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Secret Cottage

Photo gallery for Secret Cottage

Terrace/patio
Dining
Exterior
Exterior detail
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 580 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Waitara, Taranaki
  • Place, Manukorihi Park
    ‪1 min drive‬
  • Place, Waitara West Quay
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Waitara Library
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Airport, New Plymouth (NPL)
    ‪10 min drive‬

Room options

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  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
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About the area

Waitara

Located in Waitara, this vacation home is on a river, within a 5-minute drive of Manukorihi Park and Waitara West Quay. .This family-friendly vacation home is 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from Waitara Golf Club and 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Waitara Library.
View more Holiday homes in WaitaraOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Manukorihi Park - 1 min drive - 1.1 km
  • Waitara West Quay - 2 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Waitara Library - 2 min drive - 2.6 km
  • Pukekura Park - 16 min drive - 21.5 km
  • Bowl of Brooklands - 18 min drive - 22.3 km

Getting around

  • New Plymouth (NPL) - 10 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald’S Bell Bock - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Van Dyck Pancakes - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Paradise Valley Berry Farm - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Lepperton Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Tom's Place Takeaways - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Secret Cottage

Set in an established garden, this home away from home is a quiet and private retreat in semi rural Waitara.
The two bedroom home sleeps 4-5 with a sun-room as the optional 3rd single bedroom.
A 5 minute drive from Waitara township and close to New Plymouth Airport with the city 15 minutes away for dining, events and entertainment.
Make yourself comfortable in this vacation home, which features a fireplace. There's a private patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a DVD player is provided for your entertainment.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
A complimentary breakfast is included.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.
A complimentary breakfast is offered.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Ski

  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Free breakfast available
  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible parking space
  • No lift (single-level property)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping on request
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the bay
  • Next to a golf course
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Bulk dispensers for toiletries
  • Composting
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Energy-saving switches in guestrooms
  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 861 square feet
  • Vegetarian breakfast available
  • Vegetarian dining options

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys
Lock the windows

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Secret Garden Hideaway Waitara
Secret Garden Hideaway Private vacation home
Secret Garden Hideaway Private vacation home Waitara

Secret Cottage Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 33 out of 45 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 45 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 45 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 45 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 45 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Barbara B.

Liked: Cleanliness
What a treat to stay at the Secret Cottage! Great, quiet, and peaceful location. Delightful garden with plenty of surprises. Spacious house - clean, well-stocked. Comfortable bed! Slept very well! Friendly, helpful owner!! Loved the Secret Garden!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Nick M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Host was welcoming. Nice garden and friendly cat. Place was as described. Had an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Janice H.

Check in was fine
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emma M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Womad Trip

Only 15-20min to Womad - a super calm and cozy place to unwind after a big day at the festival!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Donna G.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Tim P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice little house in quiet location

A relaxing retreat in a quiet location. Vintage style granny vibe decor, this quaint cottage had plenty of room. The kitchen was well stocked. TV not smart but OK. The garden was nice with lots of fruit trees. Washing machine in bathroom was good but no extractor fan in bathroom and no insect screens to keep bugs out if windows left open.Beds were varied. Twin beds very comfy and queen bed too soft and very high off ground. Nice to have bed in conservatory, made a fabulous day bed for relaxing and enjoying views of the lovely garden. Confusing entrance. P
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karin C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Visiting Nana’s

Loved garden & birds & felt comfortable staying there
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Ideal three days, thank you.

Very comfortable. We were lucky with the weather. The wood-burner is excellent.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darin H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great little place to stay

Perfect for what we needed, quiet location, tidy and all amenities.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Fiona d.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely restful stay

Loved our stay. Plenty of everything and the shower and bed were wonderful. The fire was great and kept us very warm. Very convenient location.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leigh A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Repeat guest

A real home-from-home that has everything a family needs. They don't call it a 'retreat' for nothing!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tracy H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place to stay

Catching up with family
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gavin T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing weekend

Awesome garden to relax in. Our Greyhound loved sniffing about and playing on the deck in the sun. Nice and quiet area to stay. The only negative (and it's no fault of the property) to be aware of is the road works can add up to 7 minutes to trips anywhere while you wait at the temporary lights. Thanks for adding to a great weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Lorraine B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Hideaway stay

The hideaway was comfortable and well equipped.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice and relaxed

We enjoyed our stay, and were very happy all in all, and would be happy to stay there again. Thanks for the opportunity to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Louise H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely Wee Getaway

It was a lovely wee weekend getaway, clean, cost home & great being able to bring our fur baby. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

janice b.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely

The accommodation was lovely and met our needs. The grounds definately needed a bit of work but the weather hadn't been the best for doing outside work I guess Thankyou very much.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tracy H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Holiday

Just catching up with family
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful retreat

Enjoyed our stay very much. Couldn't ask for a better homely atmosphere and nice and quite. Recommended to all. A+++++
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

CRAIG H.

Liked: Cleanliness

R and R

Enjoyed the stay quiet and relaxing , stress free and peaceful. Thanks to my host .
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Spacious accommodation

We enjoyed our stay with the spacious and pet friendly accommodation. Davina is very easy to communicate with and very helpful, she helped us find and post the clothes we left
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Tasha T.

Secret garden

Was very much like the pictures, didnt realize the 3rd room was detached but suited our young adults. Couldnt enjoy gardens due to weather. It could do with some air as it did smell musty on arrival.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Lovely stay, everything we needed and more.

Great place would recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melanie H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Loved the place!

Just as listed had everything we needed. Tucked away and the garden was lovely.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Pleasant retreat

Cosy and homely and we all enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023