Need to get your man off the grid for a bit? Woman’s Day News Editor Kristina Rapley whisked her lucky fella away to Takou River, an idyllic spot just a short paddle from the coast near Kerikeri in the winterless north.
1. Where to stay
The Magic Cottages at Takou River are just that – magical. Our sanctuary for the weekend was an enchanting cabin perched on the Takou River bank, complete with kitchenette, bathroom and deck overlooking the water. The décor is luxurious and natural, while the candles and outdoor claw-foot bath filled with pink camellias really set the scene for romance.
Hosted by owners Ian and Anna, the 60.7 hectares of certified organic pasture, native bush and subtropical garden house four private and eco-friendly accommodation options including two cottages, a lodge and glamping site, as well as their beautiful home, which is powered by solar panels and hydro-power.
2. What to do
Having spent Friday evening basking in the outdoor bath by candlelight, followed by a liquid dinner, we awoke with rumbling tummies and slightly sore heads. Hopping in the über-flash Lexus NX200t SUV we borrowed for the weekend (I grew particularly fond of the seat warmer), we drove to The Old Packhouse Farmers’ Market in Kerikeri for coffee and pastries. All the produce is grown locally and you’re buying direct from the producer. Conveniently, right next door is the Makana chocolate shop and if you’re ever passing by, you must try the macadamia brittle!
Now that’s a magic cottage! There’s even a bathtub of blossoms (main photo) so you can soak up the vibe.
3. The hot tub
As part of our Riverside Romance package, our host escorted us to our very own private hot tub on Saturday evening, just as the sun was setting. A short drive from our secluded cottage, the freestanding tub is nestled amongst towering trees and rocks, right on the
river bank and not far from the nearby rapids, providing the most peaceful soundtrack to
our night of uninterrupted bliss. Candles, bubbles on ice and fluffy bathrobes – oh my!
4. But wait, there’s more!
As if the hot tub wasn’t luxurious enough, we returned back to the cottage to a three-course meal cooked by local chef Colin Ashton, from the award-winning Kerikeri restaurant Food at Wharepuke. My boyfriend had spicy Thai tom yum soup with tiger prawns, a rack of venison with roasted kumara, beetroot purée and pinot jus, and finished with homemade cheesecake. I feasted on Vietnamese spring rolls, aged Angus eye fillet with creamy garlic mash, green beans and Café de Paris butter, and kaffir lime and lemongrass panna cotta with vanilla-roasted seasonal fruit (which I haven’t stopped thinking about since).
5. At one with nature
There’s nothing like no Wi-Fi or cellphone reception to get you checking out your surroundings, and Magic Cottages makes that easy by providing detailed maps of their property, as well as kayaks to explore the river and nearby Takou Bay beach. After a 20-minute paddle downstream, we arrived on the deserted and sandy shores of the most glorious beach. We had it all to ourselves apart from two surfers who arrived just as we were leaving, and it was pretty cool to watch the birdlife along the river bank on the way back. We felt like pioneers discovering a new land. Not a bad way to spend a weekend, not bad at all!
The kaffir lime and lemongrass panna cotta
