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Cliffs falling to a bright sea in late light

The coast

Best seen on foot

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There is no need for a car once you arrive. These are the walks and small pleasures we point guests towards, all within an easy distance of the gate.

Three day plans

Rounded granite boulders with orange lichen at the edge of the water, the grey bay beyond under a silver sky

A shoreline wander

About two hours

Walk down to the harbour, out along the jetty and round the bay on the sand. Look in the rock pools at the far end, then home by the lane.

Tussock on the headland in low sun

A headland half day

About four hours

Take the path from the end of the beach up to the headland, with lunch in a backpack. The bench at the top looks down the coast; come back the same way.

Dinghies on their moorings off the old stone wharf in an overcast calm, kelp along the shore

A slow town afternoon

Most of an afternoon

Twelve minutes into town for the bakery, the bookshop and the small museum by the old wharf. Have an early dinner and walk home in the long light.

A sandy gap through the marram on the foredune to a pale, calm sea under silver cloud
A tunnel of tea tree opening onto the beach

Getting here

By car, or by
train and bus

By car, the last hour is along the coast road, and there is parking by the gate. By public transport, a train and a connecting bus stop at the top of the town, a short walk away.

Short walks

Close to the gate

  • A clear rock pool over stones and kelp among granite boulders with orange lichen

    The rock platform

    Six minutes. Best at low tide, in old shoes.

  • The weathered boards of an old timber jetty running out over silver, calm water

    The old jetty

    Three minutes. A swim when the bay is flat.

  • Lichen covered granite around a small calm cove, wind pruned trees above

    The little cove

    Fifteen minutes along the sand, out of the wind.

  • Small boats on their moorings at low tide, the wet flats silver and a low scrubby shore behind

    The harbour

    Three minutes. Small boats on their moorings, wide flats at low tide.

What the house lends

Towels, a basket,
a map

A lone swimmer wading out into a flat grey sea in the morning

Beach towels, a picnic basket with a rug, a cooler bag and a hand drawn map of the walks are kept by the door. Take what you need and bring them back when you are done.

The bay from the dunes in the last light, grass heads in front and the sun low behind a bank of cloud

Leave the car at the gate. Everything worth seeing here is a walk away.

The house on its dune, its railed deck and door in a veiled late sun
The beach at low tide in the last light, the wet sand holding a cream gold glow below the dark dunes

Enquire now

Walk out from the gate each morning and come home in the long light

By the bayFour guestsTwo rooms

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