Testimonials

Tipapa is a glorious house, set in beautiful gardens and very well locsted in attractiv countryside close to the main road to Christchurch. The room was super, very comfortable bed, excellent bathroom. A perfect breakfast too. I was hosted with such care and kindness I felt like a family guest. It was a greatly enjoyable experience.

Susan

Feb 2025

We stayed with Jane and Stew for two nights and it was such a welcome break from the city. Well away from any roads and associated noise, we felt like we had stumbled into a different world/time. The peace and quiet brought with it a warm sense of isolation. Stew is clearly a capable chef and baker and looked after our vegan needs with ease.
Jane and Stew are wonderful hosts – warm, friendly and good conversationalists but also happy to match your energy and leave you to quiet contemplation if that is your preference. The dogs are awesome – happy to get pats and interact with you if that is what you want but equally capable of fading into the background so you wouldn’t know they were there.
We used Tipapa as a base for exploring the surrounding wineries and it was perfect for this.
The house itself is gorgeous and it is great to see it being protected and looked after. The accommodation is all on the first floor (up an easy flight of stairs) so the rooms all have dramatic views of the gardens around the house. Hard to capture in a photo and delightful in person.
If you are staying in the area you must choose Tipapa Estate, you won’t regret it!

Matthew & Trin

November 2024

Tipapa Estate has ruined travelling for me forever. I have now peaked. No other accommodation is every going to match this. My complaints in no particular order:
1. The food. It’s too good. You’ll stuff yourself on breakfast and not be able to eat your expensive winery lunch (Black Estate, just do it).
2. The hospitality. Jane and Stew are too friendly and interesting. You’ll be late going wherever you thought you were going because you chat too long. Or you’ll stay up too late drinking wine in front of the fire solving the world’s problems.
3. The room. It’s too nice. You’ll just want to hang around inside enjoying the view instead of going outside and enjoying the view.
4. The room again. It’s too big (if you stay in the Garden Room). I measured it. 142 square metres. It’s a 25 metre walk to the toilet (in the room!). My first house wasn’t this big.
5. The common house areas. You could host the king in the dining room and he’d think it was big. The lounge room and fire is super comfortable and cosy. Breakfast is in the kitchen admiring the marvellous gardens. You’ll quickly be depressed your garden doesn’t look that good
6. The extensive grounds. Again too nice and peaceful. How can somewhere be this nice? It’s putting everywhere else to shame.

OK, I don’t really hate Tipapa. We had a perfect stay here (4 days is not enough). A can’t add anything to all the other positive reviews, that’s why I had to write a smart axx one. If you’re a little too precious maybe you won’t have as much fun as we did. It’s a working farm, not a museum. There will be animal noises, the dogs will be too friendly for some, the hallways may be cold in winter (that’s what farm homesteads are like). For me, however, it was perfect. If you want to stay in a sterile 5 star hotel do that. If you want to feel like the Lord or Lady of a manor house and have a proper rural experience (with all that entails) then Tipapa is the place for you. Thanks Jane and Stew. We’ll be back.

Thank you very much for all your gracious hospitality. We’re so grateful for all that you’ve shared with us—your beautiful home, heartfelt stories, overflowing empathy and loving kindness. We are so blessed to have crossed paths with you.

Jane & Stewart & the beautiful Ruby & Sapphire thank you so so much for your fantastic hospitality from the moment we were greeted to the moment we said our goodbyes – the homestead & surrounds are truly breath taking & the breakfast was next level with the home grown produce prepared along with Stewart’s hand made sourdough toast & to top it off was the amazing coffee’s – thank you so much we will certainly be back ❤️

Jane at Tipapa Estate was just the perfect hostess. Approachable, caring and helpful, she enhanced our wonderful stay at her Hamptons inspired mansion in Canterbury’s stunning Greta Valley. The accommodation was warm and inviting, beautifully located in a pleasant garden environment and a stone’s throw from the wonderful Greta Valley Tavern where we ate. Add in its proximity to the legendary wineries of the Waipara Valley and it becomes a highly recommended destination for discerning tourists looking for a uniquely pleasant experience !

Wow, so glad we found this place. From the moment we arrived to be greeted by the friendly dogs and then dinner with Jane and Stewart, just fabulous. The property is lovely and meeting the cows who came running over the hill was a great experience. One night was not enough so be sure to stay longer and just relax and enjoy the large comfortable rooms and surrounds. We will be back!!

Barbara May 2023

It was so lovely to stay with you and Stewart last week.  You are wonderful hosts and thank you for your hospitality.
Tipapa Estate is such a relaxing place to stay and it was nice to introduce Colin and Diane to it.  Also thank you for making Athol’s Birthday special with a cake.

Thank you so much for your lovely hospitality- we so enjoyed such a relaxing weekend – due partly to the weather … 😜 – our suite was absolutely superb and the space was amazing and the bed and pillows were so comfy (where did you get your pillows from?). You have such a lovely home there and we loved the home cooking.

Thanks again

Drive into tranquility and be over awed by the beautiful white estate house. Ruby and Sapphire came to enthusiatically greet us followed by the warm welcoming  Stuart and Jane.  Our room was sumptuous and impeccably clean and the whole house and grounds were a sensuous delight that clung to us and made the stay absolutely wonderful.

I went for a quiet spell and to recharge. It was perfect. Loved the gracious grounds, and the warm hospitality. It is dog friendly and mine had a ball.