Justine Tyerman reminisces about her childhood crib in Arrowtown and looks at the array of private holiday rentals on offer around the country.
In the South Island where I grew up, holiday homes were known as cribs, a quaint Scottish term that usually applied to rustic little cottages on a lake, by a river, at the foot of a mountain range, in an alpine valley, or a little township.
Our crib was in Arrowtown, Central Otago, and I still get goosebumps thinking about that ramshackle old house where I spent many blissful childhood and teenage holidays, making snowmen on the lawn and skating on a frozen pond in the winter, and swimming in the Arrow River and hiking over tussocky mountains in the summer.
I vividly recall the sweet fragrance of the sweet lupins in bloom in December, the flinty smell of the schist rock on a baking hot afternoon in February, and the silvery shimmer of silt on my skin after a day of dam-building on Bush Creek, a shady little tributary of the Arrow.
The crib is long gone but I still make the pilgrimage to Central Otago every summer and winter, inflicting misty-eyed reminiscences on my long-suffering family.
Thanks to the advent of online booking sites, we stay in far more salubrious holiday accommodation all around New Zealand these days. A mind-boggling array of private homes, from rustic to palatial, are literally at our fingertips.
I’ve been fortunate to experience some of these beautiful abodes and home swaps and have my eye on others for future holidays and family get-togethers.
Otaha Beach Villa, Bay of Islands
We haven’t been to the gorgeous Bay of Islands for many years so it’s top of my must-go-there-soon list. Three hours north of Auckland, the bay is rich in history with 140 subtropical islands, remote beaches, big-game fishing, and Ma¯ ori cultural artefacts. Remote and totally private, Otaha Beach Villa is an exceptional beachfront holiday house overlooking an idyllic private beach with breath-taking panoramic views. It’s a twominute stroll to the beach and a 15-minute drive from Kerikeri. The elegant, contemporary, five-bedroom, fivebathroom beach house accommodates 10, so you can share it with your family or best friends. Designed for easy living and relaxed entertaining, Otaha has two balconies, a barbecue area and outdoor dining space for 12. See amazingaccom.com.
Kauri Cove, Moturua Island, Bay of Islands
Kauri Cove is a hidden gem located on a privately-owned beach on Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands. Designed by famous New Zealand architect Pete Bossley, this stunning property accommodates 14 in the four-bedroom main home and twobedroom guest house. Extra accommodation is in a self-contained helicopter hangar. Kauri Cove has spectacular ocean views and walking tracks through native bush. Outstanding features include a gym, ocean trampoline and underground boat shed with a wide range of fishing gear, paddle boards, sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment. On request, boats and jet skis can be arranged, and a helicopter to fly guests to Kauri Cliffs to play on its world-class golf course and visit the day spa and restaurant. Island cruises and deep-sea fishing adventures can also be organised by your Touch of Spice concierge, who will help co-ordinate every aspect of your stay. Access to the island is restricted to boat and helicopter. Guests can choose to have a chef, helicopter and pilot and other staff onsite throughout the stay. See touchofspice.co.nz.
Kotanui, Whangapara¯ oa
The first thing that strikes you about Kotanui is the grand marble entrance atrium of this spectacular clifftop home at Whangapara¯ oa, 40 minutes north of Auckland. The second thing is the unbelievable views of the Hauraki Gulf, Rangitoto Island and little Kotanui Island just off the coast. The whole place is incredible ... like a private resort. We stayed at Kotanui at Easter and had a wonderful time exploring the beaches, walkways and wineries in the area. Standout features of the seven-bedroom, seven-