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Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park

Photo gallery for Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park

Exterior
Living area
Living area
Room
Room

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View map
Makarora, OTA
  • Place, Blue Pools
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Fantail Falls
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Place, Peter Fraser Park
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park

This original stone cottage is nestled on a bushy section between Mt Aspiring National Park and land owned by the Makarora Wonderland Lodge. We live in the Octagonal house next to you. The bird life is incredible with Kaka, Tui and Kereru frequently landing in the trees around us. It is a spacious, self-contained, 2 bedroom abode (choice of singles or King bed in second room) with lounge. There is a collection of DVD's and board games. Fully equipped kitchen. Outside is a garden entertaining area with table and chairs, BBQ, and views up to Mt Shrimpton. The Nature Walk and Shrimpton Track join up to our property. Go for a night wander to see the glow worms!
The Cottage is a 2 minute walk from the Wonderland Cafe/Restaurant/Bar and a 10 minute drive from the must-see Blue Pools. There are a number of epic short walks and multi-day hikes including the Gillespies Pass Circuit right at your door-step. We recommend staying a few nights to enjoy the wilderness, hiking, trout fishing or jumping on a fixed wing plane, heli or jet boat for an adventure up the Wilkin River Valley and beyond.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:30 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 allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9408500
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 indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Makarora

Located in Makarora, this cottage is in the mountains and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Te Wahipounamu and Blue Pools. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hunting, mountain climbing and ecotours nearby.
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Map
Makarora, OTA

What's nearby

  • Blue Pools - 16 min drive - 11.7 km
  • Fantail Falls - 17 min drive - 27.5 km
  • Peter Fraser Park - 39 min drive - 61.0 km
  • beach near Beacon Point - 57 min drive - 82.5 km

Getting around

  • Wānaka Airport (WKA) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Makarora country cafe - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park?

As of 12 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park on 16 May 2026 start from NZ$181, 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 Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Birdsong Cottage - nestled up against Mt Aspiring National Park located?

Situated on a river, this cottage is steps from Te Wahipounamu and within 9 mi (15 km) of Blue Pools and Lake Wānaka. Fantail Falls and Peter Fraser Park are also within 32 miles (52 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

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. 45 out of 73 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 73 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 73 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 73 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 73 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our second time staying at this idealic setting. So private, so beautiful, so welcoming, a perfect break. Easy reach to Blue Pools, Haast in one direction and Lake Hawea, Wanaka and beyond the other.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovrly setting, friendly owners
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bridget P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location for exploring Mt Aspiring. Beds were very comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 February 2026
Thank you so much! xx
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nikki W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous one night stop over at Bird Song Cottage. We were lucky enough to see our favourite birds:)
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jill S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was lovely and helpful. This rustic cottage is a wee gem. Peaceful and comfortable. Lovely place to spend a few days.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judith T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay and our time in Makarora. It was spacious, with good kitchen facilities, BBQ, and comfy bed, lovely outdoor deck, aircon and fire box to choose from. Lots of Kiwi cottage charm. Birdlife and song incredible, hence the apt name! Close to some lovely walks too. Top spot for exploring the Haast Pass corridor, Lake Hawea and to escape the crowds of Wanaka but not too far away for a day trip. The cafe next door was closed for winter, but the cafe up the road was fantastic. 24hr petrol available in Makarora was reassuring.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Lisa A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Birdsong Cottage is well named with a multitude of birds in the surrounding bush and we could hear morepork at night. Beautiful location, good directions and cosy. I would suggest the shower could be improved and the pool chemicals would be better out of reach of children.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Grant W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Heatpump was good, and the setting was nice. Some nice eclectic touches in the decor, but overall maintenance was below standard.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is a aptly named rustic cottage like you'd find in an English romantic novel. There's lots of space. The concentration of birds was phenomenal. It is literally next to three walking trails all with their own charm. Ideally located for Mt. Aspiring hikes.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christine S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The loveliest hosts and a beautiful traditional cottage made for a great stay at Birdsong Cottage.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Delightful quirky cottage away from the Christmas madness - just what we needed to relax.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alec Sherman C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very rustic , very quaint , clean and quite. Beautiful.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful garden and cozy cottage! Lovely to have games and dvds for both adults and kids. And interesting books about the local environment and alpine region. Wish we could have stayed another night.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful cottage, wonderful views, great hot tub!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeric D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house is very cozy and clean. We had a wonderful time with the spa while enjoying the spectacular views of the mountain.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a beautiful setting and the bird sounds were wonderful! I loved the cabin. The beds were super warm
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Neil W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
pleasant greeting upon arrival, room clean and warm - was a wet, cold day - Host brought over dry kindling for the fire.authentic rustic building with all required conveniences
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alison H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
If you love New Zealand bush especially silver beech forest, glacial pools, mountain views, peace and quiet - you’ll love it here! Such a good base to explore the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yeh H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Check in was suprr easy , and the house is so cozy , we feel right at home straight away ! Have full kitchen ware and oven , we had no problem cooking meals. We loved it here !
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Lynnette C.

Disliked: Communication
never saw the host.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Damien B.

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

Great stay

We had a great time Cheers
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pene W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Birdsong Cottage is a delightful, charming and quirky property at Makarora, with a real old time kiwi crib/ bach feel. The birds’ song was constant during the day and we also heard a ruru (morepork) one night.This was a fantastic base for us to explore parts of the tracks along the Haast Highway and both Mount Aspiring National Park and Hāwea Conservation Park. A real bonus was the extension to the nearby Makarora Bush Track with a recently constructed Charteris trail through a QEII covenanted forest area meaning a lovely walk up to an hour if you doubled back.The cottage had a power outage the first two nights - not the hosts’ fault - and they were fantastic in their communication and management of this problem.Absolutely recommended and we would like to go back!
View from the back up to the mountains
Constant tui, korimako (bellbird), kereru (wood pigeon) and other birds
Makarora Bush Walk 5 minutes away
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melissa K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing little cabin for a getaway in the bush. Older property with classic kiwi batch vibes.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Brett M.

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

Great location

Great stop over and accommodation style for touring cyclists. Close to facilities.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a lovely stay at the cottage. Host was very welcoming. Had the best nights sleep the beds were very comfortable. Movie selection was great and the bbq worked well. Unfortunately the hot tub wasn’t working which we only found out when we went to use it but completely understand. The only other thing was also the door to the property only locked form the outside. Not a big issue but as two young girls travelling alone we did get a bit anxious about this. Overall loved our stay and would recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

About the host

Hosted by Sarah Forder

Host profile image

My husband, son and I have lived in Makarora for 7 years. I am a conservationist and coordinate predator control work out here to protect our precious wildlife. I know a lot about birds!

Why they chose this property

For the mountains and rivers!

What makes this property unique

An affordable and spacious place, very much undiscovered

Languages:

English

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