Les' place is in a pretty spot, at the south end of Ahipara at Ship Wreck Bay. We rented the 'Top House' which had great views of the beach which we really enjoyed. The sand was soft and it's a good spot both for swimming and surfing. We enjoyed the outdoor living space at Les' place and my husband enjoyed the gas bbq on the deck. Make sure you go out on the decks, or drive at night to view the stars, or alternately sleep with the curtains open to enjoy the amazing night sky!
There are 2 small grocery shops in Ahipara and a liquor store, but we drove the picturesque 15 minutes to Kaitaia to shop at a large Pak 'N Save. There is also a Tip Top shop on the way in to Kaitaia, as well as some fast food places such as McDonalds and KFC once you are there.
Les' place in Ahipara is ~ 90 minutes drive to Cape Reinga and the Giant Te Paki Dunes. This was the primary reason we chose to stay in Ahipara and it worked out well.
Les and his friend Jeremy (who has a lovely, friendly dog) each have their own place on the terraced property, but the house and surrounds were quiet and our time there was comfortably private.
Les and Jeremy were friendly, welcoming, helpful and polite. We would recommend Les' place.