This is a very beautiful coastline and Glenn’s location is superlative. The cottage is warm and clean and the bed very comfortable. Views of the sea, the coast and the farmland are expansive from every window. Karitane is a fabulous slice of kiwiana with large, smart beach houses (expanses of glass and modern architecture) sitting comfortably beside typical South Island cribs - small, unpretentious, quirky places that are much loved, often adorned with treasures foraged from the beach. The beach is a beautiful stretch of sand shared by surfers, dog walkers and children playing all year round. The Maori history is well documented and proudly shared in a charming 20-30 minute walk around the headland that formed an ideal Pa site. The local European history is also fascinating with what remains of the site of Seacliff, an early 20th Century asylum, just a couple of kilometres further along the road to Dunedin.
It is an easy 30 minute scenic drive into Dunedin (don’t miss the excellent Saturday morning Farmers’ Market at the Dunedin Railway Station) and there is a great cafe in Waitati at Blueskin Nurseries. We recommend fuelling your body here before or after exploring the impressive Orokonui Ecosanctuary - set aside at least a couple of hours for this opportunity to wander through kanaka and lowland forest as it must have been before European settlement. There are tuis and bellbirds galore and you get up close and personal with the extremely rare takahe as well as highly endangered skinks and tuatara. so much to see and do - you’ll need to book several nights!