Enjoy the charm of yesteryear, with the convenience of modern living, in this historic country coastal cottage.

Cherry Tree Cottage was built in 1840 (The year that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed) and has had several lives in Russell, Orongo Bay and at the bottom of Haruru Falls as The Ferryman's Cottage) before settling in the late 1800's in its present location. Each time, the cottage was moved either by barge or dragged by bullock team!

The cottage retains most of its early charm, with authentic features such as the attic stairs, rustic flooring and an 'honesty window' glimpse into the past through early wall linings from The Auckland Star newspaper, dated 1899.

On entering the cottage, visitors immediately step into a hallway. On the left is Bedroom 1, with a bunk bed: Queen size on the bottom and Twin size on the top. Adjoining the room is an ensuite with a luxurious deep bath, toilet and vanity. Bedroom 2 lies to the right of the hallway, being a large room with storage for clothes etc., and a single bunk bed - great for the kids! Halfway down the hall on the left is the main bathroom.

At the end of the hall lies the living room and kitchen. Mind the quirky small steps and low headroom doorways. The modest homestead kitchen includes a compact dishwasher, reverse osmosis drinking water and a classic butler sink.

At the rear of these two rooms lies the dining room with its classic built-in sideboard and a woodfire (if you are staying during the colder months).

Back into the living area and you'll find a steep set of attic stairs that leads to 2 quaint loft rooms, each with single beds. Back in 1840, when the cottage was situated in Russell as an army barracks, this second level was the sleeping area for the British soldiers, who were stationed in Russell to safeguard the British interests after the Treaty was signed. Now the rooms are painted light, white and bright.

The North-facing front of the cottage is very pretty with gardens and flowers, the best outdoor living lies at the rear, with an expansive low deck, large outdoor table, chairs and sun umbrella, and the outdoor fireplace, to add a cozy feel to evening meals in any season. In the garden nearby is a fire pit, if you fancy toasted marshmallows and camp stories!

Further down the back of the 1/3 of an acre section, is a delightful clear creek, where you could see eels, or even the Banded Kokopu (sometimes called Maori Trout). The various fruit trees around the section give year-round pickable options for seasonal snacks to harvest.

Across the road and a one-minute walk down Old Wharf Road, will lead you to the viewpoint at the bottom of Haruru Falls. Here you can see the Falls in their splendor, especially after a big rain! A short 5 - 10-minute easy walk will take you to the lookout at the top of Haruru Falls and access to the Waitangi Forest Coastal Track, a gorgeous 5km trail that leads to Waitangi along the picturesque estuary.

The beaches and amenities of Paihia are just over 3km away, giving you access to plenty of dining and shopping options, as well as sightseeing, such as the Russell Ferry, and boat trips to the islands that make The Bay of Islands so popular.

Additional local activities include horseback riding, parasailing, mountain bike park, sailing and coastal hiking.