Our experience at Sandcastle was tremendous, excellent, superb...

We stayed at Sandcastle for 10 days with our family of five. From the second we arrived, Allan and Debbie did everything possible to make our stay a memorable one. They were always there to answer questions and find activities that fit our needs. As importantly, they were willing to give us space when we wanted it to make our own discoveries.

Allan was tireless in showing us the gems (of which there are many) in the Ruakaka area. He showed us the Waipu glow worm caves, Whangerie Falls (and a waterfall that we liked even more nearby) and the local community. He set up surfing lessons for our girls, showed us the local school, and even taped an American football game for us to watch on TV.

The beach is at most a two minute walk from the house and it is absolutely gorgeous--miles upon miles of sandy beach with virtually nobody there.

We stayed in the downstairs which consisted of two spacious bedrooms, a bathroom, shower, refrigerator, and washer/dryer. There is also direct access to their backyard which is a nice place to hang out--we did our homeschooling there. We also had access to the multi-media room which has surround-sound, a projector, and a Wii/X-box setup. We also had access to the upstairs kitchen if we wanted to cook a meal in the kitchen which Allan and Debbie were very willing to share.

Ruakaka is not a major stopover for tourists, but it should be...at least if you are staying at Sandcastle. Allan and Debbie are wonderful hosts who are proud to show their area to others.

Sandcastle was a perfect start to our trip and I would recommend it to others without reservation.