Lake Hayes Strawbale Cottage

Tussock Cottage is a fully self-contained, private accommodation with it’s own outdoor barbecue and seating area. It has a separate bedroom with a king size bed, walk in wardrobe, sofa and television. The living area is spacious and homely with a fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities. You will find Lee’s art both inside the cottage and displayed in the garden. Picturesque Lake Hayes is a 2 minute walk from your doorstep, offering an 8 kilometre walking / cycling trail. We provide complimentary mountain bikes and a double kayak for you to explore the stunning surroundings.

The Cottage is ideally situated with hiking / biking trails, wineries, golf courses, Millbrook Resort, art galleries and adventure activities all close by.

Arrowtown, steeped in gold mining history, is a short 5 minute drive away and features beautiful restaurants, boutique shopping, bars, quaint cafes, art house cinema and galleries.

Queenstown is a 20 minute drive, and the airport only 15 minutes away.

What our guests are saying

  • "This is wonderful place to stay. it is Immaculately presented, and you shall not want for anything. Lee has thought of everything one might need during their stay. I really appreciated the Milk in the fridge when I arrived. I was able to have a coffee and take in the vibe of the place. It has a Santa Fe architecture style with its straw bale structure and adobe walls. It has such a warmth to it and the under-floor heating is so effective in winter. There is an ample closet space for your clothes and gear and Lee supplies plenty of towels. The location is fantastic as the site is next to the reserve on Lake Hayes, and 5 minutes’ drive to Arrowtown. I can’t fault this place and I would definitely book this again when back in the area. I highly recommend it."

    Ciaran

  • "Amazing cottage, amazing location, amazing people! Can't recommend this enough. Everything was lovely - we went for a weekend of skiing and it ticked all the boxes (especially the one to stay out of the busy-ness of Queenstown!). But it was the warm, cozy house and wonderful conversation that made the weekend really special."

    Wendi

  • "An absolutely wonderful stay right outside of Queenstown. It’s well within driving distance, but was nice to stay outside of the city and drive in for whatever we needed. The provided bikes and kayaks really enhanced our stay, as we were able to do the nearby trail and explore the surrounding area! Lee’s veggies from her garden were excellent! Would absolutely stay again, highly recommend!"

    Kelly

  • "Delightful apartment within a hundred yards or so of Lake Hayes. Extremely comfortable and cosy (especially the bed). A spacious plce which is well-furnised and has great decor. Very welcoming hosts who were flexible with check in and gave some great recommendations. Would thoroughly recommend and would love to stay again!"

    Dan

The Cottage

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Lee’s Art & Workshops

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Your Hosts

Lee & Jaap

They have spent a lot of time living abroad and love having returned to New Zealand to enjoy the Queenstown lifestyle. Lee is passionate about cooking and art, evident in her many paintings that adorn the walls and the sculptures in the garden. Both Lee and Jaap are licensed tour operators and take great enjoyment in sharing their local knowledge with their guests.

Jaap speaks Dutch, French and German, as well as English. The van der Geest family would love to have you stay with them and experience this very special part of the world

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