A beachfront holiday apartment at Arkles Bay on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, about 40 minutes' drive north of Auckland. The apartment has a private covered deck with ocean views over the Hauraki Gulf, and a garden and patio with a barbecue.
The apartment has ground-floor bedrooms, and a lounge that can serve as a second bedroom. The kitchenette has a dishwasher. Guests can launch a kayak or paddle board from the beach next door, or go surf casting, and rinse off at an outdoor shower afterwards. The site is quiet and close to the sea.
Bookings are instant online, and the website says book direct for the best rates. The owner and host is Vicki Upton, who can be reached by email at info@staywhangaparaoa.co.nz or on 027 482 5748. The website gives opening hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday, for enquiries.
The area has calm beaches that suit families with young children, and orcas and dolphins are sometimes seen entering the peninsula. Snowplanet, New Zealand's only indoor ski slope, is nearby.
The apartment is at 23 Arkles Strand, Arkles Bay. Our pick in Arkles Bay for a family who wants a beach stay with a paddle board at the door.