Tiny Outlooks - The Church Hahei

At the gateway to Coromandel’s monumental Cathedral Cove, you’ll find a collection of unique stays at ‘The Church - Hahei’. The Accommodation site is located on the edge of Hahei Village, a short walk to the beachfront and tucked in amongst established native trees and lush gardens. This is a part of our country that I’ve visited many times and I always treasure an opportunity for a little Coro’ getaway with the family.

As you pull into the driveway of the 1.5 acre property, The Church Bistro greets you and sets the tone, with architectural features reflected throughout the site. Cottages and Garden Studios are adorned with peaked archways and leadlight windows. Inside the cottages, vaulted ceilings feature reclaimed wooden beams from the original colonial church building.

It all started in 1997 when the first owners of The Church Accommodation, purchased a disused (early 1900s) church building and hauled it by truck in pieces from its Central North Island origin to the Coromandel settlement. They reconstructed the building onsite to create a restaurant, then added a number of boutique cottages to set up this unique stay.

Current owners Andreas and Anna took on the project in 2014. Since then they have added their touch to the accommodation site, further developing the gardens into a tranquil haven. Each dwelling is nestled into the greenery, where a mix of native and subtropical plants thrive under their green thumb care. Anna’s mum Maxine also lends her gardening knowledge and experience helping them with landscaping.

Anna grew up in Hahei and has known the original owners since she was young. When she and Andreas took over The Church Accommodation 9 years ago, they had been commuting between Auckland and Hahei, having established a small native plant nursery on Anna’s parents’ Hahei property. Taking over The Church was a great opportunity to (re)settle properly into Coromandel life.

My family of four stayed in one of the self contained cottages, which is perfectly set up for a group of our size. With the main entrance and covered deck facing an enclosed garden, you get a sense of a private little getaway here. The 40m2 interior feels generous. With a queen bedroom, full size bathroom and an open plan living and kitchen area, there’s room to breathe. Two divan beds in the living area double as couches by day and proved cosy for the kids by night.

Though the cottages are just a couple of decades old, there’s a sense of history and permanence to them. It feels homely and almost nostalgic staying here. With a wood burning fire in the living area, we settled into the evening with a flickering flame as the centrepiece. A perfect way to complete the cottage ambience.

There are a myriad of beaches, bays and walkways close by but the experience not to be missed is the walk to Cathedral Cove. There is a carpark closer to the start of the track but we just walked straight from The Church, along the Hahei beachfront and onto the clifftop route, which was a beautiful little extension to the official walkway and took just over an hour at a leisurely pace to arrive at the iconic destination. Though the cove can attract masses of visitors, we mostly had the beach to ourselves on the day we ventured out. How spoilt are we?! I am constantly amazed at the natural beauty of our country. Aotearoa, I love you.

We loved our stay at the The Church… Anna and Andreas are very knowledgeable about the area and great for a chat… For more info, or to book accommodation, head to thechurchhahei.co.nz

The Church Bistro (open seasonally) is owned and managed separately to the accommodation. You can find out more at thechurchbistro.co.nz

For more info on Cathedral Cove and the walkway, go to Dept of Conservation

Tiny Outlooks - Escape West

Two tiny accommodation pods sit together facing west. The sun filters through the misty clouds creating a hazy glow across the property as dusk approaches. It’s not often we get away, just the two of us. When we have an opportunity like this we treasure the escape.

Owners of ‘Escape West’, Dan and Grace bought the Waimauku lifestyle property in 2016 and live in the main house which sits on the hill above the pods. The [board and batten] pods were constructed on site and completed in 2021, welcoming their first guests in April of last year. There are neighbours near by, but you wouldn’t know it. Once you’re here, looking out over the Kanuka and cabbage trees, it feels private and remote. On the property you’ll find beehives, chickens, a greenhouse and various gardens, all producing a bounty which Grace and Dan are happy to share. This is truly the Good Life.

Each pod is a cosy 10 sqm. One for sleeping (1 queen bed) and one for lounging. Bifold glass doors on both pods open onto a generous deck that connects the two spaces. A bathroom block sits discretely behind the bedroom pod, housing a composting toilet, basin and shower. This unique stay comes into its own when the bifolds are opened out and weather allows for outdoor living. The west facing aspect is ideal for soaking in the afternoon rays. We feel the [unwind] roll in as birdsong accompanies Andrew’s ever-traveling guitar. We are staying just one night but our time here feels generous, somehow slowing down in the absence of busyness and routine.

Continuing with our love for west coast beaches (see the first Tiny Outlooks entry featuring Piha beach) , we head to Muriwai the next morning. (Just 10 mins drive). We’ve spent a fair few weekends at Muriwai beach and it never disappoints. While Andrew meets with a local friend for a surf, I explore the rocky coastline and follow the walkway up the cliffs overlooking Maukatia (Maori) Bay and the incredible sight that is the gannet colony. These intrepid sea birds fly to the southern and eastern shores of Australia at just 4 months old and return here after a few years for their annual nesting season. The Muriwai outcrops are also home to many keen fisherman and they can be seen braving the encroaching swell on the rock faces while sea spray rains.

Dan and Grace have created an ideal hideaway at the gateway to this northwest gem. It’s just 40 minutes drive from Auckland city but a world away.

Find ‘Escape West’ on Airbnb or contact Grace by email gnattrassnz@gmail.com

Tiny Outlooks - Wainui Riverstone Glamping

30 minutes drive from Tauranga city, in a little pocket of green near a meandering river, sits the cutest glampsite - Wainui Riverstone.

Owners Katie and Fraser Hungerford bought the 2.6 hectare Aongetete block at the start of 2020. At the time, the property was set up (partially) with the glamping area, along with a 3 bedroom converted barn at the top of the drive. The Hungerfords are now renting out the barn separately and have added their personal style to the glampsite. They’ve created extra facilities, including a covered outdoor bathroom and are chipping away at landscaping and expansion plans.

To get to the secluded site, we followed a gravel driveway, past hedgerows and cattle stops, alongside rolling hills. As the gravel gave way to grass, we carefully drove through a farm gate to a little clearing, dotted with structures. Festoon lights were hung amongst the trees, guiding the way between the glampsite features. Our getaway had begun.

The Riverstone glampsite is set up with Alfresco living in mind. You can’t beat an open fire for atmosphere and the brazier quickly became the centrepiece of our stay. There’s something about stoking a fire, staring into flickering flames and roasting copious amounts of marsh mellows that enables you to contentedly while away the time. The covered kitchen area is well equiped for camping needs. We rustled up some burgers and enjoyed Katie’s beautifully supplied table linen and place settings for a little touch of luxe.

Sleeping quarters here are comprised of two separate zones - A cosy wooden cabin equiped with a canopy queen bed is nestled between rimu trees overlooking the outdoor dining area. A few steps further up the hill sits a lotus belle, canvas tent, housing two single beds, also tucked into the greenery.

Katie and Fraser have done an awesome job of creating and indoor/ outdoor bathroom experience. A clawfoot bath sits atop a riverstone floor. Tucked around the corner is a shower head connected to a gas califont for hot water. From the bath you can see out to the trees and peek through the clear-lite roof to the night sky.

The early years of my childhood were spent growing up in the wilderness. Our property in the Hokianga backed onto native bush and a rocky riverbed. I have great memories of making huts from stacked ponga fronds under the hanging boughs of rimu trees, and exploring the landscape with a backdrop of rushing water and the call of native birds. Our visit to Riverstone Glamping filled my nostalgia tank and reminded me how much I love these aspects of NZ’s beautiful countryside. I feel blessed to be able to share these experiences with my kids and encourage a love for the outdoors and unhurried simple moments (even if we can’t live like this full time).

Our time at Riverstone Glamping was spent on site besides a little paddle up river (There’s a kayak that comes with the stay). However, For those who would like to venture out a little further during a stay, there are some great waterfall walks and swimming holes near the Aongatete Forest Lodge on Wright Rd. Omokoroa is a 10 minute drive away and Katie tells me the Neighbourhood Pizzeria there is worth a visit. Also, just down the road is the Leveret Estate winery and cellar door so there are plenty of creature comforts close by.

Find Wainui Riverstone Glamping on Airbnb

Tiny Outlooks - Pop Top Whangamata

The Pop Top Whangamata - At a healthy 77SQM, this (truncated A Frame shaped), holiday apartment is the ingenious renovation achievement of Laura and Andrew Priestley. Having previously visited the Pop Top for an editorial photoshoot, I was definitely keen to return for a Tiny Outlooks feature and the full Pop Top experience.

For Andrew and Laura, It began when they returned to New Zealand after living overseas, searching for their first home and were struggling to get into the market. What proceeded was some ‘out of the box’ thinking along with some financial buy-in from family and they purchased the 3 level commercial premises on Whangamata’s main street in early 2019. The existing superette on the ground floor was the only functioning part of the building when the Priestley’s took it on.

With their creative vision and and a lot of hard graft, Andrew and Laura have transformed the near derelict top two floors of the building into a shared work space on the first level and a cleverly appointed 2 bedroom rooftop apartment. Andrew (a Landscape designer by trade) worked on the reno full time for nearly a year. The tradespeople employed, particularly Judd Builders and JBE Electrical, had significant input. Andrew and Laura moved into the apartment when it was near completion in mid 2020. Fast forward a few months, with baby Elle on the scene, they move out of the Pop Top and it became a full time Airbnb in March 2021.

The Priestleys' eye for detail is evident throughout the Pop Top. Many forms of greenery can be found throughout the space. There’s an intentionality to incorporate nature inside and out, which isn’t the easiest in a rooftop apartment. Quality fittings, feature lighting, beautiful bed linen and soft furnishings adorn the space. These little luxuries help make a stay here feel special.

My family of four had a gorgeous autumnal long weekend at the Pop Top. With rooftop terraces at both ends of the apartment, there are peeps to the ocean, through to expansive views of the ranges surrounding the township. Gorgeous sunsets delivered in full during our stay and with the beachfront and river mouth being a stone's throw away, we enjoyed multiple little walks, sea dips and excursions.

In the spirit of wilderness adventure, we took to the Wentworth Valley during our stay. Just 10 minutes drive out of town, there are nature walks of varying lengths. The trek we embarked on which followed the river towards Wentworth Falls kept the four of us engaged for its 2 hour duration. Having collected some pastry treats from Rudi’s bakery before we left definitely helped sweeten the deal for our kids ; )

Back at the Pop Top, it would be remiss not to mention the convenience of the township at your doorstep here. Various cafes and takeaway options are close by but the ‘must mention’ local gem is Gather & Roam. Headed up by top NZ chef Simon Wright and his wife Creghan (ex French Cafe), they serve up breakfast and lunch in fine form. More conveniences to add would be the seaside playground and the skatepark which were both well appreciated on this trip.

When the weather packed in, we cozied up with the help of a virtual fireplace (aka videoed loop on youtube ; ) and enjoyed some downtime indoors.

All in all, the Pop Top delivered on many levels. It’s a perfect option for a family getaway when you’re looking for a bit of a treat.

Find Pop Top via Airbnb.