The Shepherd’s Cottage at Annandale farm

Annandale is a working sheep farm on the rugged Banks Peninsula east of Christchurch, New Zealand. While continuing to operate as a farm, several vacation rental units have been added to the property. A couple are in new buildings while others, such as the Shepherd’s Cottage, are restored historic structures.

A century-old farmhouse that has been home to generations of shepherds, the cottage is located on a secluded part of the 4000-acre farm. From the farm entrance, it still takes a half-hour drive to reach the cottage where it sits on a hill with sweeping views of pasture land and the Pacific Ocean.

The Shepherd’s Cottage has been carefully restored and updated with modern conveniences, integrated in a way that respects the character of the historic farmhouse. There is a full kitchen and a bathroom with shower, or you can opt to soak in the outdoor bathtub while enjoying the fresh air and views. The bathroom and kitchen are located in a shed-roofed extension at the back of the cottage while the living and dining areas occupy the main part of the ground floor, anchored by a large brick fireplace at one end.

The entire attic floor is a spacious bedroom with a large front-facing gable adding to the usable floor space. Decades of use and age have given a rich patina to the exposed wood throughout the small farmhouse.

To book a stay at the Shepherd’s Cottage, please visit the Annandale website.

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Photographs by Stephen Goodneough, courtesy of Annandale.

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