As we disembarked from our 12-seater plane and out onto the airport’s beachfront runway, we knew we had escaped from the crowds and frenzied energy of the big city, to an island perfect for adventure and relaxation. An island where everyone gave us a wave as we passed on the road, and all took pride in their efforts to live serenely and sustainably.

We reviewed our map and set of instructions, like the clues on a treasure map, to find our X spot on the island. Head past the White Elephant, look for the first sign marked with an ‘X’ and continue past the property with a fancy gate. Down a winding gravel driveway, the forest opened up revealing our prize.

Sitting high on the clifftops, this coastal gem offered us a view that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. To the south lay the northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, while to the north we looked out on private coves that evoked a feeling of treasure islands and lost worlds yet to be explored.

That night, from our deck, we had quite literally the best seats on the island to watch the sunset as it melted into a pool of gold and soon after the Milky Way glowed in the clear night sky overhead.

The next morning, we greeted the sunrise atop a cliffside at the southern tip of Medlands Beach and then made our way to ‘My Fat Puku’ for breakfast. We then hit the beach and took a dip in some pristine mermaid pools.

From hiking to soaking in hot springs, we filled our days trying to experience as much of the Great Barrier Island as we could before returning to our accommodation to make sure we didn’t miss the best show of the night. At the end of a day full of adventure, nothing could beat watching the sunset from the deck at XSPOT.

We loved every minute of our time on the Great Barrier Island. The luxury of our stay, our adventures in the untouched wilderness. The truth is that we barely scratched the surface of all this place has to offer, and we cannot wait to visit again.