A comfortable B&B for a family holiday is all well and good. But, if you can afford it, there’s nothing like having your own personalised holiday bolt-hole, full of your own gear and awaiting your arrival each summer. A bach in the popular hotspots of Waiheke, Whangamata and the Mount may be out of reach, but lesser-known holiday spots could well be an affordable option. Here’s a round-up of emerging holiday destinations offering good value.
Opononi and Omapere, Hokianga Harbour
Opononi and its twin settlement Omapere are hidden gems in the heart of the Hokianga Harbour, just three hours from Auckland.
A white-sand beach stretches to Opononi wharf where fishing trips and cruises can be arranged. Giant sand dunes are accessed by a boat trip across the harbour for “dune surfing” on boogie boards. Nearby is the mighty kauri, Tane Mahuta, and you can ride horses, explore rock pools and walk the many beautiful beaches.
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In Omapere, tables dressed with umbrellas at Sands Bar overlook the harbour and dunes, and in Opononi, the Landing Cafe is great for brunch during the day and Thai food at night.
New subdivisions are springing up in Opononi, with sections from $89,000. In Omapere, baches can be found from between $399,000 to $545,000.
Foxton Beach, Horowhenua
A small settlement on a spectacular, 22km sweep of west coast beach, Foxton Beach is just 1½ hours north of Wellington and five minutes from all the amenities of Foxton.
The iron-sand beach is popular with kite surfers and fishermen catching snapper, gurnard and tuna. It’s also Horowhenua’s best surf beach and a safe, patrolled swimming spot in summer. The Manawatu River estuary takes you to a bird sanctuary with 38 species of migratory birds, and adrenaline thrills can be found nearby at the new Off The Loop cable wakeboard park.
Food options include the newly-opened Ocean Beach Eatery with garden bar, the popular Little White Rabbit cafe which is famed for its sugar-and-cinnamon encrusted ‘sandy donuts’, or you can grab fish and chips from Mr Grumpy’s Takeaways and tuck in on the beach.
You can find two-bedroom baches on big sections for $250,000-$300,000, and sections from $160,000.
Ohakune, Tongariro National Park
Ohakune is well known as a ski town, but since the Ohakune Old Coach Road became the first stage of the Mountains to Sea Cycleway, increased summer activities make it a great option for a year-round holiday home.
The many beautiful alpine, forest and river walks and bike rides around Ohakune include the iconic Bridge to Nowhere and the popular Tongariro Crossing. In the township, the indoor climbing wall and newly-opened carrot park are great for kids, and they love to float down the river on an inner-tube and jump off the riverbank at the nearby Ruatiti Domain.
The wintertime influx of skiers means Ohakune punches above its weight in number and quality of eateries that now stay open all year to meet the needs of hikers, mountain bikers and kayakers.
Newly-opened are the excellent Blind Finch Hamburgeria and a stunning new Italian eatery, Osteria. You can pick up a section with a mountain view for $60,000, little chalets and ex-railway houses for around $250,000 and huge lodge-style homes from $700,000.
Karikari Peninsula, Northland
If you don’t mind being a bit remote, Karikari Peninsula is worth the drive for a bach overlooking a stunning white-sand beach. At the northern tip, Doubtless Bay has many beautiful, safe beaches for swimming and water sports.
Tokerau Beach is great for gathering shellfish, swimming, blokarting and kite surfing, and Taupo Bay is a popular surf spot.
Whatuwhiwhi is the major settlement on the peninsula, with a dive centre, cafe, takeaways and general store. There are many sections for sale, starting at $50,000. You can find a 2-bedroom bach on an acre for around $480,000, while 3-bedroom homes go for upwards of $500,000.
Ōhope Beach, Whakatane
Ōhope Beach is a beautiful 11km stretch of easily walkable white sand on the east coast from the Ōhiwa Harbour entrance to West End. Cycling and mountain biking are popular, as are water sports.
Boats can be hired on organised club days at the Port Ōhope Yacht Club, and West End is ideal for learning to surf as the seafloor drops away gently. The Ōhope International Golf Club course provides great golf amidst extraordinary scenery.
You can explore the islands of Ōhiwa Harbour by kayak or yacht, go jet skiing, water skiing or sail boarding and it’s a safe swimming spot for children. Cadera and Quay Cafe serve highly-rated meals.
You can still buy homes not far from the beach for under half a million but prices can break the million-dollar mark.
