiet and peaceful; a real break.
Wow what a gem of a place , quiet and peaceful and a real home from home .
This cottage has everything provided ....a real bonus (even a real teapot very important to us tea drinkers !)
The surrounding area is so very beautiful.
We revelled in the fact we could walk anywhere around the cottage giving us a real sense of freedom .
Now we have found this gem we will be back as our only regret is that we didn’t stay longer
Great place to stay with everything you need. Private and easy to access. Only 5 mins drive from Tekapo. You get there in no time. There's heat pump and fire place which is great. The beds may be too soft for some.
This cute, quiet cottage was comfortable and warm (loved the fireplace and happy it had a heat pump too). The kitchen is well equipped for cooking any type of meal. It is ideal for a family of 4-5 people or even two couples. It was a wonderful Family Winter Get Away from Christchurch for a long weekend!
Place was just as described. About 7-10 minutes from Tekapo. Very peaceful and plenty of firewood to keep us warm. It was -8 one of the mornings we were staying. It was cold until we got the fire going, but warmed up quickly. Kids had a great time playing in the snow
David M.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
julie g.
5 April 2019
Gorgeous rustic farm cottage with lovely views
Warm fire lit , lights on when we arrived . Lovely comfy beds . I would definitely stay again
julie g.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Sarah S.
29 March 2019
Peaceful, quaint fun cottage
Loved staying on your farm, stars, sheep, fabulous views including sunset!!
Sarah S.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Daniel B.
22 February 2019
Charming cottage that was the highlight of our trip
Perfect little cottage for the three of us. Host was very nice. Brought us a high chair for our little one. Would book again when we come back.
Daniel B.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Michele B.
16 February 2019
Perfect place to relax and stretch your legs
Really nice and cosy place. We enjoyed very much the seventies style. Sue and Snow are really nice hosts. You have got all the privacy you like. Nearby lake tekapo.
Michele B.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019
Verified
6/10 Okay
Phillip N.
6 February 2019
Great Location, yet a short drive to Tekapo.
Had 2 nights here. Beautiful location on a sheep farm with lovely views, at night the stars are so bright as there is no light pollution. Wonderful. This rustic cabin has all you need for a comfortable stay and excellent wi fi better than anything you will get anywhere. You can seat and eat outside on the picnic table and listen to how quiet it is! The owner Sue is very helpful and excellent with communications. Happy to recommend.
Susan and her daughter, Sara, were wonderful hosts who went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. We loved our 2 nights there, very peaceful, hiked up the back mountain and also strolled down the road on their property to see the sheep and 2 cows. Cooked our meals in the full kitchen and appreciated the use of the washing machine. Very close to the town of Tekapo which we enjoyed very much. Sawdon Station was a great place to stay
Anne W.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Andy S.
16 January 2019
Old - but comfortable
This property has everything you need for a comfortable stay. It’s about 10 minutes outside of Tepako but that’s part of the charm as it’s quiet and peaceful but close enough to town. Sue is excellent to work with and will do anything for you. We thoroughly enjoyed our week here and would highly recommend it for others staying in the area.
Andy S.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2019
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Isobel W.
16 November 2018
A wonderful place to stay if you want to avoid the crowds...
A wonderful place to stay if you want to avoid the crowds and have some peace and quiet. Would definitely recommend.