Style: December 02, 2019

82 STYLE | travel
Relaxing is easy when you
have views overlooking
Waimarama Beach.
- THE ECO-FRIENDLY -
Once upon a time, a bach with a long drop out the
back and some dodgy wiring was deemed an ‘eco’
option. Fortunately for our noses, time and technology
have moved us into an era of beautifully crafted
eco-friendly homes.
First Light House – Hawke’s Bay
This house went on an OE before finding its own little
slice of Kiwi paradise overlooking the white sands of
Waimarama Beach.
Designed and built by some very clever students at
Victoria University, the house was constructed in a Lyall
Bay warehouse before being packed down and rebuilt,
not only on the Wellington waterfront but then again
in Washington, DC for an international competition.
After winning a few awards, the house has settled on
Lightning Ridge. It has a small energy footprint due to
its solar-powered design – it produces at least as much
energy as it uses.
With one bedroom though, it is more of a sneaky
getaway for a couple, so a very good excuse to leave
the in-laws at home.
With its solar-powered design, First Light House
produces more energy than it uses.
Surrounded by nature, with views to match, this bach
will revive your energy.
Keeper’s Nest – Golden Bay
This is billed as a truly ‘off the grid’ experience – yes, it has
no wi-fi. Sounds delicious already.
With an orchard of apples, plums, figs and feijoas, this
eco-friendly bach is perched on a hill above Collingwood,
where you can pop your feet up at the end of the day
– perhaps with a suitably frosty glass in hand – and
breathe in the incredible views.
The bach is fully solar-powered and located moments
away from the beach. If you are looking for a place where
the boss can’t possibly expect you to check your work
emails, this bach is the one to book. With beach swimming
on your doorstep, cockles to collect and the Heaphy Track
nearby, it really is a place to soothe the soul.