Sea views, lush native palms, birdsong, sunshine and blue skies make for an idyllic getaway in the lap of luxury.
And by lap, I mean infinity lap-pool luxury. With magazine printing deadlines being what they are, the shoot for this beautiful spread was completed in early November 2022, which at that time equated to peak monsoon season. As Food Editor Claire, photographer Josh and I pulled up at the spectacular Paroa Bay Winery and Estate, part of the renowned Lindis Group, the rain clouds momentarily parted, and we were able to capture the stunning Tarāpunga villa in all its glory.
Situated in (90 percent of the time) sunny northland, Tarāpunga is the premier villa on the property, with sweeping views of Paroa Bay and the Bay of Islands, and was designed to echo the flying wings of the local seabirds after which it is named. Shortly after arrival, Claire and I set about unpacking our ingredients and quickly realised that with such a well-equipped, vast kitchen we wouldn’t be lacking in any cooking tools. With a separate butler’s pantry, two dishwashers and a seemingly endless supply of crockery, cutlery and glassware, the villa is perfectly stocked for entertaining, whether intimately or at scale. The entire property is equally well thought out, and it would be easy to imagine arriving by boat, ascending the hill and immediately settling into the luxurious surrounds without a further care in the world. With three spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, and Weka, another stunning two-bedroom villa, just 20m away, this would make a magical location for up to 10 guests to kick back or party, depending on the mood.
If activities are on the agenda, there is a plethora to choose from. With tennis and badminton courts, sauna, spa, pétanque area, golf putting and driving areas and private boat charters available, the
