Mapua Accommodation and Nelson Accommodation: What’s New?
May 2020
Celebrating the magic of Mapua!
We’ve had a quiet time with all our bookings disappearing due to Covid-19. We know that Kiwis will love to travel within NZ now and re-discover the magic of Nelson Tasman.
Autumn dawn at Copper Gate eco-house
2 Feb 2020
Travel grows the mind!
We’re back from our first overseas travel for 30 years! It was a magnificent 3 months through Europe – where many of our lovely guests originate from. But we’re back to our own paradise now – its hard to beat Nelson!
Evening light: Dolomites, Italy
Ancient villages: Cesky Krumlov: Czech Republic
Croatia
Strasbourg, France
16 Feb 2019
Kissing Gate glamping – top 14 most awesome glamping sites in the WORLD – TripAdvisor
Bathe and laze
Summer days and nights in Nelson – while the frog orchestra croaks in the pond beside the outdoor bath, sip bubbly and muse on life at Kissing Gate glamping.
15 Sept 2018
A Trip to Golden Bay
Just an hour or so drive to Golden Bay from The Gates for a day trip: Adele, Roger and daughter Briar. Magnificent views of Kahurangi National Park and Abel Tasman National Park – and lots of spring life too.
“29 to 55 get outta my way”
Dreamy end-of-day
From sand to snow
30 July 2018
An Abel Tasman rainbow near The Gates Accommodation
Adele and I popped along to Abel Tasman National Park (an easy 25 min drive from Mapua) last Sunday and walked in from Marahau. Looking towards Nelson, we see this stunning rainbow.
Abel Tasman rainbow
18 July 2018
Winter paradise near The Gates
A 1 hour drive from The Gates gets you to the foothills of Mt Arthur in Kahurangi National Park. Two weekends ago, daughter Briar, friend Elliott and me tramped the 1.25 hours from the carpark through gorgeous snow-laden forest to Mt Arthur hut. The next day we climbed 4 hours to the summit. I showed Briar and Elliott how to use an iceaxe and self-arrest. Hard to believe that this is so near to Mapua seaside village.
#mapua #nelson #mapuaaccommodation #Kahuranginationalpark #thegatesaccommodation
2 June 2018
How did Corru Gate get it’s name?
This is Roger 46 years ago, paddling his home-made corrugated iron canoe exploring the mangrove estuaries of the Far North, near Paparoa. With tent and friend he would adventure far away, discovering Maori pa and hidden places. Fast forward 28 years and this became one of the inspirations for Corru Gate, our iconic corrugated/rural/arts themed holiday cottage on our 7 acres near Mapua seaside village, Nelson.
13 May 2018
Mapua accommodation is delightful in autumn
I took this beside one of our persimmon trees in our organic citrus orchard (we have a separate pipfruit orchard too). I liked the random melee of colours and form. Which reminds me – it is only a few months until the famous Nelson Arts Festival. #nelsonartsfestival
8 May 2018
A short cycle ride….
Wow! What amazing sunsets lately! A short 5 minute bike ride behind The Gates takes me past apple orchards, olive groves and delightful vistas of Kahurangi National Park. Visitors to Nelson and Mapua often explore the less-known countryside of the Moutere up behind The Gates.
1 May 2018
Mapua Accommodation: Our lovely family
Adele, Briar, Roger, Rowan – happy to host visitors at The Gates Accommodation since 2001.
28 April 2018
It’s more about the experience than the fish catching…
At dawn yesterday I paddled my sea kayak 1.5km out from the Mapua Inlet mouth for a spot of fishing. I haven’t really fished for 35 years and because it would have been my Dad’s 98th birthday today, it felt like a lovely dive in to those father-son fishing times. I almost deleted the first image because it was blurred but I quite like the ‘impressionistic’ feeling around it.
22 April 2018
Harvest from the land
Holiday accommodation plus great food!
What an amazing yield of feijoa this year! Guests have loved gathering feijoa, apples, nashi, citrus from our organic orchards. I stewed 3 of these bags, combined with apple, and I so look forward to my breakfast muesli and stewed fruit.
12 April 2018
Holiday accommodation visitor comments
Proud to have such comments about glamping at Kissing Gate
Being a holiday accommodation host in Nelson is not just a job – it is a genuine pleasure to see guests enjoy their stay.
2 April 2018
Awesome sunset
Driving to Abel Tasman National Park from The Gates Accommodation last week, here are some images taken out the car window on my cellphone whilst travelling at 70km/hr (Note: I wasn’t the driver!). What a beautiful likeness to a tohora (whale).
31 March 2018
A celebration of copper
Do you know why we called our eco-designer holiday house Copper Gate? Well, it is themed in copper (see the coppers on the poles outside), but also Copper Gate is somewhat of a homage to our Mums, who grew up in the era of washing coppers. Darryl Frost, artist/potter/sculptor, went wild creating copper works of art on the property too.
28 March 2018
Mapua: a night time stroll
Easter Thursday and the Mapua Wharf cafes glitter under a full moon. Adele and I have just had delicious burgers at The 5th Wheel followed by a stroll around the Wharf area.
8 March 2018
Luxuriate outdoors glamping
What an indulgence! On the deck. In the bath. On the pond. Under the stars. Kissing Gate has it all – luxury ‘camping’ beside Mapua seaside village.
6 February 2018
Yum times in The Gates citrus orchard
Yum! I’ve just squeezed some fresh oranges from our citrus orchard at The Gates. Guests are welcome to wander and feast on our 7 acres of organic orchards and fields just 4 mins from Mapua seaside village and 25 mins Nelson. Mandarins, grapefruit, lemons, oranges, lemonades, macadamias, apples, plums, pears, nashi, quinces, cherries, apricots – and sheep. Well, the latter are for hand feeding, NOT eating 
#mapua #nelson #mapuaaccommodation #nelsonaccommodation #summer
OJ time from The Gates citrus orchard
5 January 2018
We’ve been popping down to The Mapua Wharf on our bikes or by car quite regularly for coffee or a bite to eat – or simply to watch the comings and goings of summer holidaymakers. People-watching is such fun! The best coffee is at Albertas and we love the haloumi and pomegranate salad at Jellyfish Restaurant and Bar. The views (see photo below) are to die for! #mapuaaccommodation #nelsonaccommodation #mapua #nelson
Mapua Inlet views
27 December 2017
STOP PRESS! Kissing Gate available for most of January.
Due to a hoax, we lost a week-long booking at Kissing Gate so this Mapua accommodation is inviting those who want some indulgence! Come and stay at this magic place – rated by TripAdvisor in the world’s 14 most awesome glamping sites. #mapuaaccommodation #nelsonaccommodation #holidayNelson #holidayMapua
Dusk at magical Kissing Gate
22 December 2017
Mapua accommodation is HOT!
Summer heat? Contrasting worlds? The beach at Grossis Point down the road from The Gates at Mapua, Nelson versus swimming in China – click on the link to see the difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-GHmvtIeI
I think I know where I would sooner be swimming.
18 November 2017
Mapua accommodation goes on tour! Pearl (R) from our Kissing Gate glamping and her new boyfriend Ford (L) are the guests of honour at the National Hot Rod Show at the Trafalgar Centre, Nelson. What phenomenal interest there is in her! I feel a bit of a fraud because I didn’t restore her so I’m fielding all these questions from hot rod boffins about how ‘I’ did it. Already had a tentative booking from a honeymoon couple for 2019 to stay at Kissing Gate, where Pearl will return on Sunday. I think she’ll be lovesick…..
22 October 2017
Moutere Artisans Open Weekend
What a paradise we live in! Moutere Artisans open day enabled us to visit cheese makers, winemakers, olive farmers, needleworkers, sculptors – and those were just 5 that we visited of the 20 or so.
Our guests at Copper Gate and at Kissing Gate were also out and about enjoying everything that Nelson has to offer.
18 October 2017
What our guests say about our Mapua holiday accommodation
We LOVE the satisfaction of seeing guests enjoy their stay here. That’s why we got in to establishing Corru Gate, Copper Gate, The Paris Suite, Kissing Gate and Adele’s BnB. Because we love living on this 7 acre farmlet, and enjoy the amazing environs of Nelson, we wanted to share that with others. Check out what guests have to say on Google Plus (click on those 2 words) and read these:
Copper Gate:
“Roger and Adele, we had the most incredible stay at Copper Gate. The amazing views from every window, the rich furnishings, the crackling fireplace, the luxurious bedroom & the incredibly well-stocked kitchen – we found everything we could possibly need! Thanks so much for a truly relaxing & memorable week.
We hope to visit again!”
Phoebe and Rob. Aus and Canada.
Kissing Gate:
“Dear Adele and Roger
Thank you for sharing this wonderful slice of paradise! It was beyond what we hoped for and we had a magical weekend bathing under the stars and roasting marshmallows by the fire. You’ve created a truly special place and we hope to be back! Thank you!”
Zoe & Frank. Wellington.
Corru Gate:
“We stayed a week at Corru Gate and would have liked to have stayed longer. Great little comfortable cottage with everything you need. Our son George (4) had a great time feeding the sheep and chickens, collecting eggs, playing in the treehouse and in the small playground (inc trampoline) and helping to pick beautiful plums, oranges and lemons. We were so close to beaches and the Able Tasman, and wineries, restaurants and shops were only a stones throw away. At the end of each day we could enjoy a wind down sitting on the sunny veranda to eat dinner or have a wine or two. Definitely a location where you get the best of all worlds.” Meredith and family.
19 August 2017
Enjoying our local National Parks.
Abel Tasman Eco Tours offer a superb way to experience Abel Tasman from our Mapua Accommodation. Roger went on a ‘famil’ with them last weekend. Stew Robertson, the owner/guide knows all the out-of-the-way spots to visit with his cool boat. Stew is knowledgeable and the perfect host. We saw a squadron of baby seals frolicking in Shag Harbour. I far prefer this ‘deep’sort of eco-tourism rather than the mass, non-environmental trips of the large providers.
Walk from Onetahuti to Tonga Quarry
30 or so baby seals viewed from boat in Shag Harbour
Winter rain – adds to the quiet ambience
28 July 2017
Winter getaway to Nelson
Fancy a romantic getaway? In a super-cosy, super-eco, super-arty rural retreat with stunning views? Minutes from the famous Mapua Wharf restaurants? The Paris Suite is available until Sept 7.
10 July 2017
Wildlife at The Gates
Wildlife photographer David Brooks images whilst staying at the Paris Suite
Wow! What a pleasure it is to have such interesting people stay. David Brooks took these bird images above at The Gates and the nearby Waimea Inlet while he was here for a week at The Paris Suite at Copper Gate. We also have a separate blog with further images.
16 June 2017
Family holiday fun, Mapua, Nelson
We originally set up Corru Gate, in 2001, to be family-friendly because our own children were young and we wanted our property to be welcoming for all. So, we have playgrounds, a tree-hut, places to explore, trees to climb and a farm with tame sheep and chickens. Kids can be kids on our 7 acres.
Family holiday fun at The Gates Accommodation, Mapua, Nelson
5 June 2017
Supporting our community
The Gates is proud to donate a voucher worth $350 for a stay at Kissing Gate glamping, Mapua – rated in the world’s top 14 by TripAdvisor. Jellyfish Cafe and Bar is hosting a silent auction to raise funds for CCTV coverage in Mapua. Feeling safe in our community and supporting small-town values where our children grew up is important to us.
31 May 2017
Local holidaying – the best choice!
“And holidays in distant parts did they take….” This is from Mike Ward’s ‘A Lush Green Gospel’ and we would LOVE to encourage Kiwis to stay at The Gates rather than burning all that carbon to holiday overseas. Why scrimp and save when Nelson and NZ has so much to offer? And we provide a carbon offset scheme in partnership with a local wetland revegetation charity for those journeying here.
Holidaying locally makes sense!
27 May 2017
A toasty warm winter indulgence
So proud! This is just half of our firewood store. Thanks to delightful HelpXers Rob and Phoebe, we have squirreled away ?4 years supply from the gums and pines on The Gates 7 acres. So, toasty warm winter times for guests at Copper Gate, The Paris Suite, Corru Gate, and Kissing Gate.
9 April 2017
Mapua Easter Fair
World famous in New Zealand! One of the South Island’s biggest and best fairs is Easter Monday, 17 April. Something for everyone and only 5 minutes cycle away (don’t drive – the traffic is horrendous!).
5 April 2017
Skies alight
Did anyone see the Southern Lights this past week? There was a hint for us in the skies. The beauty of our country-darkness at The Gates is the awesome displays we get. This is a view from Corru Gate. Check out the best opportunities for the Southern lights here.
5 March 2017
Summer indulgence
With this wonderful late summer, guests are taking off on The Great Taste cycle trail. With beaches just minutes away, wineries just behind us, and cafes just scattered EVERYWHERE, it is easy and fun to hop on The Gates cycles and explore.
28 December 2016 Mapua Accommodation
WWOOFing!
A first for us at our Mapua accommodation! We have had our inaugural WWOOFers stay and work with us. First it was Charlie and Jade from the UK, and then it was Alizee and Gregory from the French Alps. They were such a delight to have. The wine and conversation flowed – and they did some excellent work on our property. On their very first day in NZ, Alizee and Gregory got to help out with the shearing – they are in the background corralling the sheep while William and Suzanne, guests at Kissing Gate, watch Sue the shearer.
Guests watch shearing at our Mapua holiday accommodation
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Kissing Gate is ready for the summer
Summer 2016/2017 is our first real season since opening. We have had 20 couples relish the uniqueness of this top-14-in-the-world glamping site. NZ Life and Leisure and Wild Tomato magazines are featuring us soon. We still have gaps in our summer availability. Check out our calendar on this site. We are also listed on Holiday Houses and Bookabach and AirBnB now. In the meantime, the bath awaits guests under starry skies, the frogs serenade, and the glade throbs with birdsong.
Nelson accommodation never got as good as this!
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19 Nov 2016
Briar and The Girls at The Gates Accommodation, Mapua, Nelson
Don’t you just love this photo of Briar, our daughter, having some quiet contemplative time with the chickens?
Not only do they provide us and our guests with stunning eggs, but also great companionship as they follow you about the place.
Such fun!
Briar and The Girls
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6 Nov 2016 We all like compliments don’t we….
Now here’s a weekend idea – cycle out from Nelson on the Great Taste Trail and stay at The Gates for some quality Mapua accommodation. Here is a comment from our latest guests who did just that:
We biked out from Nelson on the Great Taste Trail. It was lovely to arrive and relax with a gorgeous outside bath. The caravans are beautifully retro and furnished perfectly and the bed in Ruby was extremely comfortable.
Easy bike into town for dinner, but also everything you need to cook on site.
Nestled discreetly, you feel beautifully isolated….
Thoroughly recommend.
Ros and John-Paul
Nelson. Nov 5.
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29 Oct 2016 Kissing Gate achieves global fame for glamping accommodation!
We are humbled and proud to have Kissing Gate nominated as one of the top 14 glamping sites in the world by TripAdvisor! See the article here.
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3 October 2016 NZ’s best arts festival kicks off in Nelson
We so enjoy hosting at our holiday accommodation people attending NZ’s best arts festival – the Nelson Arts Festival. This year, so far, we are completely vacant for that period though – so come and stay! Check out the festival programme at http://www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz/ – it runs 12-24 October.
Nelson Arts Festival
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2 October 2016 Spring has sprung!
Gosh – from gorgeous sun to brooding dark skies within an instant! That’s spring at The Gates Accommodation, Mapua, Nelson.
It’s warm enough for glamorous camping now and the gas fire on the deck of the Settlers’ Cottage at Kissing Gate Glamping takes the edge off at night.
The frogs are back too and it’s so lovely in the bath under the stars at night.
Come and find out for yourselves!
Wonderful wild spring weather
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18 September 2016
We would love to feature our Mapua accommodation in NZ Life and Leisure – NZ’s premier lifestyle magazine – since The Gates is so quirky, artsy and it’s story is unique. We feel that our childhood memories of caravanning holidays, which we have reflected in Kissing Gate, tell a really interesting history.
Adele and siblings on holiday 1964
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10 September 2016
A gorgeous spring day for a ride through to Riverside Cafe on The Great Taste Trail from The Gates Accommodation. Mt Arthur and sheep – iconic rural newzild. Roger met Adele and a friend for a lovely afternoon coffee. It is only an hour’s cycle on the GTT to Riverside. Stunning vistas en route.
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20 August 2016 New ‘guests’ at The Gates Accommodation!
3 ducks suddenly appeared on the farm – are they looking for Nelson accommodation?! Where did they come from? We have slowly tamed them and they are almost handfeedable. We think they are Pekin ducks. Mr Drake is very protective. Will his harem produce ducklings soon? Last night, under the full moon, I watched them from Copper Gate’s decks glide like ghost ships on the jetty dam where they have taken up residence.
Doug, Daisy and Daffy join the chickens and sheep
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13 August 2016 Pond + accommodation = houseboat!
Musing about how part of the inspiration for Corru Gate came from my paddling corrugated iron canoes as a boy, I came across this image of me paddling on Lake Srinigar in Kashmir, India. Mmm….what do you think of glamping with a houseboat on one of our ponds? This would be a nice addition to our Kissing Gate glamping. Names – Ark Gate? Water Gate? A place for the family to stay (Rele Gate)?
Our new holiday accommodation?
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17 July 2016 Kissing Gate Mapua holiday accommodation in winter is great!
Crisp nights in front of the fire with stars above and marshmallows, quixies and wine – the best of Nelson! Kissing Gate has an amazing outdoor fireplace and we prepare quixies (toasty-pies) in the quixie-maker and place them in the fire. Glamping is such fun and we’ll often pop down on a winter’s night for an outdoor bath and quixies (well, only when guests aren’t staying there!)
Wine and quixies in front of the outdoor fire at Kissing Gate
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16 July 2016 Enjoying everything the Nelson area offers
Our Mapua accommodation guests staying at Copper Gate are out today in Abel Tasman; yesterday they were using our cycle fleet for The Great Taste Trail. Rowan and I also had a great time cycling – blasting down the mountain biking trails of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.
Rowan at Kaiteri MTB Park
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10 July 2016 Light Nelson Festival: creativity at its best
Wow! The Light Nelson Festival is currently running. Based at Queens Gardens and NMIT, the under-starry-skies festival celebrates quirky light installations and sculptures. Briar, Rowan, Adele, and Roger traveled in from Mapua for this awesome display of art.
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19 June 2016 Feeling smug! Home to Mapua from work.
Who else gets to commute home from work on one of NZ’s premiere cycle trails I wonder? From Nelson to Mapua, with the sun going down and the estuary alive with birds and mystery – yes, this is the way to finish a working week. Sigh.
On the Great Taste Trail
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12 June 2016 Full moon at Kissing Gate Glamping at The Gates Accommodation, Mapua, Nelson
It really is stunning to sit on the deck of the wee Settlers Cottage at our stunning Mapua accommodation romantic getaway glamping spot ‘Kissing Gate‘ and watch the full moon slowly sink behind forest trees. Such an iconic image and experience!
Full moon hanging over forest near Kissing Gate
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Down the road from The Gates
Swivel the camera around to the west – love the crepuscular rays!
With John Lord yachting, sea-kayaking and exploring Adele Island, Abel Tasman National Park
A moody light at dusk at the historic Collingwood Cemetery
With Nisbet Smith from Waihau Pacific Retreat.
Roger cycled from Pohara to the Wainui Falls.
Family drinkies in front of the fire at Kissing Gate
The Milky Way meets Scorpio above Copper Gate
An awesome montage from guest Karen Mettrick
Yum! Guests enjoy picking mushrooms for brekkie at The Gates Accommodation
It’s World Frog Day today! And look what the Kissing Gate pond is full of – tadpoles and…um…frogs. Yes, that’s Roger’s hand plus a handsome green bell frog. Mapua accommodation gets really interesting! If you like – adopt a frog http://bit.ly/1nSVaV3
Did you know that frogs are an indicator species? This means that if the air, water, or food source in a frog’s environment is polluted, the frogs will have symptoms, including prone to diseases and abnormalities in offspring that let people know that something is wrong. Sadly, frog populations have been declining worldwide at unprecedented rates, and nearly 1/3 of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Luckily, Kissing Gate’s pond is in a very healthy environment.
Be lullabied to sleep or serenaded in the outdoor bath when you stay at Kissing Gate this Easter!
Pearl basks under stars in the clear country air
All this ideal holiday accommodation is just 4 minutes from Mapua seaside village and close to Nelson.
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Catch the ferry to Rabbit Island, Mapua, Nelson
Wow! The Great Taste Trail between Nelson and Abel Tasman is SO popular.
Taking the ferry is such a fun thing to do and the Rabbit Island beach is not only stunning, but safe as well.
Guests from The Gates Accommodation catching the ferry to Rabbit Island.
