Submerged in an outside bath tub, looking out to the ocean, seeing the leaves above gently sway with the wind, listening to the waves crashing onto the beach below and cicadas celebrating life, while the sun sets slowly and the stars start to come out, you can't help but contemplate how lucky you are to have arrived to this special place.
The property is more expansive then it appears in photos (we've only walked around the entirety of it once during our 2 week stay, and it took us maybe 20 minutes to do it) and very well kept. Our kids loved exploring the many nooks and crannies around, looking for treasure, they said. What they found was better than that, with wetas, stick insects, moreporks, tuis and many other amazing creatures coming to say hello.
The house itself (the one you stay at, called the bure) is basic, but has all the amenities, comfortable beds plus a wonderful view of Sandy bay.
Whale bay, a dream-like beach, with calm warm waters is only a 15 minute walk away from the house. Other beaches nearby can give you a different, more sporty experience, with good conditions for surf or bodyboarding.
There isn't much around in terms of shops and so on, but that's kind of the point. The dairy (a small shop with things like bread, milk, ice cream and fish&chips) is very close in Matapouri, and it's a wonderful place, a local hangout spot with a soul, that also makes great coffee.
Seeing the Milky way on a clear moonless night, without a single artificial light source to be seen, is something we'll never forget.
Susan's place isn't really a house, it's a once in a lifetime experience. And if we're lucky enough to do it again, we absolutely will.