We booked to stay for 5 nights in the Fiji Cottage. The drive was spectacular and when we arrived in the tranquil bush settings and saw the rolling hills and the ocean in the distance from the balcony of our cottage, we were instantly impressed. Birds were singing, fat cows were grazing lazily and the breeze was soothing. Taking Drew's advice, we ensured we brought enough food for a few days as shops and supermarkets were quite the distance away. The kitchen was well equipped with a fridge, oven, microwave, toaster, dishwasher and all the usual necessities. However , I would suggest bringing your own steak knives as there are none especially if you like a good hearty steak cooked on the Barbie. I'd also suggest bringing a sharp knife to prepare vegetables as the ones provided are blunt. First world problem but a helpful suggestion especially if you enjoy preparing meals and want to avoid the frustration of blunt knives.
The views from in the cottage are beautiful and could be enjoyed more if the windows were clean. We were informed that the salt air from the ocean makes them like this which we understand but we also know that if the windows were cleaned on the day before or even on the day that guests arrive that there's no way they would be as bad as they were. When I ran my finger along the glass, it was greasy. We live 500 metres from the beach ourselves and have never has this issue because we maintain it accordingly.
If you are a couple and enjoy the comfort of a cuddle when going to sleep then you may struggle being satisfied with these "commercial" twin singles which are joined to make a king. The beds are not conducive to affection nor a good night's sleep. I peeled back the covers and noticed the beds are not level which explained the divide we felt whilst lying in it . To my astonishment and dismay we also saw the underlay sheet that was heavily stained with old bodily fluids. Very cringeworthy. I wish I never looked and remained ignorant!
Having a cold beer whilst cooking meals on the rustic, salt ridden BBQ was enjoyable. I actually liked the effect as it added character. Internally, it was good, though bring a lighter as it does not start easily. There is a note saying if the electric starter doesn't light up the gas, wait 5 minutes and try again. The lighter will save you time.
There is no option in dining outside unless you bring the dining and chairs outside which is very doable. It is worth the effort especially if dining whilst the sun sets.
The balcony is huge but unfortunately there's only 1 item of furniture on the deck. We were informed this is due to high winds that occasionally come through. It's such a shame because it could be a very nice place to sit or lie and relax. Heavy styled cushioned furniture would definitely be an asset and add value.
The jacuzzi is a bonus. Give it time to heat up, climb in with a beer or wine and let it wash any aches or pains away. The aroma takes a little getting used to but before long you probably won't notice it.
Overall, the cabin has so much potential. We tried to share our thoughts with Drew & Marie but it wasn't received so well. I had a few business meetings to conduct and Drew assumed I was stressed from this. He even enquired if I had lost my job which I found a little intrusive. He then proceeded to tell me that I should stop stressing and enjoy the tranquillity of the area. My partner and I are both in our 50's and enjoy our lives so to have a person who doesn't know us express these views, gave us an indication that he wasn't able to absorb our feedback at all. His wife suggested we book in the city next time. As a result, we decided to re-locate the last 2 nights. We are empathetic people and understand that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on everyone especially in the tourism industry. We will not be asking for a refund especially with the additional stage 4 restrictions that have just been introduced. In saying that, their lack of respect for us was the most disappointing aspect. Drew often mentioned he was a superhost and had received multiple rave reviews which is quite true. This however does not exempt you from treating your paying guests, that have chosen your establishment as their holiday destination as stressed out city people. I am happy to provide photos to validate this review and if they had not being so arrogant and rude then I would have left no review.