We stayed two nights in this lovely beach house with our daughter and her partner. They had worked in Opotiki picking kiwi fruit last winter, and wanted to show us their favorite walks and haunts. It was really a terrific find: beautiful views from the living/dining rooms and the master bedroom, comfortable beds, a compact but functional kitchen, an easy walk to the beach, and only a short drive to Whakatane and Opotiki.
We had two nice hikes in Opotiki, saw a movie on the rainy morning at the Whakamax (also the place to get the best ice cream in town, according to my kid), and also took the ferry ride to White Island to see that volcanic island. Not to mention collecting shells and napping on the Ohope beach.
The driveway is indeed steep and narrow, but we had no problem maneuvering our rental station wagon up and down. All in all, a great introduction to the Bay of Plenty.