Whiling away a wet weekend on Waiheke
We’ve been visiting some of the country’s best baches, as voted by Bookabach users. Today Stacey Oliver stays on Waiheke Island.
We almost didn’t make it to Waiheke Island.
Thanks mostly (OK, entirely) to me, we arrived at the wrong wharf. We’d been busy congratulating ourselves on getting there with some time to spare when we realised the mistake.
Thankfully, we were able to be squeezed onto the last ferry of the evening, despite it being fully booked, thanks to a kind woman at Sealink who saved me from having to make a rather embarrassing phone call.
Slight misadventure aside, one of the perks of catching the 7.30pm ferry was that we were treated to sunset views of Auckland city as we made our way to Waiheke. We took our car across so getting to the bach wasn’t a problem, thankfully.
Arriving at our destination was a pleasant surprise. Tucked away entirely from view, the bach was surrounded by trees. It created a total sense of privacy despite its proximity to other dwellings.
Our dog, Eric, was thrilled. He’d endured his first ferry ride nonchalantly but he was certainly glad to have his four paws on leafy soil.
My first impressions of the bach were that it was modern and cosy – perfect for a weekend getaway, no matter the time of year.
The holiday home’s cedar exterior complemented its white interior with its black joinery and spacious windows in the open plan living space.
During the day, we would discover those big windows let in plenty of natural light, which was good, because it rained almost the entire time we were there.
The open-plan living space was joined onto a deck area, complete with an outdoor table and barbecue, with a view of greenery and native birds.
My favourite part of this house was the window seat with its pleasant view of the surrounding trees.
We could hear kereru and tui – it was the perfect spot to relax. My friend, Matt, loved it so much he spent most of his weekend there, with Eric for company.
With three bedrooms sleeping four people and two bathrooms, the house was spacious yet compact. And the water pressure was great.
Situated just behind Little Oneroa Beach, the ocean was just a short walk. Almost everything could have been reached on foot but we weren’t game enough to trudge through the rain.
We had intended to spend more time exploring the island but instead settled for only a couple of outings, when the weather permitted. But that turned out perfectly fine, as the bach was cosy, despite the rain.
My partner, a builder, said the real beauty of the bach is the shape, lines and angles of the house. I nodded knowingly from the window seat, nap imminent.
The vibe of the bach felt very family-oriented, with one of the three bedrooms featuring two single beds and family photos throughout the house. There was also a box of dress-ups for the kids.
More information The bach in Oneroa is a silver winner in the design category, and is ID #23723 on Bookabach.co.nz.