As a Build & Design team, we have custom built our home, to provide guests with the best possible experience. We endeavor to meet all personal requirements, from the moment you arrive. Your private entrance allows you to come and go without interruption. Your suite has been decorated to enhance tranquility, which also spills in from the lovely old fashioned garden. All rooms have french doors to the terrace and lawn area, where we serve a generous breakfast, weather permitting. On cooler days breakfast is served in the private dining area. The bathroom also has french windows, which open over the bath, that allows the sweet aromas to flow in. We offer fresh flowers throughout and some home-baking to settle you in. Our guests that book one night only, are usually disappointed their stay is not longer, and we enjoy repeat guests, regularly. Magnolia Cottage only hosts one booking at a time, which ensures the whole property can be enjoyed, without sharing.

As hosts, both Barry and myself (Julie), enjoy offering a good amount of local knowledge, as we were both born in the Lyttelton Harbour Basin. We have a friendly rough coat collie; Possum, and an old ginger cat; Bob-cat, both have been widely photographed. They can either be kept away or interact, depending on your personal preference. We are passionate about our harbour, and enjoy sailing, kayaking, walking, yoga and meditation. We are constantly improving our home and garden, and enjoy garden-to-plate seasonal produce, some of which is served for breakfast. We also have experienced extensive travel, so we love to swap stories with other travelers, and have visited some guests in their homeland. Travel is so enlightening.

Diamond Harbour is on the sunny side of the Lyttelton Harbour Basin. While enjoying a natural local environment, we have excellent access to Lyttelton and Christchurch. There is a frequent passenger ferry to Lyttelton, which connects with a bus to Christchurch. (Magnolia Cottage is only a few minutes walk from the ferry terminal.) Alternatively, it only takes 35 minutes to drive to the Christchurch CBD. Diamond Harbour enjoys some beautiful swimming beaches, in close proximately to Magnolia Cottage, along with a great network of walking tracks. The local Orton Bradley Park offers wonderful walks through their estate, formerly a private farm/homestead, now gifted to the city. There are picnic areas , a waterfall, some historic interests and a great cafe. There is also a full variety of foodstuffs at the local supermarket, offering heat and eat meals, cooked chickens, fresh produce and beer and wine. Next to this, is a brewery/restaurant and a high quality take away outlet. There is also an additional cafe with a full menu including delivery service, only a few minutes walk from Magnolia Cottage. We provide a full array of dinnerware, cutlery and glassware to ensure you have everything to enjoy a meal in your suite. Lyttelton,(8 minutes by ferry), offers a popular farmers market on Saturday mornings, along with a wide range of eateries and bars. Other bays and settlements on Banks Peninsular are also in easy distance, for a day trip from Magnolia Cottage