Bird’s Nest studio over the harbour

Bird’s Nest studio is built on a 2,000 sq meter tree-covered hillside section in York Bay, one of a necklace of bays on the sunny eastern side of Wellington Harbour. Bikeways, bush walks, buses and ferries connect the bays to Eastbourne, Hutt City and Wellington. It is a self-contained new unit built under and lower down the site from our home. It is a private studio enjoying wonderful views and sun overlooking Wellington harbour. It is small but perfectly formed. The space The bed affords stunning views out through the trees and deck to the harbour. double glazed. the bathroom has a shower, a heated floor &heated towel rails and a washing machine. One breakfast bar with a fridge, microwave, jug & toaster. A BBQ offered for outside cooking. The mini-studio is small so do not bring too much. We provide the sheets & towels; plates, pots and pans. There is an outside BBQ on a private north facing deck but no inside cooking elements or ovens. The En-Suite bathroom includes a shower and washing machine. Unlimited WiFi is available. On calm sunny days.it beats just about anything but is exposed to the north winds. Guest access The mini-studio is fully self-contained but guests are welcome to use the garden, lawns and paths which run down to the sea below. The track to the sea is steep and from time to time becomes difficult to navigate because of slips and washouts. Road access to the beach is easier. Things to do : Bicycle riding The Rimutaka Cycle Trail has been named one of the world's hottest travel experiences for 2015 by travel guide Lonely Planet, it passes through York Bay. Our tenants usually ride the bikes to Eastbourne direction till the historic lighthouse on the hill or ride along the Hutt River towards Lower Hutt for the galleries and fair market during the Trail way. Walks and Tracks 1. All of the tracks leading from the cottage are within the property and you can walk right down to the beach at Lowery Bay. On a Saturday morning, it is fun as you can buy fresh fish from a fishing boat that comes into the marina. The track at the base of the property is steep so take care. We have not made it too easy as we value our privacy and don’t want strangers wandering up from the road and stealing our plums. 2. The Regional Council has built walking tracks through the original park from York Bay to Lowery Bay and Days Bay. It’s about 1 hour to Days Bay. The tracks leave from the end of Kaitawa Road, the entrance is exactly in York Bay, where the treehouse is located. (See the brochures in the treehouse). Good Swimming Beaches Days Bay, York Bay and Eastbourne get the summer beaches. Coffee & bars, galleries, shopping Days Bay, Eastbourne, Petone or Lower Hutt all have their own charming attractions, check them online, you will find all the details. The nearest shops are at Days Bay, Eastbourne, Petone or Lower Hutt. The Eastbourne village, which is about 4 km away does have a small supermarket and associated shops and restaurants. It also has an ATM machine. It’s a nice place. Petone’s main street, Jackson street is also interesting. Lower Hutt has a mall if that is what you need.q Other things to note 1. As the house is located on the sunny side of the hill, surrounded by the bush, the trees, leaves and flowers etc attract birds, insects and ants from time to time. As a consequence, it is almost impossible to stop small numbers of insects from entering the cottage. We do not like to spray and poison too much in such a beautiful environment. We take a lot of pride in cleaning all the spaces, but it may sit empty for a day or two before you arrive. We leave some windows open to air the property, the natural dust, leaves, the moth, spider or ant may visit between our clean and your arrival. Particularly during the night, the lights do attract the moth and unknown insects fly inside very easily. They are part of life and we are in their environment, not the other way around. If you are going to be upset finding the live or dead ants, insects like moth, Spiders etc in the studio, this booking is not for you. 2. Driving on the hill in York Bay can be challenging for people used to driving on flat wide roads. The road is narrow, steep and winding and in places one way only. If you meet another vehicle they or you may have to back up to the nearby drive way, let another car pass. But speeds are slow and there have been no problems for 60 years. It is a legal road and is maintained by the Hutt City Council. 3) There are over 30 steps/ stairs down to the mini-studio and while we have garden and security lights it is probably best to try and arrive before dark especially in winter. If this is not possible do bring a torch. Please also check the photos carefully, or contact me for further details before you arrive.