Testimonials | About Us | Cobden Garden

Our guests are so generous with their reviews of us. Thank you one and all.

Louise,gb, Review from 19 June 2023

A delight from beginning to end

A delight from beginning to end. The room was exactly as reflected - actually we felt like we had won the jackpot. Rayma and Phillip were just a fun couple with huge amounts of knowledge both of the area and in how to have the best of accommodation. Fabulous breakfasts and evening drinks where we got to chat and learn more about the area and local wines that flowed freely. Fantastic digs. Recommended them already.

Resort313060, Review from 27 May 2023

Charming B&B with a view and wonderful hosts

Staying at charming Cobden Garden on Napier Hill was a highlight of our 5 week trip through New Zealand. Rayma and Phil are wonderful welcoming hosts who generously gave of their time to talk about New Zealand. We had many questions since this was our first (but hopefully not our last) trip to stunningly gorgeous New Zealand. Cobden Garden is beautifully located in an upscale quiet neighborhood overlooking wetlands and nice gardens. Getting to downtown Napier with all the beautiful Art Deco buildings and restaurants as well as the wineries was very easy by car. Our room was large and the bed was very comfortable and came with a beautiful large modern bathroom. The well-presented made to order breakfasts that Rayma and Phil provide are outstanding. They also made excellent restaurant, excursion and winery recommendations. Staying at intimate well-run bed and breakfasts like Cobden Garden made a huge difference in our enjoyment and understanding of New Zealand.

Rosemary,us, Review from 23 February,2023

Rayma and Phillip are the best hosts, and endeavor to provide the complete B&B experience for their guests. They include appetizers with wine tasting while they sit down with you and spend time to get to know you. Oh, there was port in the room along with chocolate, coffee or tea for your morning before a complete breakfast in their lovely dining room. And we were upgraded to their best room, large with spa bath and double sinks. Most amazing, and this has never happened in 40 years of traveling, Phillip cleaned our dirty windshield just as we were packing up to leave. So on a scale 1 to 10, they're a 15.

Disappointed that we couldn't stay longer, but we got out just before the Cyclone Gabrielle arrived.

Di H, Review from 22 Feb 2023

You have to stay here.

Awesome. If you can find any fault with this place you will never be happy. Great people, great home, great room, great advice, great extras (amazing breakfast but more impressive was the small carafe of port waiting in our room with crystal glasses upon our return after dinner out). And the chat with wine and canapes made it almost impossible to head out we were so relaxed and comfortable. Rayma and Phil did everything possible to make Napier even more enjoyable than it already was. Thanks are just not enough. You have to go!

David H, Christchurch NZ, December 2022

Perfect hosts, perfect sleep

Stayed here for 2 nights while wine tasting in the Napier Hastings area. Warmly welcomed by Rayma and Phillip who are the consummate, knowledgeable hosts. They proved an excellent resource (with maps) on which wineries to visit, where to eat and where the best drinks were made in bars around town. There was off-street parking.
The room was large, clean, comfortable and the bed provided an excellent nights sleep. The location affords a very quiet night. There was an upstairs sitting room with view for guests and this included a complementary drinks fridge.
Arriving back to the room set up for sleep with a small decanter of port and chocolates beckoning was a delight.
Rayma and Phillip encouraged excellent (by that I mean of a very high quality) canapés and drinks in the late afternoon. I chatted for some time, with them providing an interesting history of the house, location and changes the quake has wrought. Fascinating and enjoyable.
The large and highly tasty cooked breakfast really set me up for a serious spot or wine tasting- if only other B and B breakfasts were of the same ilk! Beautiful fresh squeezed juices, homemade jams and marmalade, excellent tea and coffee accompaniments. - you could equally choose the cold breakfast options.
I have stayed at many B and B's in many countries but few have achieved the hospitality and quality levels seen here.
Rayma and Phillip should be congratulated for achieving the perfect B and B experience. A 6 star experience particularly suited to solo or couples who wish to indulge in luxury. A great base for wine tasting in the area.

Charlotte, NZ February 2021

Absolutely wonderful.

The breakfasts were fantastic. Lots of choice of the cooked breakfasts and lots of fruit and extras. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. Individual tastes were catered for. The dining room was absolutely lovely and there is a deck overlooking the garden where we had canapes. Lots of native bird life to look at. Our hosts were friendly and accommodating without being intrusive. Nothing was too much trouble. Our room was beautiful and comfortable and the cottage was a fantastic place to stay. Mod cons as needed without removing the character of the cottage. Everything was clean and fresh. I would highly recommend this b and b. and I wouldn't hesitate to go again if the opportunity arises.

Desiree and John, NZ January 2021

A Welcomed Retreat

My husband and I were greeted by Phillip and Rayma on our arrival and the car windows washed by Phillip on our departure. Everything in-between during our four days at Cobden was just as absolutely charming!
The home is beautifully furnished to show-off the pre 1930's era of fashion and design.
Service included a full breakfast menu; drinks and canapés on the verandah in the evening; the bed prepared for the night and a clean and comfortable room and ensuite that showed off a beautiful view of the garden. The majestic garden with shrubbery and well -established trees hid any clues that the homestead was in a quiet suburban cul-de-sac.
Phillip and Rayma were non-intrusive, warm and meticulous in the way that they looked out for us. Bubbles to celebrate our wedding anniversary will always be a special memory.
Mission Estate Winery was our favourite night out.
Te Mata Peak was our favourite view.
Cobden Garden was our favourite retreat.
Thank you Phillip and Rayma.
We recommend to ourselves to come again and to others - to book and stay at your wonderful home.

Alexandra - Germany - February 2002

I have to say thank you to my destiny for staying in such a wonderful place! Yummy breakfast, wonderful hosts and lovely house. It's a little bit hard to come to stay every month but I hope to come back some time. Thank you! I enjoyed every minute. I am sad that I have to go away but glad I can come back!

Jim & Maureen - USA - February 2002

We really did enjoy your gracious home and your unending attention to our needs, which did not go unnoticed. You both have the knack of knowing what people want but being unobtrusive about it. We do hope to return again one of these days.....