Wake up on a regional park

FOR RENT: Classic kiwi beachfront baches. Few mod-cons, no TV, loads of character and nature on your doorstep. Close to Auckland, yet a whole world away. Make your booking today!

Experience an authentic kiwi beach bach holiday this summer on one of Auckland’s regional parks as the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) makes some of its beachfront baches available for rent for the first time.

Six restored traditional beachside baches become available for public bookings this month, providing an affordable and unique opportunity for Aucklanders to unwind, year round, in a beautiful coastal or park location.

Chair of the ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Sandra Coney says the baches are a very special feature of the regional parks network.

“We are delighted that the public will be able to book a bach on a regional park this summer and enjoy the magic of a classic beach holiday.

“People have few opportunities these days to escape from the city to somewhere with a slower pace and that captures a little of our nation’s summer holidaying history.

“These baches are also a unique opportunity for visitors to spend a night on a park – especially for those who prefer an inner-sprung mattress over a camp bed!

“Some of these baches offer a real ‘step back in time’; right down to the furnishings, the books on the shelves and the ageing wallpaper,” she says.

Dating from the 1930’s to the 1950’s the ARC’s baches have been refurbished to reflect a simple Kiwi bach, offering the chance to experience a ‘classic Kiwi bach’ holiday reminiscent of days gone by. A number hold significant heritage value and can offer stories of rich and colourful pasts.

The baches, located on Scandrett, Tawharanui, Wenderholm, Mahurangi East, Awhitu and Waitakere Ranges Regional Parks, join three already available at Mahurangi. The ARC’s aim is to introduce several more baches to the portfolio in the New Year, with plans to restore and release further baches for public bookings in the future.

The ARC undertook to play a greater role in the provision of short-term accommodation when the Council decided to retain and upgrade three baches at Scandrett Regional Park that had previously been scheduled for removal.

This led to a decision to restore and preserve other properties on the regional parks, and to investigate expanding the offer of bach accommodation to the public. With the opportunity to enjoy a traditional kiwi bach becoming an experience increasingly available to only a few the ARC hope that people can enjoy holidaying in the baches for years to come.

Bookings can be made by phoning the ARC on 09 366 2000 from 17 December, for stays from 20 December onwards. Phone bookings must be made in advance to avoid disappointment and ensure availability. Baches vary in size and capacity, may require special access arrangements and bookings are limited to a maximum of seven nights during peak season (October to May) and 14 nights off peak. 

Moonlight Bach – Scandrett Regional Park

Built by Geoff Moon and Charles Light in the 1950s, this bach is eclectic, eccentric and enchanting. Wake up just metres from the sea and watch the sun go down from the verandah in the evening. Sleeps 6.

Scandrett Regional Park is 82km and approximately 70 minutes drive north from downtown Auckland. Turn off at Warkworth and follow the signs through Snells Beach to the park.

Tawharanui Cottage – Tawharanui Regional Park

Let the cottage’s vivid, vibrant décor welcome you to the white sandy beaches, rolling pastures, shingled bays, and regenerating wetlands protected within this scenic open sanctuary. Sleeps 6.

Tawharanui Regional Park is 90km and approximately 80 minutes drive north from downtown Auckland. Turn off at Warkworth and follow the signs through Matakana Village to the park.

Wenderholm Beach House - Wenderholm Regional Park

Stay on the headland of the park in this 1955 beach house amid Moreton Bay figs, magnolia and coral trees. Refresh with morning dips and idle in sheltered pohutukawa glades cradled by the Puhoi and Waiwera Rivers. Sleeps 6.

Wenderholm Regional Park is 50km and approximately 40 minutes drive north from downtown Auckland. Continue north through Orewa on SH1, the entrance to the park is just north of the Waiwera bridge. Please take care when driving through the park to the Wenderholm Beach House.

Vine House – Mahurangi Regional Park, East

Frequented by artists and poets and steeped in literary history, Vine House, designed and built by Ron Vine in 1952, was avant-garde for its time. Slide back veranda doors, recline on the porch and watch over the lagoon and distant harbour coastlines. This bach has been restored in partnership with the Auckland Canoe Club. Sleeps 6.


Access to Mahurangi East is by boat only; catch a water taxi or launch a boat from Opahi Bay to Lagoon Bay.

Big Bay Bach – Mahurangi Regional Park, East

Nestled within a secluded bay of ancient trees, retreat to the deck of this 1940’s bach and watch the waves lap against the soft sand shore, metres from your feet. This bach has an outdoor vault toilet and no shower.

Access to Mahurangi East is by boat only; catch a water taxi or launch a boat from Opahi Bay to Lagoon Bay. Sleeps 8.

Baileys Cottage – Mahurangi Regional Park, Scott Point

Linked to the history of nearby Scott Homestead, laze on the grassy lawn of this cottage watching the boats tack by. Sleeps 6.

Scott Point is 80km and 70 minutes drive north from downtown Auckland Travelling on SH1to Warkworth and follow the signs to Snells Beach. Approximately 3km past Snells Beach turn right into Ridge Road and follow to the end.

Ferguson House – Mahurangi Regional Park, Scott Point

Pluck oranges from the balcony of this tranquil vantage point whilst watching sail boats criss cross the seascape of the Mahurangi Harbour. Sleeps 8.

Scott Point is 80km and 70 minutes drive north from downtown Auckland Travelling on SH1to Warkworth and follow the signs to Snells Beach. Approximately 3km past Snells Beach turn right into Ridge Road and follow the end.

Awhitu House - Awhitu Regional Park

The south west shores of the Manukau Harbour shelter the pohutukawa fringed swimming bays and long sandy beaches near the 1930’s house on this peaceful farm park. Sleeps 8.

Awhitu Regional Park is 90km and approximately 80 minutes drive from downtown Auckland. Travelling on State Highway 1 south, turn off at Drury and follow the signs to Waiuku. From Waiuku, drive up the Awhitu Peninsula through Matakawau. About 2km past Matakawau turn right down Brook Rd into the park

Barr Cottage – Little Huia, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park

Strong connections with pioneer settler history surround this cottage tucked away on the shores of the Manukau Harbour and close to Whatipu, Kaitarakihi and the breathtaking vistas of the wild west coast. Sleeps 6.

Little Huia, in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park is 40km and approximately 50 minutes drive from downtown Auckland.