Ocean View Airbnb Over Manu Bay: Raglan, New Zealand
Raglan was one of our favorite spots last time we visited New Zealand, so it was a no-brainer to include on our itinerary this time around, too. Known for it’s world-famous surf spots and quaint beach town vibes, it feels familiar to us coming from Santa Cruz, California. Raglan is no secret though — so as soon as we booked our flights to NZ, I started looking up Airbnbs, knowing that January is peak summer tourist season, and options will be limited if I waited too long. Luckily, I found and reserved this unique vacation home, and it ended up being one of our favorite Airbnbs, ever!
For $130/night (inclusive of all fees), we stayed in this “peaceful bush and beach cottage,” directly above the iconic Manu Bay. The house itself was nothing too extraordinary - quite old school, to be honest - but the surrounding areas, the views, and the privacy were what was exceptional.
Upon arriving, the driveway is a dirt/gravel road winding through ferns and native bush for half a mile or so, passing by the hosts’ main house (though we never met/saw them the whole time), with the driveway dead-ending at our cute guest house. The cottage is perched atop a hill providing a beautiful and unobstructed view over a portion of the Manu Bay surf break, the renown left featured in Endless Summer. The entry space of the living room was all-windows, letting in daylong sunshine and delightful views.
Per my earlier comment, while the house was nothing too special, it did offer plenty of space. It technically sleeps up to 6 guests with an extra loft space that we never used, so with just Shaun and I, we had plenty of room. Also, we were working remotely this week, so the different spaces to set up shop in the morning (and the reliable wifi!) were imperative to us. The full kitchen was also appreciated, especially since we were in Raglan midweek, and several of the restaurants were only open on weekends, or would close early - like 5pm! Being able to cook a full dinner was lovely, especially after eating out for nearly every meal the previous week.
A super special feature of the property was the beach trail and viewing area. At the end of the driveway was a discreet trailhead (the hosts left us a hand drawn map and directions) meandering down through the native bush of lush ferns and epic greenery. The hosts’ instructions warned many times that the trail could be dangerous/slippery if after a recent rain, but we didn’t find it too bad or too muddy. After about 10 minutes hike, you hit a Y. To the right is a stunning scenic outlook, groomed perfectly to enjoy a sunset happy hour complete with two chairs to soak in the views (pictured above). This little viewing area was such a pleasant surprise and such a value-add to the already wonderful experience.
To the left on the trail, keep walking another 5-7 minutes and you hit the rocky coastline across from Manu Bay. If you time it to go at low tide (the tides are extreme in New Zealand!), then you can find a sandy beach just to the right, another 5 minute walk or so. We came down here on the perfect beach day, weather in the 80s with no clouds in the sky, and we lathered up the SPF and enjoyed the petite beach all to ourselves.
Considering the cost and value of this cottage, it was one of our favorites, we’ve ever been to. At $130/night and ability to sleep up to 6 people, I think the price could at least be doubled. The only con, which is barely worth mentioning, is the house was very bare bones for household items like any paper towels or extra trash bags. Since we were only here for 3 nights, it was no issue, but any longer and it may have been a nuisance.