The Little Louise’s
A rare “Luxe”retreat on Glenesk Road. Airbnb of the Year finalist. Continuously rated five stars and exceptional. The most awarded stay in Piha.
The pink bathroom designed by Alex Walls.
About
The Little Louise's is the most awarded short-stay in Piha — with the rare “Luxe-category” on Airbnb, an Airbnb of the Year finalist, a Superhost listing that has been continuously rated five stars and described in guest reviews as exceptional. For visitors who want the high-end version of a Piha stay, this is the one.
The cottage was originally built in the 1970s and was thoughtfully rebuilt by the current owners after they arrived in Piha in late 2020. The reconstruction preserved the character of the original while creating a modern, healthy, considered space made for couples and solo guests who want to switch off properly. Every detail has been worked through: the super king bed, the impeccable kitchen fit-out, the lighting, the spa pool with views toward Lion Rock through the bush, the outdoor shower for rinsing black sand off after the beach, the record player and curated vinyl, the Bose speakers, the deck where the native birds turn up before you do.
The Luxe distinction on Airbnb is worth understanding. It's a curated tier reserved for the small percentage of listings that meet the platform's highest standards for design, hospitality, and guest experience. The Little Louise's earned that designation. The Airbnb of the Year finalist recognition was a separate piece — a global award acknowledging the property as one of the standout listings in the world that year. Both speak to a level of attention to detail and guest care that most short-stay accommodation doesn't reach.
What guests consistently describe in reviews: the seclusion, the privacy, the views, the spa pool at dusk, the morning coffee on the deck, the sense that the space has been built around the experience of slowing down rather than retrofitted to it. The cottage is small by design — one bedroom, configured for two — and the smallness is the point. This is not a property scaled for groups or families. It's a property scaled for couples, solo retreats, anniversaries, honeymoons, and the kind of trip that's about disconnection rather than activity.
The property runs on rainwater (the property has no town supply) and operates on a septic system — genuinely off-grid in the village sense, though wifi, power, and the modern amenities are all there. Worth knowing that water use should be sparing and that septic systems need a bit of care, but neither is much of an ask.
Service add-ons available by prior arrangement include in-house catering platters, sunset yoga with a local instructor, massage on the deck, and photography sessions with a local photographer for couples wanting to capture the stay. The hosts are Jenene and Scottie, who live next door — close enough to be helpful when needed, with a strong respect for guests' privacy when not. The hospitality is hands-on without being intrusive, which is part of what the reviews keep returning to.
Best for:
Couples, solo retreats, anniversaries, honeymoons, quiet weekenders, visitors who specifically want to switch off
Worth knowing:
Not for groups, parties, families with multiple children, large gatherings
Configuration:
One bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen, living/dining, outdoor shower, deck, spa pool.
Address:
Glenesk Road, Piha
Contact:
Website
