CHECKLIST

IWOKE up to a “did I just dream that” moment. Had a quick look around the place just to register where I was. Everything was freakishly tidy so I knew it wasn’t my home.

Waking up in a tent can be quite a claustrophobic feeling for many, but the tent I was in was never going to make me feel I was in a confined space. I was glamping, sorry, we were glamping. I had to double-check my wife was still there, the king-sized bed was so ridiculously big.

Yes, that’s right, the tent has a king-sized bed, and a dresser, and a sofa, bean bags, fur rugs, table, chairs, wide antique kauri floor boards, and a spacious deck.

It also had stunning wooden beams and posts made from macrocarpa, milled from trees on the property at Takou Bay.

It’s a stunning strong and simple piece of architecture. I felt safer in that tent than in most homes I’ve lived in.

I crept out of the tent and stood, staring straight into a perfect sunrise, the lawn in front gently sliding to a river which worked its way down to Takou beach, half an hour away by kayak. Fresh fish jumped out of a pool right in front of me, so I threw in a line and sat on the jetty. I knew full well I wasn’t going to catch a fish, but with that sun on my face it was an incredible way to enjoy my morning coffee and reflect on my birthday party the night before.

I had better not forget to thank my children’s Granny and Poppa for babysitting for us that night, so we could go have an evening away. It’s like the best birthday present you could ever give someone. It was my big 45th and I wanted to do something a bit crazy — not jump out of a plane crazy, more get back to nature without getting our hands dirty crazy.

We found it, 15 minutes out of Kerikeri — Magic Cottages at Takou River.

Ian and Anna, the owners, wanted to create a little slice of paradise and spent years looking for the right place, I’m glad they took their time because as far as a slice of paradise goes, they nailed it.

At Takou Bay, a short paddle from the beach, they found 150 acres of rich land carved by rivers and waterfalls. They built a truly magnificent home on top of the hill with timber from their land, and are completely off the grid. Their entire property is organic-certified pasture which they farm with pride. And the care and nuturing of the land goes hand in hand with their hospitality. Among two hectares of sub-tropical gardens you can find four private cottages, a lodge and and my favourite, the luxury “glamping” site perched on the river bank.

Tenting isn’t for everyone though, I know my wife still has horrid memories of us travelling around Europe in campgrounds with very little in the way of facilities.

Thankfully Ian and Anna thought of all that, and directly across from the glamping tent is the cutest little cottage you will find. Inside there was a large kitchen, a shower and bathroom with robes and fresh towels all waiting for us.

When we first arrived, late in the evening, the light was fading so we decided to journey along the river to where Anna had said there would be more surprises waiting for us.

Our path took us into a section of forest wrapped around by the river, and in a clearing stood a huge table made of wood and rock, like something out of The Hobbit.

The table was lit up with candles, there were towels, robes, and better yet, an ice bucket with chilled champagne.

If it was summer, we would have grabbed the bubbles and dived into one of the many swimming holes surrounding us, but it was getting chilly, so we went for Plan B.

Nestled under a giant tree on the edge of the river, among a stunning grove of natives, was a hot tub steaming away.

That pretty much topped everything off. My wife called it “Wild Luxury” — and that summed up the place beautifully.

From the tub, we watched the sun go down, the stars come up, listened to the falls nearby and saw glimpses of glowworms on the rocks across the river.

The evening was perfect, and a good reminder to me of that old saying about how important it is to get back to nature once in a while

. . . but preferably in a hot tub while glamping.