On our East Cape trip with the Stray bus, we stay at three hostels and all of them feature views of the ocean.
Two of them actually rank as my favorite hostels of the trip so far. The first is Brian’s Place in Tokomaru Bay; I snapped this shot from a ledge overlooking the property.
That’s our bus driver Tim on the porch below.
The house is cozy and clean. There are eight of us traveling with Stray and we each pick a bed.
I love the bright colors and open floor plan of the kitchen.
It’s relaxing just to sit on the back deck and admire the view.
Liz is the caretaker of the property, wearing rose-tinted glasses below.
The next night we stay at Maraehako Bay Retreat, which is located right on the water.
Later in the afternoon I curl up on this couch to edit photos.
The multiple levels and staircases makes it feel like Swiss Family Robinson.
Later that night we enjoy crayfish (aka lobster) for dinner. More on that in tomorrow’s post.
Doesn’t this look like the perfect place to chill out for a few days? I wish I had more time to relax here. And there’s no internet or cell service, so it’s easy to unplug and unwind.
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So different than the hostels I stayed at in Europe, right?! These more closely resemble luxury cabins in Big Bear! Awesome!
Most of the hostels I’ve stayed at have been rather plain, but these two had so much character. Way better than our cheap European hostels from ten (!) years ago!
your photography is absolutely breath-taking. maraehako bay retreat is my brother, pihi’s place and yes. it has sooo much character to the place. beautiful.
Thank you Katerina! Maraehako Bay Retreat is a gorgeous place and I am so glad I got to visit there. Thank you for your kind words!
oh wow, Maraehako Bay Retreat is my uncles beautiful piece of paradise. Is it possible to get a couple of pics (need high resolution) sent for a book being published about nz please. I especially love the last 2 you have posted
The email address is gonikki@paradise.net.nz
Hi Nancy! Maraehako Bay Retreat is beautiful — very neat that it belongs to your uncle! I don’t give out my high res photos since I make my living through photography. I hope you understand. It means a lot to me that you like the photos! Thank you for the comment!
Hi Erica
Wow!!! Just been browsing the net and out of curiosity wanted to find the hostel I loved the most on my trip to NZ in 2001…
Maraehako Bay Retreat definitely was as memorable as you describe it! Still kinda looks exactly the same, yet I’m sure lots has been updated since then. Immediately recognised it.
We initially only wanted to stay one night but then changed our plans and stayed longer. It has such a special feel about it.
And Pihi was great!
Thanks for bringing back those memories for through your beautiful photography. Maybe I will go back one day since I have dear friends and my husband family in NZ now….
Cheers from Switzerland!
Hi Mimi,
How wonderful to see this comment! It’s been over five years since my trip to New Zealand and I think of it fondly and often. So glad to hear it brings back good memories for you too. Cheers to you and your family!
–Erica