Erica and Rob Lauder looked online for a home in Napier, and found Oruawharo, a huge heritage-listed homestead in Hawke's Bay. Then they took "a giant leap of faith".
Brook Sabin/STUFF
A steep staircase weaves through jagged rocks, past canyons, to reveal the Jurassic heart of Great Barrier Island.
Some of the country’s best relaxation retreats are hidden in Auckland. Where exactly? You just need to look out to sea. Few realise the Hauraki Gulf has more than 50 islands, and among these are an increasing number of off-the-radar escapes. Brook Sabin checks out three of the best. Great Barrier Island – Oruawharo Beach House
Brook Sabin/Stuff It s the little things that make Great Barrier, well, great. Despite being so close to our largest city, it s an official Dark Sky Sanctuary. There are no traffic lights and nobody seems to use an indicator. I assume it’s not worth the effort of lifting your hand off the steering wheel. But the island has priorities: everyone lifts it off to wave at oncoming cars.