Taemaro Lodge (#2408), Mangonui, which won gold for the best bach setting in New Zealand. Photo / bookabach.co.nz
Taemaro Lodge (#2408), Mangonui, which won gold for the best bach setting in New Zealand. Photo / bookabach.co.nz
When it comes to having the most idyllic locations for a bach, two Northland holiday spots have proved the region has pockets of pure bliss, taking out the top two spots of the Best Setting list at the country's annual Golden Piwa bach awards.
A total of nine awards cameto the region this year including best bach setting, with Mangonui's Taemaro Lodge taking gold and Tutukaka's Stunning-Beachfront winning silver. Taemaro Lodge is described by Bookabach as a "one-of-a-kind beachfront bach on 800 acres of private land".
Mike Langridge manages the property on behalf of his family. The bach, which sits 20 metres from the sands of Taemaro Bay, was built 40 years ago by Mike's father and is a "rustic" haven running on solar power, with water piped from a nearby spring.
Also scooping gold for the region was Oke Beach House in Rawhiti in the Bay of Islands, which won Best by Design.
The luxury, cliff-top property has already won several awards for the architectural design and style since it was built in 2005, once scooping the Master Builders House of the Year.
Second place in the Best Eco-friendly award went to Onepu in Whangaroa, while Dreamcatchers at Doubtless Bay won silver for Best Quirky bach.
Also winner awards were Villa Moturua, Tapeka Point in the Bay of Islands (Best Pet-friendly/Bronze), Richard and Vanessa Owen of Hammock at Driftwood, Kerikeri (Best Hospitality/Silver) and McLeods Bach in Mangawhai Heads (Best Child-friendly/Silver).
The Supreme Bach of the Year title went to the South Island's Beech Hill in Mapua, Golden Bay.
