Ed was a great host, and his place is super relaxed. The house is a beautiful old farm house with high ceilings and wooden floors, the cat is always eager for pets, and a trio of chooks roam the property. Plus there's a great hot tub on the back porch that we used every night. Ed's chill attitude made us feel very welcome, and we had some nice conversations -- he even taught us how to make a little camp stove out of an aluminium can.

The town of Takaka is about 15 minutes away, and the grocery store there, Fresh Choice, has surprisingly reasonable prices considering it's the only major grocery provider in the vicinity. The famous Pupu springs are a short drive down the road, and if you're eager to attempt the Abel Tasman Great Walk, then it's just under an hour away. There are tons of lovely beaches nearby and Ed gave us a huge list of recommendations!

Great little visit, would definitely stay here again if we pass through Golden Bay!