We began our stay here a few days before NZ was plunged into another Level 4 lockdown. We had only planned to be here for a few days, but seeing the state of the country, we knew The Sandcastle was the best place we could be to lockdown! Steve was extremely welcoming and flexible allowing us to stay throughout lockdown in the same cottage. As Steve was in our bubble, we had a great time getting to know him and about the surrounding area and hearing about how they had transformed the land into what it is today. All in all we had the most relaxing time listening to the birds, relaxing by the water features and walking along the beach in the evenings. We made great use of the hall: playing music, great games of table tennis, yoga and generally watching the world go by. If you are in NZ, this is the secret gem you don't want to miss out on. We have now stayed here both in Winter and Summer; both were gorgeous in their own ways! In Summer we had easy access to miles and miles of quiet beaches and amazing swimming, and even in Winter the weather feels like an English summer! We can't wait to return to this little paradise in the future.