"Down by the Hungaroa River" Martinborough by craic

Martinborough Travel Guide: 35 reviews and 67 photos

I lived here for a couple of years back in the late 70s. The rent was $6 a week. No mod cons. It was called Honey Cottage - because one of the previous tenants had kept bees. There were still bees in the bathroom roof.

My orphan magpie Denis Windfall Glover.

When I left I abandoned my shell collection down by the Hungaroa.

I RETURNED WITH MY SON TO LOOK AT MARTINBOROUGH IN 2008. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH THIS PAGE I WILL MAKE A NEW WAIRAPA PAGE AND POST A LINK TO IT HERE.

Pros and Cons

Pros:The rent was $6 a week.
Cons:I had to leave.
In a nutshell:Martinborough has changed a lot I think.

Intro Updated Apr 18, 2009
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Reviews (18)

The big house Warnings Or Dangers (7)

A charming old place. One portion built in the 1890's - one grander portion added in the 1920s. It was empty too. The... more travel advice

Over The Hill Off The Beaten Path (11)

This is the window he lobbed a brick through. He had created it. He destroyed it. A few weeks later he turned up, wrote... more travel advice

The gate to Honey Cottage - Martinborough

Last trip back Warnings Or Dangers (7)

One of the men who was adapting Honey Cottage to become the smoko room for the toilers in the vineyard - being planted -... more travel advice

The house was empty and silent Warnings Or Dangers (7)

The grass had grown. I think my cousin Miranda was with me. I think she might have taken the photo. She was curious. I... more travel advice

Comments (54)

BruceDunning Nov 20, 2009 at 12:06 PM Report Abuse

I reads like you had a real memorable time in this area in the past days-writing and chasing moths with the cat. It look close to as remote as some places I saw in Utah parks area on my recent trip
christine.j Aug 30, 2009 at 11:10 AM Report Abuse

This is a very special page on VT, it's clear to see it's been done by a writer. Thank you!
TheLongTone Jun 1, 2009 at 5:07 AM Report Abuse

Yeah, used to be reservoirs but now it's a wetlands park. Hern. That's it. Had 'tern' in my head but they're seabirds, even a longtone knows that.
jumpingnorman May 11, 2009 at 1:01 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful story about this house that is now silent --- wow, six dollars a week - unbelievable! Inflation is really bad...
Herwig1961 Dec 26, 2008 at 1:22 PM Report Abuse

Thank you for the joy which your story and the fotos gave me!Thank you!
JLBG Apr 13, 2008 at 9:58 PM Report Abuse

This secret valley and Honey Cottage looked like a perfect location! Amazing story!
hunterV Feb 28, 2008 at 9:48 AM Report Abuse

G'day, Jennifer! I enjoyed reading your pages: very poetic and with a lot of inspiration! Thanks a lot! Take care! ~AU-UA~
Basaic Jan 25, 2008 at 11:58 AM Report Abuse

Great page!
Sininen Jan 10, 2008 at 1:50 AM Report Abuse

What a different page! I truly enjoyed every word and every picture!
diocletianvs Oct 25, 2007 at 10:15 AM Report Abuse

I don't know if you have noticed, but this little page is the most architecture-focused piece of your writing (that I know of). Enjoyed reading it very much.