Bethells Beach Cottages on Auckland's Wild West Coast

The Cottages at Bethells Beach

Pippy McCurdy

http://www.unusualstays.com/
http://italyoffthebeatentrack.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/italy-off-beaten-track.html


Some places just sing with creativity. They set the ideas flowing. They make you yearn to put pen to paper; to paint a wonderful picture; to write a song. At Bethells Beach there is just such a place. Bethells Beach cottages are charming; they are romantic. Sitting high on a hillside overlooking the pounding waves of the beach below the view is awe-inspiring. Sunsets are spectacular.

The cottages themselves sit in the midst of gardens which are a mass of colour and flowers. The lawns may be carefully manicured, but the gardens are wild and free. They are true cottage garden style - informal and abundant, with plants tumbling over each other. Cottage gardens are for me. I was won over before I even set foot in the cottage itself.

The cottages are on the outside, simple in form and unpretentious. Ply lined with splashes of paint adding definition they sit well, surrounded by their clustered gardens. Inside they are rich in decoration and style. Every comfort is there, but character is not lost. Cut flowers, dried flowers, stained glass windows, colourful furnishings, a soaring timbered ceiling, an extensive deck . Indoor spaces - outdoor spaces, sweeping views, - they are all there. No amount of time could be too long in this spot.

With black sands and surfers below, a hammock on the cliff edge, a hot tub with the best of views, this is a place that is romantic above all else. It is rustic, natural, unpretentious yet also luxurious. Close to an ideal combination, I suspect.