My partner and I wanted to escape Auckland for the weekend and find somewhere close, in nature, private, and ideally near the beach. That’s a very demanding criteria but we managed to find all of that and more at Amir’s place. The Dome is a tidy, stylish unit nestled in gorgeous bush surrounding the Karangahake Gorge. There are both hard and easy walks nearby and Waihi beach is a short 15 min drive. The dome is comfy, clean and functional, and the bathroom next to it is modern, clean and much nicer than expected. Amir gave us plenty of space but was attentive whenever we needed something. We struggled a little with the lack of kitchen facilities but hopefully a makeshift kitchen is in progress. I probably wouldn’t recommend staying here if you’re not a fan of dogs as they can be a little confronting at times, but other than that the raw nature is beautiful. We will certainly be back for more adventures!