With special thanks to Lilah and Justine
We were recently generously gifted a beautiful one-night stay at a glamping property in Paengaroa – the Bay of Plenty, NZ.
With our overnight bags packed and a glamorous picnic hamper (part of this incredibly thoughtful gift) full of tasty bites, bubbles, and red wine, we headed south in our 4-wheel truck to enjoy a night in the wilderness.
Getting there
As we passed acres of Kiwifruit vines looking lush and fruit full in the midst of the picking season, verdant fields scattered with livestock and autumn shades from trees and vegetation, an approx 15 minutes drive from Paengaroa took us west, winding through country roads passing more paddocks of livestock and Kiwifruit vines on a stunning Autumn day. We couldn’t have wished for better weather.
Our destination was a property in the Canopy Camping glamping group, which offers a variety of options throughout NZ. Our locale was a charming wee cottage in the midst of a remote farm, called Piko Piko Valley.
What we found
Arriving just on check-in time, we navigated the unsealed driveway and several gates. As we reached our destination, we were greeted by a small (approx. 30 sqm) eco-cabin built on a small knoll framed with fluffy native grasses. There are solar panels on the roof, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, an interior, and cabinetry, built in marine ply, with a simple, restful palette of pale caramel complemented by black joinery. A black electric gas fire in the corner warmed us as we took in the stunning setting and settled in.
Surrounded by a generous wooden deck, canopied with a large cantilever roof and those previously mentioned glass sliding doors, access was up some wide, flat steps built over an actual babbling brook and screened with an array of native shrubs and ferns.
A comfy bed dressed in linen everything, a generous modern bathroom with fluffy dark green towels, a fresh hot-water shower, aromatics with liquid soaps and a room diffuser. A kitchen with attractive cutlery, crockery, and glassware; a new fridge; a living space with comfy chairs and a perfectly sized coffee table. Appreciated details such as rugs for your knees while hunkering in front of the fire pit (later), log side tables next to each “Cape Cod” chair, and throws on the bed and armchairs made our night in the wilderness beyond relaxing.
And wilderness it was – especially for a couple of entrenched townies. Enveloped by established native trees, and a spread of green as a green lawn. The only sounds were haws, chirps, and high-pitched squeaks (yes, we did hear kiwi calling in the night), the crackle of the fire pit, and the babbling of the stream that must eventually run into the Kaituna River. This river starts at Okere Falls, where white water rafting is popular and ends at the sea’s edge in Maketu on the east side of the Bay of Plenty.
What to do or not
There is a walk down the hill via a homemade track to the river and another track into the bush to view glowworms. We climbed halfway down the track but felt it was too late in the day, as by then dusk was falling and the track was getting dark. We didn’t explore the glowworms. The glowing fire pit was too bewitching for us, with the logs crackling and hissing, the delicious food, and plenty of yummy stuff to imbibe. Talk and laughter were the themes of this evening. As the night air cooled and a quiet breeze sent the smoke from the fire at an angle, we weighed up our next move. (No TV or internet service here to distract.)
The answer lay in the beautiful oval-shaped outdoor bath, its tap flowing with a combination of scorching hot water and cold, a sweet little jar full of Epsom salts, big fluffy bath sheets, and a night sky so clear the stars were twinkling bright and sparkly at us, making the decision to get the most of this rare opportunity a “no-brainer”. To sit together, relaxing in the warmth of the water, under a tree, sipping more bubbles and enjoying complete peace was, in and of itself, a rare gift.
The next day
As the next day emerged, we stood on the deck taking in the freshness of the early morning, gazing across the silhouetted trees to a silent dawn, sipping a cup of tea and readying ourselves for the new day and a promised breakfast at Pearl Kitchen.
Packed and ready, both reflecting, as we departed, on how refreshed and relaxed we felt, and how lucky we were to have been gifted such a special and memorable experience.
To find out more about the Pikopio Valley glamping cabin experience, click here
Further info: Paengaroa is approximately a 40-minute drive from Mt Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Tauranga Eastern Road Link tolls are payable. Go to https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/toll-roads
If you would like to know more about this or any other story on Mytravelroom please contact me on janeco@mytravelroom.co.nz
