Rata at The Apple Pickers' Cottages

Entire bungalow in Mapua, New Zealand

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bathroom
Hosted by Elspeth
  1. Superhost
  2. 13 years hosting

Listing highlights

Exceptional check-in experience

Recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.

Beautiful area

This home is in a scenic location.

Park for free

This is one of the few places in the area with free parking.
Some info has been automatically translated.
Rata Cottage is a thoughtfully restored 1950s apple pickers’ cottage set on the Waimea Inlet, just minutes from Mapua village.

This cottage offers rustic charm, privacy and a peaceful base for exploring Abel Tasman National Park and the wider Nelson Tasman region.

The space
Rata Cottage is nestled in regenerating native bush on a quiet five-acre organic property beside the Waimea Inlet. It is simple, warm and full of character — a place where the pace naturally slows and the outside world feels a little further away.

Inside, the open-plan living and kitchen area is light and welcoming. The kitchen is well equipped for relaxed holiday cooking. Large doors open onto a private, sun-soaked deck with outdoor seating and a BBQ. Wander down the path behind the cottage for a secluded spot for morning coffee or an evening drink while listening to birdsong and overlooking the estuary.

The bedroom is calm and cosy, with quality linen and a peaceful outlook to native bush that makes for excellent sleep.

Rata Cottage is just five minutes drive from Mapua village, home to cafés, galleries, boutique shops, and the much-loved Mapua Wharf. It is perfectly positioned as a base for exploring Abel Tasman National Park, whether you’re planning coastal walks, kayaking, sailing or water-taxi day trips.

The Great Taste Tasman Cycle Trail is close by, and there are beaches, rivers, vineyards and swimming spots throughout the region.

The Apple Pickers’ Cottages are only 20 minutes from Nelson Airport, making arrival and departure easy.

Rata Cottage is best suited to couples or solo travellers looking for a rustic, nature-centred stay with character — This is a place to slow down and reconnect with nature.

Our forest restoration is a work in progress. We started 25 years ago, and every year hundreds more trees, shrubs and grasses are planted. We host volunteers from all over the world to help with this work. The end goal is to restore the coastal forest that once covered all the land around the Waimea Inlet.

Guest access
Guests have exclusive use of Rata Cottage and its garden, including a walking path through native forest to the shore of the Inlet.

This is a peaceful, private space designed for quiet enjoyment and a close connection to nature.
Guests are also welcome to explore our shared walking tracks around the rest of the property through regenerating coastal forest.

You are also welcome to wander the wider property, which includes bush and shoreline walking tracks, wetland areas and quiet spots to sit by the inlet. Many guests enjoy early morning or evening walks around the property, spotting birdlife and watching the tides move in and out.

While the property hosts other cottages, Rata is well positioned for privacy, with its own sense of space and separation.

Other things to note
Children 12+

There are three cottages at the Apple Pickers' Cottages: Karaka, Miro and Rata. See my host profile if you would like to have a look at the other two cottages.

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking on premises
TV
Washing machine
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

Select check-in date

Add your travel dates for exact pricing

Rated 4.76 out of 5 from 96 reviews.

Guest favourite
This home is a guest favourite based on ratings, reviews and reliability
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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 83% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 14% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 1% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 2% of reviews

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Mapua, Nelson, New Zealand

Located in the heart of the Nelson/Tasman region, surrounded by the vineyards of Nelson’s wine country, this is an ideal base for day trips around the Nelson region and to the Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes National Parks.
The Nelson/Tasman region has endless choices for day trips to wineries, markets, galleries, and artists’ studios. We are just 2 km from the Great Taste Tasman Cycle Trail. There is a wide range of outdoor pursuits to choose from, including hiking, cycling, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, and fishing. There are also many beautiful rivers and beaches for swimming and picnicking. Canyoning, caving, kite boarding, and sky diving are options for the adventurous.

Whilst secluded and private, the cottage is also easily accessible to Nelson; just 20 minutes (24 km) from Nelson airport and less than 5 minutes to the coastal village of Mapua. Mapua’s thriving wharf area has cafés and restaurants as well as galleries representing local artists.

Meet your host

Superhost
276 reviews
4.88 out of 5 average rating
13 years of hosting
Lives in Nelson, New Zealand
We (Kim and Elspeth) are passionate gardeners and conservationists. We have spent the past 24 years transitioning an apple orchard back to coastal forest. Wading birds on the shore of the tidal Inlet are slowly increasing in numbers thanks to predator control and restoration of their nesting habitat.

Elspeth is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in: 14:00 – 20:00
Checkout before 10:00
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
No carbon monoxide alarm
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
Smoke alarm