51. Night Sky Cottages – Kea Cottage

Night Sky Cottages are located on the outskirts of the Twizel township, close enough to be able to easily enjoy the local restaurants and cafes but perfectly positioned to spend the evening viewing the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

“Kea Cottage” is fully self contained luxury cottage complete with a well-equipped full size kitchen. There’s an oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, toaster and jug. Tea, coffee, salt, pepper, herbs and cooking oil are supplied. There’s free wifi & a large screen TV and double glazed windows, a log burner and a heat pump to keep you toasty warm during the cooler months or air conditioning for those long hot summer nights.

Kea Cottage is luxurious & very private. The lounge and dining area are cosy & compact, the lounge opens out onto the front deck with garden & mountain views. Kea also has magnificent views across farmland to Ben Ohau (the mountain that gives the range its name) and further on to the Ohau Range. An outdoor table, & chairs are located on the south side of the cottage in a private courtyard. Kea has a king bed with an electric blanket and a large walk-in wardrobe with plenty of storage space, a luggage rack, armchair and side table. The bathroom includes a shower, toilet, vanity, fan heater & a heated towel rail. The washing machine is also located in the bathroom, the drier is out in the mudroom off the end of the carport. Kea Cottage also has its own picket fenced cottage garden.

There are 2 cottages onsite, Kea and Kahu. Both cottages have great views of Ben Ohau Range, and the spectacular sunrises & fabulous sunsets the high country is famous for. Night Sky Cottages- as the name suggests- are right beneath the magnificent night sky of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. During winter you may even catch sight of the Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights (aka Lady Aurora) dancing on the southern horizon.

Guests have access to the surrounding lawns, herb garden, spinach and strawberry patch, gooseberry, blackberries & currant canes (when in season) & a large wild flower garden. Feel free to use the herbs & vegetables and to pick the berries & flowers (leaving enough for following guests of course!)

Kea Cottage is named after New Zealand’s cheeky mountain parrot which, if you visit nearby Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, you might just see. Kea are endemic to New Zealand and the only truly alpine parrot in the world.

Kea Cottage Bedding Configuration
Bedroom 1: King size bed

Bedding, bed linen and towels are provided for your stay with us and after you leave we will do a full clean of the cottages.