Sails Ashore & Kowhai Lane Guest Book

What we enjoy most about what we do is the friendships we make and also that we get to see so much more of our Island home through our guests eyes.

Guest Book

Thank you for a memorable visit to Stewart Island. We learned so much from Peteron our walk and have purchased the DVD Prieval Paradise so we can review the lessons.
We had beautiful sunshine on two of the three days here so we cannot complain. We also recommend the two walks
1 .... around Golden Bay
2 .... Fern Gully (a bit muddy)
plus of course the Kiwi Spotting.
Thank you also for allowing us to stay in the apartment a bit longer.
............ thanks Claudia & Duncan
P.S. I think I looked at almost every property on the internet before choosing. I made the right choice Iris & Peter. You have been so helpful.

Dearest Iris & Peter
Thank you both so much for sharing your special part of NZ (Rakiura) with us. We really appreciated your help in helping us plan all the walks (especially to Mason Bay), lending us walking poles and overpants (which we feel guilty about not washing). Thank you for hospitality from making beds to wonderful "MuttonBird" dinner. We have told so many people about you two and your lovely place (as well as Kowhai Lane). We loved our time with you and will be back as we have so much more to do.

Charlie & Mary, Auckland, Dec 2010

(Note passed on from a Travel Agent )

... Peter Tait and (Iris) our hosts on Stewart Island were especially impressive. I can't reccommend them more highly. They made us instantly feel like family. Stewart Island was an ideal place to photograph kakas. and Ulva Island especially good for robins and wekas. On Stewart Island we also saw a kiwi in the rain.

.... Peter Tait was our favorite guide...

Glen, Lucia & Stanford. USA. November 2010

"The only place to stay on Stewart Island'
Date of review: 2 Apr 2011
We really fell on our feel when we booked Kowhai Lane for our 3 nights an Stewart island.
The property consists of 4 bedrooms with en-suites along with a very large communal space
of Dining Room, Kitchen and Lounge. We tend to like meeting and chatting with other
people so we were a bit unfortunate as when we stayed there we were the only guests but
it did have the advantage that we had the whole place to ourselves. The accommodation is
fully equipped in every way. There is even a nice flatscreen TV and DVD player with a large
collection of DVDs showing local wildlife and social history of Stewart island and Ulva (ideal
for a wet day)_ Peter and Iris are the perfect hosts and nothing is too much trouble for them.
They are sa knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Islands_ We went with Peter ta visit
Ulva and it was a brilliant day. We went to Ulva on his yacht, a start to the day that made
you feet a million dollars. While there we also went out for an evening with Phillip Smith
looking for Kiwis on the beach. Again a fantastic trip on which we saw 5 Kiwis. A truly
magical experience_ This has to be the place to stay when in Stewart Island as I can't imagine
anything more perfect.

*
Room Tip: Organise a trip to Ulva for the day with Peter.

Steve, UK April 2011

Hi Iris and Pete
Just wanted to thank you for your warm hospitality at our stay with you at Kowhai Lane. Of the month we spent in New Zealand this was without doubt the high light of our trip The apartment was so comfortable and nicely decorated, Gary is still talking about the paua shell in e bathroom wall, all the details just So perfect. The view the gardens, the Weka's and all the other birds we saw on Ulva Island We did not feel like we were on some fast moving tour, just enjoying the beauty and knowledge with friends. Loved the fish cakes.
New Zealand was everything we hoped for and more, people were so nice the month went way to fast.
When we got home we found out it rained 3 weeks steady while we were gone, more rain than we have had here in probably 30 years Bay, did we time that right!
Please tell Join Leask the fishing trip was so much fun and another special part of our trip.
I had S25 in New Zealand Dollars when we got home I will mail it to you the next time we go into town, please donate it to the trust or any other cause on the Island
You can be sure that if anyone I know is gang to New Zealand I will recommend strongly they stay with you and I will .heck out the web cam from time to time.

Gary & Jane, USA, April 2011

(Gary & Jane made a very generous donation to SIRCET, the local community conservation group)

Comments often appear in odd (to us) ways.
The Molloys were guests at Kowhai Lane, November 2010

This isn't really an entry in our guests book, but it was nice to read, and to discover that our guests really do listen to us on our tours.

We remember all our guests with fondness, But Alison, Jay, and still to actually arrive little Petra were our fist, and so very special. We are looking forward to meeting Petra and her little brother not too far in the future.

"As we moved over the water and began to gaze upon Stewart Island my heart sank in its simple beauty. My husband and I were on a month long holiday to the South Island of NZ from the States and had been taking in sights and experiences for several days. In fact, I believe we were perhaps the first guests at their newly completed B&B. Beautiful accommodation boasting amazing local woods, pristine views, everything was pleasant and comfortable here especially the laid back peacefulness of town. We fell in love. I was pregnant then (2004) with our first child and Peter and Iris is just what we needed!! Charming, knowledgeable, genuine, and considerate forever they will be in our hearts as they have become our friends...we love you both and we HIGHLY recommend their accommodations, Stewart Island and the Ulva Island tour...Enjoy!!"

Jay & Allison, USA, Dec '04

Sails Ashore and Kowhai Lane Guest Book