Heron Hideaway at First Light Rangihaeata Retreat

Lovely outlook and features- with the composting toilet and outdoor shower.

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The view was fabulous. Comfortable bed. 1 saucepan was good quality. Salt & pepper grinders.

Before we booked this accommodation the owners wrote that no reviews were available, as the property was a new listing, so we believed the owners claim & their self-assessment. After we arrived & researched further we found that there WERE reviews available since Dec 2024! Many of the ☹️ comments that had been reported were STILL not actioned. We arrived early evening to find that no doors or windows had been left open, so the heat inside the property was unbearable. All the windows, ranch sliders & glass doors are on the sunny side, so overheating is an issue on hot summer days. No Aircon - just an inadequate fan which just moved the hot air around a little. Mosquitoes, sandflies & moths entered when the windows were opened, even after the interior lights were turned off. No fly spray was provided so we had to keep all doors & windows closed at night. Others have complained that there should be insect screens, so the owners have provided a mosquito net to put over the bed. There is a ceiling hook, assuming you can stand on the bed to reach it, but the headboard is fixed to the wall so there is no way to drape the net behind the bed, so the net actually touches your face, so insects can bite you & the net is scratchy. There were some notices stuck on walls about reducing water usage & how the compost toilet works, but NO helpful information for guests about the property. On arrival the compost bucket from the previous occupants was half full & had been left on the kitchen counter. Although there was tea, coffee & sugar, there was no milk provided. Others had complained about that too, but the owners explained that they can't predict what sort people want. (Our next accommodation had messaged us asking what sort of milk we preferred & it was in the fridge on our arrival.) The cutlery had not been washed properly & there were particles of dried food still on some.

Die kleine Wohnung ist schön gelegen mit Blick über die Bucht (wenn die Hecke geschnitten ist :) Mitten durch die windgeschützte Terrasse wächst ein kleiner Ahornbaum, der immer angenehm Schatten gibt. Das Außenklo war gewöhnungsbedürftig aber völlig in Ordnung mit fließend heißem Wasser und mit großartiger Aussicht wie in einen Botanischen Garten. Der Raum innen ist gut eingeteilt, aber ohne Schränke. In 10 Minuten ist man zu einem süßen kleinen Strand hinunter spaziert. Nachts oft ein Sternenhimmel ohne Trübung.

The setting, the scenery, the quietness, the location to the main town, the cleanliness, the privacy, the spaciousness, the sunny terraces, the shower was cool also.

Could just about see the ocean over the bushes.

Shower very awkward for older folk, especially in the rain. Toilet paper ran out on first day thereafter we used our own. It would be helpful to have good washing up cloths and one or two items such as a grater and a funnel for filling thermoses.

A handy location in Golden Bay and yet in a very private, natural setting. The studio had 2 lovely views. The forest glade to the left and the view out front over the bay. The studio unit had everything a couple needed for our 6 days. Our hosts had the place in pristine condition for our arrival & were very responsive and helpful with Fiona even lending us a charger! The bed was comfortable with a great view. Great indoor to out door flow and a very sophisticated composting toilet!

Nothing

Bed comfy good fridge and gas stovetop nice view

Cleaning/washing liquids low could have had better instructions on how to get hot water gas to work instead of having to contact host. No milk or coffee bit unusual for the money