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660 Takou Bay Road Northland, Kerikeri 0246 New Zealand
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Agoda.com
Lol.travel
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Set a short distance from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands and voted one of the Top Ten Luxury Lodges in New Zealand, Magic Cottages at Takou River are secluded and beautiful riverside retreats set on the banks of the picturesque Takou River. Within earshot of the sea at Takou Bay and surrounded by 150 acres of certified organic pasture, native bush and 5 acres of sub-tropical gardens, the 4 cottages and recently completed Lodge provide boutique self-catering accommodation that is eco-friendly yet still indulgent.Peace, seclusion and tranquility abound - a beautiful private river frontage; 150 acres of organic farmland with marked walks along the river bank, through native bush and pastures to secluded swimming and picnic spots; magical glow worms; 5 acres of beautiful sub-tropical gardens to wander and explore; our private jetty and boat house with free kayaks, canoes and fishing rods; and last but not least, access to the beautiful deserted sandy beaches at Takou Bay a short paddle or drive downstream. Once you've finished exploring, relax and unwind in the privacy of your cottage with a pampering massage or spa treatment. To complete your stay, gourmet meals are also available by prior arrangement. Magic Cottages are centrally located to explore the wider Bay of Islands and Far North, yet hidden away from the hustle and bustle amid 150 acres of organic pasture, native bush and river frontage. Enjoy the flourishing birdlife; wander enchanted gardens and riverside walks; paddle to Takou Bay; relax, refresh and romance in the claw foot bath – or bask in the bliss of doing absolutely nothing.
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Everything you can dream of for that perfect holiday -all in one place. Peace, nature, bird song, fishing, private beach, clean and comfortable accommodation and friendly hosts. The perfect getaway with friends or family. Will definitely be back.
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Date of stay: July 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a unique place with amazing views, making you feel you are miles away from the world and yet you are 15mn away from Kerikeri. The chalet is beautiful with an amazing deck overlooking the river. We recommend taking the kayaks to the beach😀
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Date of stay: December 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place is absolutely stunning. We stayed for a few nights at the Glamping site and were blown away with all the amenities. We had our own jetty, canoe, fishing rods/gear and life jackets. The outdoor bath was amazing and I spent a lot of my time in there reading, gazing at the stars and just relaxing. The Glamping site was by far the most secluded of all the other sites so we were very happy that we came across no other guests at all. From previous reviews I can understand why you’d see other guests at all the other sites upon exploration of them. The bed tent was phenomenal, it had a bed with a mosquito net which was huge and very comfy, couch, bean bags, table and chairs, chest of drawers and a clothes rack. There was so much space and all you needed to take there is food and your clothes. The kitchen/bathroom shack was also very good and the deck had a bbq out on it that we actually cooked on a lot. The grounds were beautiful and we spent a few hours exploring them. We canoed down to Takou Bay on one of our days and it was pretty magical as Takou Bay has no public access. For us the only thing we could fault was the driveway, it is absolutely ridiculous if you have a low car, my partner joked that he grated the gravel for them the whole way! For us the cost was ok but you can definitely have this experience for cheaper as there are similar Glamping experiences to this in the north. …
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had the clamping experience. It was wet on arrival but that did not dampen our moods. I was not 100% sure what to expect and thought we might be sharing the cooking faculty or a site with someone else close by but was pleasantly surprised to find we had the location to ourselves. I enjoyed not having access to mobile coverage. This was perfect for recharging ourselves after the Xmas/New Year rush. We stayed only two nights. I would recommend a minimum of 3 as we did not cover off everything we would have liked to have done because it was so beautiful and just wanted to relax and take it all in. Perfect for a couple wanting to find each other again and experience nature at its best away from the daily grind some of us have.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed 5 nights in the Lodge. It was clean, comfortable, and spacious. The views of the gardens and river were so lovely. The kids and I fought over who got to use the jet tub in the master bath, and it was great to have a full kitchen and two bathrooms. Although there were other guests in nearby cottages, we had plenty of privacy. Anna arranged pony rides for the kids and I had a wonderful massage and pedicure on site. We all enjoyed kayaking on the river and our night hike to see the glow worms. We were easily able to drive into Kerikeri (about 25 minutes) and we also took day trips to Bay of Islands and to Cape Reinga. We were all sad to leave and would love to stay here again. It was the perfect Northland holiday! Thank you so much, Anna, Ian, and family!
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Date of stay: October 2020
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Room Tip:The Lodge is a great option for a few couples or a family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Anna Sizer, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 10 Oct 2020
It was a pleasure to meet your family and we're so glad you had such a wonderful stay at Takou River. Looking forward to welcoming you back again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were simply blessed to be able to stay two nights in the Magic Cottage, right overlooking the banks of the gorgeous Takou River. The setting was so utterly serene with a beautiful room, complete with a claw foot bath tub on the deck and a bay window looking out on the river as it meanders by. We availed ourselves of the kayaks in the adjacent boatshed to explore the river and the abundant birdlife. It felt a million miles from anywhere even though we were only twenty minutes out of Kerikeri. We wandered the track around the property and checked out some of the other accommodation on site, which offer something for everyone from romantic getaways, mindful retreats and families getting time away together. There is no cell coverage at all and only limited wifi (email only).
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Date of stay: October 2020
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Room Tip:The Shearer's Lodge is suited to families while the Magic Cottage is the most secluded. There...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Anna Sizer, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 10 Oct 2020
It was a pleasure to meet you both and we're so pleased Takou River and Magic Cottage worked their Magic for you! All the best and look forward to being able to welcome you back soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed at the shearers cottage. Recommend the shearers cottage for families and the magic cottage for couples, getaways for 2 and anniversaries. Close to the river so it had a great place to kayak. So amazing you won't want to leave.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from takouriver, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 1 Feb 2020
Thank you so much for staying and hope we can welcome you back again soon!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Magic cottages is a truly wonderful place which absolutely lives up to all those things that other people have mentioned in their reviews. We had a lovely relaxing stay on the beautiful property nestled in the hills and running down to the Takou river. We enjoyed walking along the farm tracks and canoeing down the river to the beach for a long walk and some bird photography. Anna booked a top quality, inhouse massage for us both. We had one daytrip to dive the Rainbow warrior which is sunk off the Cavalli Islands. This trip started at Paihia which is right next to Waitangi treaty ground. The cottage itself was well set up with lots of thoughtful touches. Anna and Ian run them in an environmentally friendly way but still allowing comfy beds with crisp linen, nice hot showers and lots of power points to charge our gadgets. Anna and Ian were generous hosts, showing us what we needed to know but were not intrusive on our privacy.…
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Date of stay: December 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from takouriver, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 1 Jan 2020
Thank you very much for coming to stay with us. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you both and be able to welcome you to Takou River!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We enjoyed a relaxing four night stay at Tokou River Lodge. The setting is beautiful, so peaceful, and The Lodge offered a really well equipped, comfortable and versatile accommodation option. Definitely the best equipped kitchen, with everything thought of, and in fantastic condition. Great for couples and families, and so many different options available - something for everyone. The hosts, Ian and Anna have a strong sustainability ethos, as evident from how they run the 150 acre property, the thoughtful accommodation options, subtropical gardens, and organic Hereford cattle. We enjoyed kayaking down to the river to the beach, the hot tub by the river (which was truly wonderful, and so relaxing, drinking bubbles while watching the glow worms), and relaxing massages. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay, and we would definitely recommend. Can't wait to come back!!…
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Date of stay: September 2019
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Room Tip:The Lodge is wonderful, so versatile with river views, plenty of garden space, a lovely...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from takouriver, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 17 Sept 2019
Thank you for coming to stay with us at Takou River, and wonderful to hear that you loved your stay! Looking forward to welcoming you back again. All the best in the meantime!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Takou River Lodge is a beautiful slice of tranquility hidden in peaceful Northland. Located right on the river and surrounded by diverse grounds we started relaxing the moment we arrived. As the sun set over the river we made the most of the full kitchen and preset fireplace which just took one match and was lit. The hosts made it easy to book and we will definitely be back!
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from takouriver, Owner at Magic Cottages at Takou River
Responded 22 Jul 2019
Thank you so much for coming to stay at Takou River Lodge! We're really pleased it had such a relaxing effect and look forward to welcoming you back again soon! Kind regards, Anna
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Are there any historical sites close to Magic Cottages at Takou River?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The Stone Store & Kemp House - Kerikeri Mission Station (13.5 km), KeriKeri New Zealand (14.3 km), and Akeake Historic Reserve Track (15.1 km).