Driving up to the Lodge you really feel as if you are are miles away from anywhere and you are, but the cottage is so well set up that you don't want to leave - the outside baths looking out over the sea, the beautiful meals provided by Andre and Alison - absolutely stunning!
We often find when travelling through the country that a beautiful country lodging leaves us somewhat disappointed as we drive for miles looking for for lunch or dinner. This is not an issue at Birds Ferry as everything is here, wonderful food, surroundings and helpful information , if and when you need it.

We stayed at the Birds Ferry Cottage for 2 nights, with a package deal that included breakfast, champagne, massages and cottage dinner. We arrived after a spectacular drive and went straight to the cottage, which was clean and prepared for our arrival (with a special friendly welcome note awaiting us on the blackboard and a bottle of chilled bubbly). We then unpacked, relaxed and prepared for our massages (which we had arranged for the first day to get us relaxed and into the holiday mood). The massages were lovely, very relaxing and Andre was very friendly and accommodating.
The cottage dinner had easy instructions to get it ready (already perfectly cooked and the reheating did not dry it out at all). The lamb shanks were SO tender and melted off the bone and into the mouth. The apricot and plum crumble with custard was superb. Alison really is a magnificent cook! All of her ingredients are sourced from their extensive organic garden and other local produce.
The outdoor bath, plumbed to the mains, and brazier was really nice with a glass of wine/bubbles - with the sound of the distant crashing ocean as the accompaniment. The stars were amazing, the bed huge and the sleep peaceful.
Next morning I made breakfast for my wife, all the ingredients were there and it was very easy. Alison dropped freshly baked, warm croissants and venison sausages by the door (very silently) for us to add to the masterpiece.
After breakfast Andre went through the options for the day, which were many. Andre's knowledge of the area is extensive, being a former full-time tour guide in the South Island.
There are also many walks around Birds Ferry Lodge's land too.
The next night we had the Lodge Dinner, which was also delicious. 3 stunning courses, very well cooked.
The only suggestion we have for improvement is that during the booking process (or on the website) it is made clear that the evening menu for both the Cottage and Lodge meals is purely on a 'trust the chef' basis - there is no choice/selection by diners. We were asked in advance for allergies/dietary restrictions, but not for preferences, and when we questioned via email whether we needed to make a selection from the online menu in advance (as we realised that this is a rural location and ingredients might be difficult to source) we received a rather terse reply that "this is not a restaurant." We were not alone in this assumption; the other guests with whom we shared the Lodge dinner were under the impression that we had ordered on their behalf! Fortunately, Alison's cooking is such that we were more than happy with everything she prepared.
We highly recommend Birds Ferry Lodge. It was good quality accommodation, service, and food at a lovely location and a not unreasonable price. There were many small, thoughtful touches for the benefit of guests. We will be going back!

Driving up to the Lodge we were really excited to see the view of the hills and the coast in the distance. We were seeking quietness and were in need of a good rest. Alison greeted us with a warm smile and soon after made us a pot of tea accompanied by her homemade shortbread. We sat on the verandah drinking our tea and admiring the view in absolute silence, it felt like we had come to the perfect place for our need to relax. We took an afternoon nap to recover from our travels in our lovely room which had a view from both a South and West facing windows. After a successful kip we took a walk around Alison and Andre's property. We saw a variety of chickens, quail and an Avery built by Andre with some very happy and unique NZ birds. Happy because the enclosure Andre made was second to none. We were marvelling at Alison's vege garden which we later were told was where much of the produce we would be consuming came from. Truly, most of the food we enjoyed at Birds Ferry Lodge was organic and free range...quite a treat for foodies like us! Our hosts could not have been more helpful and on our secnd day, Andre took us on a guided walk through some amazing bush and also through some old gold mining tunnels. 'The argyle trail' is not opened to the general public and we were treated to a hike we will never forget. So, as our review reflects it is well worth a weary travellers while to experience the amazing scenery, food and hospitality offered by The Birds Ferry Lodge. Enjoy!

Bird Ferry Lodge is a a great place to stop but it is more than the sum of its parts. Yes the lodge is tasteful, fresh, quirky and yet full of modernity, The food is excellent, we had a wonderful dinner as well as an excellent breakfast and Andre and Alison are full of intelligent appropriate hospitality but most important this is a glimpse of a lifestyle, utterly in harmony with nature, that many Europeans hanker for. If you cannot live it all the time at least give yourself the chance to glimpse a life of self sufficiency in magical surroundings and break your journey at Bird Ferry Lodge.