The Boat House at Arran Bay is a spectacular family holiday home in one of the most stunning locations on Waiheke Island. The home has been in the same family for nearly 20 years and this is the first time it has been offered for holiday rental. This is an opportunity to stay in a part of the island which is rarely available to tourists.
Arran Bay is off the beaten track around 25 minutes’ drive from Onetangi and requiring a 4WD vehicle in order to access the private driveway. It is one of the oldest inhabited bays on Waiheke and many of the houses are over 100 years old.
With 4 bedrooms, plus caravan sleepout, 2 bathrooms, summer house, boat shed and private beach access with a mooring, this property is a wonderful family home with all the amenities required to be able to sleep up to 8 adults and 12 guests in total.
The Boat House is a true slice of Kiwiana – a traditional weatherboard home that has been lovingly maintained and restored. Packed full of history, local artwork and luxury furnishings make this holiday home a comfortable and relaxing space to spend time.
The property is set on two levels, with the top floor containing the kitchen, bathrooms, living area and two of the bedrooms.
Inside the house is a large entertainer’s kitchen with every appliance you could possibly need, including a large gas hob, microwave, oven, dishwasher and a wonderful selection of pantry items, crockery, cutlery and serving platters. There is also an espresso machine, food processor and even a bread maker! During summer, the outdoor kitchen is our favourite place to cook. This offers a large gas BBQ, wood-fired pizza oven and has its own dishwasher and fridge.
Outdoor dining areas are available at the back of the home, with seating for 12 under a large sun umbrella with an outdoor fireplace keeping you warm during cooler evenings. There is also a large indoor dining table with seating for 8 guests.
The top floor also has two comfortable lounge areas, with a smart TV, high-speed internet, record player and Bluetooth speaker. There is an open fire to keep the place warm during the cooler months.
Upstairs you will also find the master bedroom and primary guest bedroom, the master has a super-king and the second room has a king-size beds, both are complete with luxury pillow-top mattresses. Downstairs are three more sleeping areas, with a king-single room leading through to the bunk room containing three more king-single beds. In an adjacent room is the final bedroom with a king size bed, giving a total of 3 x double and 4 x single beds in the main house. All sleeping areas can be accessed privately via external doors giving plenty of privacy.
There is a spill-over sleeping area in the garden caravan, this is perfect for one additional guest, but could accommodate two at a squeeze.
There are two bathrooms on the property, both are on the upper level. The main family bathroom is inside the house and there is also a full bathroom in the covered outdoor area next to the kitchen – this is perfect for washing off after the beach and gives an extra hot shower and toilet area when accommodating larger groups.
At the bottom of the section, down a private walkway you will reach the summer room, with views over the ocean - perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or reading a book. The room is breezy and shaded, perfect for keeping cool in the middle of summer. Right on the shoreline is the private boat shed, this is where the kayaks and paddle boards are stored and offers a ramp directly into the ocean.
Arran Bay offers a jetty for the use of all residents – perfect for offloading guests if you are arriving by boat. There is also a boat ramp at the end of the beach which can be used for launching jet skis and other small private water craft. The house comes with the use of stand up paddle boards, kayaks, fishing rods and the private mooring is included for boats up to around 40ft (minimum low tide depths are around 2 metres).
The local area is a hotbed for wine production, with Man O’War, Passage Rock and Awaroa vineyards all just a few minutes’ drive away. Even closer than that is the Waiheke Distillery, with fabulous handcrafted gins, a range of cocktails and great food just 5 minutes from the house. A little further afield, Onetangi and its range of bars restaurants and shops is just a 20 minute drive. The location is also very close to amazing WWII tunnels at Stony Batter, with guided tours offering a glimpse back into Waiheke’s past.
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