Driftwood Seaside Escapes

Driftwood sits on 120 acres of bush and pasture on a private peninsula in the Bay of Islands, with its own stretch of beach and direct water access. The property holds four separate self-catering cottages: The Pad, which sleeps four; The Bach, for three; Olive Cottage, a smaller space for one or two; and The Homestead, which takes up to six. Each is a standalone building rather than shared rooms, so groups or couples can book the whole place to themselves.

There are also two fully private, self-contained RV sites, kept well apart from the cottages and from each other, so campers and cottage guests never overlap. Boat ramps on the property make it easy to launch your own boat or dive gear straight from the shore, and the surrounding farmland opens onto horse trekking routes and day trips toward the northern tip of New Zealand.

The drive in from Kerikeri takes about half an hour, past open farmland and large rural properties, with the final ten minutes on a well-formed metal road rather than sealed tarmac. Full kitchens in each cottage mean you're set up to cook your own meals rather than rely on nearby dining, and the setting is quiet enough that birdsong is often the loudest thing around.

Booking runs through the Driftwood website or by phone, with each cottage and the RV sites listed and reserved separately depending on group size and dates.