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Rock 'n Rata Cottage

Photo gallery for Rock 'n Rata Cottage

A two-story house with a sloped roof, large windows, and a covered porch.
A wooden house with a dog lying on the grass in front.
A wooden cabin with a deck, a chair, and a window.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a built-in stove, a sink, and a window with a view of greenery.
A wooden staircase leading to a loft area above a kitchen with a dining table and chairs.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Barbecue
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View map
Clifton, Pohara Beach
  • Place, Golden Bay
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Pohara Beach
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Abel Tasman National Park
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Bathtub or shower

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Rock 'n Rata Cottage

Rock 'n Rata Cottage is on the 7 acre organic property of the historic Rocklands Homestead. Behind the cottage are mature citrus trees and guests may pick their own grapefruit for breakfast.

Well-equipped cottage, woody and warm. Log burner with firewood supplied. Most guests walk in the door and say how lovely it is.

The cottage has its own private driveway and is set against a backdrop of limestone outcrops, nikau palms and mature rata and totara trees. These and the huge pohutukawa and puriri trees behind the homestead attract many tuis, bellbirds and woodpigeons.

Cottage faces nor-west and gets all day sun. Rural and sea views across to the hills on the far side of Golden Bay. Very sheltered and private yet just 3 mins drive to Pohara Beach and 8 mins from Takaka township. Only a short drive further to Ligar Bay, Tata Beach and Wainui Bay. Less than a one hour drive and you'll be on Totaranui Beach or at the Awaroa Estuary where you can walk at low tide to Awaroa Beach.

Property is adjacent to the Grove Scenic Reserve, a rock and rata wonderland with a panoramic view of Golden Bay.

Rock 'n Rata Cottage is the perfect base for exploring the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. The property has the X-factor and guests are constantly wowed by the unique setting.
Special conditions:
Reduced rate for seven or more nights from April - mid December.

Two night stays generally not confirmed until a week before unless they fit with other bookings.

Pets allowed by prior arrangement

Smoking allowed outside only

Extras: Linen (Optional, NZ$50.00 per stay); NOTE: Under Kiwi bach tradition you are expected to: Clean the house and do the dishes before you leave.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Check sleeping arrangements. Stairguard available
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)
By prior arrangement
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Outdoors only
Linen is optional, NZ$50.00 per couple, per stay. No linen charge for a couple staying 7+ nights.
Bookings over the peak period from Dec 20 - Jan 31 must be back to back with other bookings.
Check-in between 3:00 and 6:30 pm unless by prior arrangement.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number Holiday cottage
Property # 20024210
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Clifton

Clifton is home to this cottage. Anatoki Salmon Fishing & Cafe and Onetahuti Bay Campsite are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pohara Beach and Golden Bay. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and horse riding.
View more Cottages in CliftonOpens in a new window
Map
Clifton, Pohara Beach

What's nearby

  • Golden Bay - 6 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Pohara Beach - 6 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Abel Tasman National Park - 15 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Ligar Bay Beach - 16 min drive - 7.1 km
  • Tata Beach - 21 min drive - 9.3 km

Restaurants

  • ‪The Wholemeal Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪De-Lish Delicatessen - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Palmville Coffee - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Junction Hotel - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Ins Ta #Roots Bar Takaka - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rock 'n Rata Cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Rock 'n Rata Cottage?

As of 12 October 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rock 'n Rata Cottage on 31 January 2027 start from NZ$680, 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 Rock 'n Rata Cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Rock 'n Rata Cottage?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rock 'n Rata Cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Rock 'n Rata Cottage located?

This family-friendly Clifton cottage is within 2 mi (3 km) of Pohara Beach and Golden Bay. Ligar Bay Beach and Tata Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 104 out of 122 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 17 out of 122 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 122 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 122 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 122 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A warm welcome by the hosts to a beautiful place to stay in a gorgeous setting.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was lovely, and even nicer than we expected! The hosts were there and ready to help with anything should we need it, but left us alone. The region is stunning. Delighted with our stay! We'd go back any time :)
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed for 6 nights and just loved it. Had everything we needed, the location of this property is amazing with it being a very short drive to pohara beach, Ligar bay and Tata beach. Communication with Susan was very easy and she was incredibly kind and welcoming to us during our stay.This place is also wonderfully quiet and peaceful, making or perfect for a truly relaxing stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Nature's Sanctuary

Enjoyed a relaxing and restorative stay in an idyllic private setting
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was perfect! Just as described, very private, quiet, homely & comfortable. Susan was a friendly host and a great communicator.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay in this magical peaceful private cottage. Susan and John were so lovely and welcoming, and supplied us with treats from their garden. The house has everything you need - very clean, comfortable and handy to many beautiful spots to visit.The surrounding gardens are so interesting with the rock formations. We loved our six night stay and hope to return one day!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Thank you!

We loved our stay. Well appointed, quiet retreat!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Accommodation in the countryside

We really enjoyed the peace and quiet and the green surroundings. We also appreciated the fruits and herbs from the hostess's garden.
Stayed 17 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Super cute & private cabin

Really sweet little cabin surrounded by birds, and really private. Loved it!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

peaceful

a lovely peaceful cottage to relax
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect!

We loved our stay - thanks again for having us all. The cottage feels very welcoming - warm, clean, well fitted out, and so peaceful. Beautiful setting amongst the citrus trees and rock formations.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect cosy winter getaway

We were very cosy in this beautiful, private cottage. Delightful recycled windows, woodburner, and a view from the bed across the bay. Can’t wait to come back another time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great cosy Cottage

We spent 5 nights at the Rock n Rata Cottage and loved our stay. The cottage had everything we needed and was nice, cosy and warm. John and Susan we great hosts and a lovely couple who have created a great spot for a secluded getaway. Hope to visit again in the near future. Glenn and Jess, Cambridge
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful place

Such a beautiful and tranquil place. From the unobstructed green views all the way to the estuary, to the sound and glimpses of this feeding on the trees. The house itself is so lovely and fresh and the log burning makes it cosy and warm. Our dogs absolutely loved it!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful

Fantastic winter retreat close to beach and 10 mins from town..log burner,comfortable bed and all you can hear is birdsong
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Rural Retreat

This was a peaceful and relaxing stay, central to the takaka region and away from any main roads. Property was clean and tidy. Recommended
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Te Mohua

This is a sunny little cottage well equipped and very comfortable, close to the attractions of Golden Bay. Susan was friendly and helpful, available if needed but let us enjoy privacy as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Paradise!

Golden Bay is the most beautiful place we have ever been. We are already plotting our way back! We fit in a lot of adventuring during our month here, but one of the best parts of our trip was having this beautiful, cozy home to return to. Susan and John were such kind hosts. We really can't say enough good things about the stay. We've done lots of month long stays across the globe and this was, by far and away, our favorite.
Stayed 21 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful place we always will remember

The batch is a cosy old house. We felt at home immediately. The house is surrounded by a beautiful garden with old fruit trees. And the hosts Susan & John are very friendly people, who know a lot about life, gardening, trees and a lot more. Thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Just perfect

A private rural cottage close to all activities, beaches and Takaka village. The fire was amazing and was already lit by our lovely host Susan when me and my brother arrived. The little touches, the vase of flowers, the already cut kindling and the organic fruit were all lovely surprises. Would definitely recommend a long stay here, I hope to return soon. Thank you Susan and John for out delightful stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Paradise at the foot of the cliffs in Clifton.

The cottage is stunning. It is exactly what you would want from a holiday in the Golden Bay. Hand crafted classic wooden house - nestled in the trees under the cliffs. There are hobbits but no dragons. Perfect. The hosts are perfect - a text away but otherwise not seen. Thank you Susan and John. We had a fab visit.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

stunning cottage in stunning private location, close to town and beaches

such a delightful cottage. plenty of space for 2 guests. very warm and cozy(we visited in winter), great firewood, night heater and stunning surroundings. Susan and John are excellent hosts. Are there when you want them to be but give you all the privacy you require. great to have the Weka's and fantails as your company. beautiful to see macadamia nuts on the trees, Susan was so kind to bring us some and explained what they were, as we had never seen them grow before. Beautiful deck around the cottage to soak up the sun . We will definitely come back Madeleine and Ron
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent location for exploring Golden Bay

We had a great time at Rock 'n Rata. The location was perfect for us (kids 5 and 7) to explore Golden Bay for 10 days. The nearby walk was great. The property is very cosy and full of character. Do enquire about wasps before booking. We undertook a full day-and-a-half eradication mission as they were so bad when we arrived that we couldn't really sit outside without being bothered. The sleeping arrangements for the kids (in the main room) wasn't ideal but the (comparative price) and the beautiful location made up for it. It's a really relaxing place, I would highly recommend for a couple or people with small kids who don't need them to be in separate sleeping spaces.
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 24 May 2022
Glad you had a great stay. Wasps sorted with a very effective trap.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Gorgeous cottage, stunning location

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this beautiful cottage. The setting was fabulous, with citrus trees and rock formations behind and views over fields in front. So peaceful and relaxing. The owners were kind, friendly and helpful and communicating with them was so eaay. Grove Scenic Reviews was literally at the bottom of our private drive. Pohata Beach is just a few minutes drive away. Takaka, with its good range of shops and cafes was just 8 minutes away. The location was perfect for accessing all the Golden Bay walking tracks. The cottage itself was spotlessly clean and well equipped. The beds were very comfortable. All in all, a great place to stay. Highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Peaceful and tranquil.

Susan was kind and helpful. Everything was very clear. My only criticism was I thought there was one bedroom ( for my friend) and one double bed on a mezzanine floor( for my husband and myself).But it is an open plan cottage with two beds down stairs in the living area with a king on the open mezzanine floor above. In fact although the cottage is really lovely in my opinion it doesn't suit three or four adults.More suited to two adults with two children.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2023
The first line of our listing states clearly in bold print that there is one bedroom The upstairs bed is not a double or a king - it is a queen. We agree that the cottage is best suited to a couple or a family of four

About the host

Hosted by SusanSn3

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

Stunning backdrop of limestone outcrops, nikau palms, citrus orchard and mature native trees. Private and sheltered.
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