If the simple life fills your bucket, you’ll feel right at home here. Our little bach is nothing fancy — and that’s exactly how we like it. It’s an old-school Kiwi bach where the days are slow, the feet are often bare, and the biggest decision might be whether to sit on the front deck or the back deck. The beach is just a three-minute stroll away and is a real favourite for families. The water is generally safe for little ones, with no rips, and every day can be a little different. Some days you’ll get gentle waves rolling in, while on others the water is so flat it feels more like a lake. The rock pools are great for little explorers, and there are plenty of rocks around the bay for fishing, exploring or launching one of the two kayaks available for you to use. Our little bay changes with the tides too — sometimes it’s sandy, and other days it’s covered in pebbles. It’s the kind of place where you can spend hours without really doing very much at all. Back at the bach, the front deck looks out over the estuary and farmland, making it a lovely spot for morning coffee, afternoon reading or watching the sun go down. The covered back deck is perfect for lazy lunches, rainy-day relaxing and keeping an eye on the kids while they enjoy the backyard. We’re on a quiet road, with a large front lawn that is made for kicking a ball, playing cricket, throwing a frisbee or having a family game of backyard something-or-other. The backyard is fully fenced, so the younger members of the family — both two-legged and four-legged — can enjoy themselves safely. Inside, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained when you’ve had enough of the outdoors. The puzzle table is always a work in progress, so feel free to add a few pieces to the ongoing puzzle during your stay. There are also plenty of board games and books for lazy afternoons, rainy days or evenings when everyone just wants to stay in. We’re about 10 minutes from Parua Bay shops and 30 minutes from Whangārei, so you’re close enough to grab the essentials or head into town, but far enough away to feel like you’ve properly escaped. There’s no need for a packed itinerary here. Bring your togs, fishing rods, kayak, a good book and your favourite people. Come for the beach. Stay for the slow days. Leave feeling like you’ve actually had a holiday.