The name itself evokes windswept bays, brooding skies and pleasing isolation, and if you spend a winter weekend here the roaring fires, cosy sofas and flickering candle-light will suit the mood perfectly. However, turn up for a weekend in spring to find airy rooms flooded with light, fragrant flowers on every surface and a garden bursting with pretty colour.
Each room has been designed to soothe your senses, from strategically placed windows to capture the light to the heavenly bathtubs and luxury lotions. If you choose to eat in you will be served a home-made meal of garden-fresh veggies and organic produce straight from the market. if you choose to eat out, you will be given a lift and picked up again after so you can both relax over a drink or two.
Whatever you are hoping for, the Lonely Bay Lodge will suit your mood. The decor is modern ‘country cottage’ with the overall feel luxurious. The service is attentive but unobtrusive. It’s more like staying with friends who give you plenty of space but have quite simply thought of everything.
If you’re looking for stunning views in an unpretentious setting in the legendary Bay of Islands we may have found just what you have in mind.
If nothing else, New Zealand is known for its wow-factor landscapes and the Crisdon castle definitely uses its assets to full advantage. Perched on top of a hill in an unassuming suburb, the panorama takes in the changing moods of a tidal harbour, a mossy blanket of headland reserves and a big, big sky.
The accommodation itself ticks the right boxes if you like tasteful decor in natural tones, the romance of candlelight and natural oils, and sink-into-deep- slumber soft bedding. Check your room has the best views, some are tucked back a little. It’s worth paying that bit extra for the real deal.