This apartment is just wonderful. We walked to the beach and then walked back to grill lunch on the barbecue and eat on the patio over looking the beach and a field with some horses. Later in the evening we enjoyed a colorful sunset and when it got dark looked at the stars. We took a very beautiful, short 10 minute drive to both Matapouri Beach and Whale Bay. I think the white sand beach you can walk to just down from the apartment is just as beautiful as Matapouri beach but it’s nice to see the variety. Whales Bay is a beautiful walk though the Pohutukawa trees to the beach. The apartment is larger than I realized. The sunny kitchen is connected to the seating area and sofa room. We took the lightweight chairs and table outside on to the deck to eat lunch and dinner in the sunshine with the views. I took a nap in the hammock and my husband took our beach blanket onto the grass off the deck and napped there. On our way back to Auckland we stopped at both the Whangarei Falls and Whangarei Heads. On the way to the apartment we picked up all our groceries, pick nick lunch stuffs, wine and beer at the New World grocery store in Auckland but there is also one in Whangarei. Follow the directions provided instead your GPS to find the house. The family is very nice and quiet. Although they were home we never heard them. They are very friendly and quickly respond via text message. We hope to come back soon!