Nest Tree Houses has been honoured with an Air BnB New Zealand Host Awards.
The Hakataramea Valley accommodation won best design stay which was announced last month.
Owners Elizabeth and Andrew Hayes were happy enough just to have been named a finalist, Mrs Hayes said.
"To be honest, I was pretty chuffed with that so I kind of thought that was it and then they called up about a month later to say we’d won the award for the best design so we were absolutely blown away."
The tree houses offered a different kind of stay to most Air BnB listings, she said.
"I think people like that it sort of captures your imagination a little bit.
"There’s a bit of a point of difference being a treehouse."
The couple were heavily involved in the entire design process.
It was a long time coming by the time they decided to take the plunge and open the tree houses.
"It was actually in the dream state for us for three years before we even put anything into the ground.
"We opened during Covid which was absolutely horrific for lots of people but for us, with the borders closed, there were lots of Kiwis wanting to go places still.
"Also being in the back and beyond a wee bit, it was actually more appetising for people to come here as opposed to the more popular and packed places so it worked in our benefit."
They began with just one tree house but quickly realised there was the demand for two.
Mrs Hayes was very thankful for the team who helped them make Nest possible.
