We found our Tui Treehouse nestled amongst Kiwi orchards and overlooking a lush green valley in the Bay of Plenty. We were welcomed at the gate by the host’s dog, Mel, who gave our car a cursory sniff-check before trotting off to find one of her toys.

After a long week stuck indoors facing computer screens, this little treehouse hideaway was exactly what we needed to unwind and recharge. Although equipped with solar lighting, the treehouse is free from the distractions of wi-fi and power, which gave us the perfect opportunity to unplug from city life, kick up our feet in the cosy bed or in the hammock and enjoy being serenaded by songbirds as the sun slowly set over the horizon.

Awake before sunrise the next morning, we drove to Mount Maunganui on the deserted morning roads and hiked 2km to the summit where we were wowed by the views as the sun rose over the Tauranga coastline. A trip back to the forest had us exploring some gorgeous local water holes for a quick but refreshing dip, before returning to the treehouse to warm up in the awesome little shower overlooking the forest.

After a long day exploring, we relaxed next to a cosy fire in the gazebo located near the treehouse, as we played card games and watched the sunset – the perfect getaway!