Luxury Nature Escape to Relax

My mouth dropped as I entered Te Awanga Cottage and saw how spacious, luxurious, and peaceful the cottage was. I immediately knew that the next two nights were going to be genuinely relaxing. The outdoor bath was bliss, with vast views over the paddocks and more.

While the weather wasn't my friend on the first day, I went and explored the local area, discovering a barn cafe and florist called The Black Shed. It was just stunning, and fortunately the sky cleared overnight, revealing the Milky Way shining bright above.

My favourite spot to visit in Hawkes Bay is Te Mata Peak, but this time I explored the nature walks in the Redwood Forest. These trees are some of the largest in the world and will leave you in awe!

The next day, I took out one of the electric bikes (provided by the cottages) and rode down to the local shops to grab a coffee from Brown Dog Espresso. I continued on to visit the local petting zoo and met some friendly farm animals to spend time with.

My solo stay at Te Awanga Cottage was the perfect way to relax and rejuvenate before going back to the hustle and bustle of work. This is the kind of escape I need and value every few months to reconnect with myself. I'll definitely be back.

Things We Did

  • Bike
  • Forest
  • Café
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Using an electric bike provided by the cottage, I rode down the beautiful country road to the local shops to grab a coffee. I then continued on to find a local petting zoo – the Hawkes Bay Farmyard Zoo. There were lots of friendly animals and it was great fun for all ages.
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A stunning short hike for nature lovers – these trees are the largest and tallest tree species in the world. Standing underneath the canopy of green, you feel so connected to the nature around you. This is a spot I could never get tired of.
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The Black Shed is a beautifully designed cafe with delicious food and coffee, as well as its own florist shop inside. This spot was beautiful and great for escaping the rain outside and having a meeting.

Our Adventure Map

Where we stayed
Things we did

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