Bubble burst that doesn’t break bank
Now that we’re allowed to break our bubbles, who wants to catch up with friends or family without breaking the bank?
The perfect solution – an island escape for $35 a night, right here in New Zealand.
If you’ve used a ferry to cross the Cook Strait, Arapaoa Island (formerly Arapawa Island) is one of the first pieces of land you’ll see as you enter the Marlborough Sounds.
This windswept slice of paradise is the place to disconnect with the world, and reconnect with those around you. Keen paua divers Mike and Antonia Radon (who are some of the most welcoming people you’ll meet) own a large chunk of the island, with their busy sheep and cattle farm. The pair also run a burgeoning paua farm – with more than 200 tanks near the beach. If you love paua, make sure to take the tour.
High above their farmhouse, on its own little hill overlooking the Tory Channel, is the Arapawa homestead, known as Gunyah. The historic house was built as a retirement home by the Perano family, who ran a whaling station on the island. Now, it’s immaculately restored to its full vintage glory; it’s the kind of place that transports you back to your grandma’s house, with its floral prints and dark wood finishings.
The homestead has 13 beds – including a glamping-style sleepout with bunks.
The first thing you’ll notice when arriving at Gunyah is the view of the entrance to the Tory Channel, with its continual vortex of strong currents. The Wellington ferries pass so close to the house, you can almost see who’s on deck.
Few realise the extensive maze of waterways in the Marlborough Sounds is so large, it makes up around 20 per cent of New Zealand’s coast, and its formation dates back to the last Ice Age. After the great melt, the region’s deep valleys, once dry, were drowned.
The island is steeped in history; Captain Cook climbed a nearby hill and discovered the passage of sea between the Pacific and Tasman, naming it Cook Strait. The island was also home to a whaling station, with the skeletal processing planet – classified an historic site – resting in a nearby bay. The whalers initially used a rowboat, with a hand-held harpoon – a testament to the abundance of whales that once called the region home.
You can even head down to a sheltered golden beach (likely all to yourself) for a swim in the warmer months – beware the Tory Channel is notoriously cold, even in summer.
While you have a large chunk of the island at your disposal,
chances are you’ll use the homestead as a place to socialise with a group of friends, or a couple can have the place to themselves.
It feels like a holiday of yesteryear; those trips you’d make as kids to the bach for a good old family catch-up. However, this one happens to be on a remote island, with a view that’s hard to beat.
What’s on offer
Arapawa Homestead, or Gunyah as it is known, has a 10-person maximum gathering while at alert level 2, which would make it $355 for a group of 10, or $35.50 a person. There are other accommodation options on the island, such as the School Cottage (where the whaler’s children were educated) for $145 for six people.
Getting there
The Mail Boat Cruise from Picton arrives twice-weekly (about 1.5 hours). You can also hire a water taxi, or bring your boat (accommodation includes a mooring)
This article was produced with the support of Destination Marlborough and Tourism New Zealand.