Views from the Top is the perfect escape for anyone wanting to leave the hustle and bustle behind. Tucked away on the hillside and surrounded by native bush, this off-grid holiday home offers breathtaking ocean views from the deck, lounge, and dining area – the kind of outlook you won’t forget. Enjoy starry nights, the sound of the sea and days filled with swimming, exploring or simply relaxing on the deck with a good book! Wind your way up the driveway and you’ll be rewarded with a bach that’s all about relaxation and simplicity. Inside, you’ll find: Two bedrooms – the master with a queen bed, and the second bedroom with a single plus a set of bunks. One bathroom with a shower, plus a separate toilet. A well-equipped kitchen, perfect for whipping up your favourite holiday meals. A cosy lounge with comfortable seating and a flat-screen TV (though the view will steal the show!). Step out onto the deck and soak up those sweeping ocean views. Enjoy sunny afternoons with a cold drink and nibbles, fire up the BBQ, or gather around the indoor dining table for six when the evenings turn cooler. Heaters are provided for winter stays. This home is serviced by a tank water system and a septic system, so guests are kindly asked to be mindful of their water usage. The section is not fenced, adding to the natural, open feel of the property. Best of all, you’re just 5 5-minute walk or a one-minute drive to Cooks Beach – a popular holiday spot with sparkling blue water and soft white sand. Perfect for morning strolls, swimming, or launching the boat from the estuary end (just keep an eye on the tides).

There are great walking tracks over the headlands to Lonely Bay; a truly beautiful, secluded white-sand beach surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs. Walk up from here to Shakespeare Cliff, where there are breathtaking views of the whole of Mercury Bay. From there you can walk through a large grassy park and then drop down a track through native bush and gorgeous views to Flaxmill Bay with its top-class café (called “EggCentric”). There are many other highlights to enjoy. A short drive away is Hahei with its access to Cathedral Cove, an excellent brewery, a great art exhibition and a shop selling real-fruit ice-creams. A little further away is Hot Water beach, where you can dig a hole and sit in your own little hot pool. (Spades can be hired from the local shop.) And a short ferry ride away is the quaint town of Whitianga with its many cafes, restaurants, and oth