A childhood fairytale with a view

By KAREN GOA

The bush-bordered road winding uphill keeps its secret well, until the last corner. Then the surprise is sprung and - I admit it - on first glimpse I gasped like a B-grade actor. Set on clifftops overlooking Oakura Beach's surf and sand, the villas beckon like a childhood fairytale.

Winners of the New Zealand Award for Architecture - Hospitality (2003) and the NZIA-Resene Award for Sustainable Architecture (2002), Ahu Ahu Beach Villas reflect their owners' ideal to meld European styling with local recycled treasures in a seaside setting.

David and Nuala Marshall returned from their overseas travels to find they'd taken lots of photos of a certain style of architecture, so the choice for their tourism venture was obvious.

There are only two villas, each split into two self-catering units. Each unit is paved with a shell- and stone-inlaid polished concrete floor that lured me into the unit, looking for the next interesting piece.

David roofed the villas with 100-year-old French clay tiles salvaged from the now-defunct Stratford Hospital, also the source of the scallop-decorated hand basin in my compact bathroom.

Rough-hewn wharf piles from Nelson do duty as ceiling beams and warm the white-plastered walls. Driftwood is reborn as curtain rod supports, and leadlight or Hundertwasser-style bottle windows cast a quirky glow.

Put together, the feeling is classically simple, but not stark, and surprisingly airy given the solid materials anchoring the villas to the clifftop.

The kitchen/dining/lounge area looking out over the sea is big enough to foxtrot in and has my favourite piece of furniture - a twosome-sized window seat, perfect for napping, as I discovered. There's plenty of room for four - two sleeping downstairs and two upstairs on the mezzanine - if you're in a sharing mood.

The plushly linened beds are the kind I'd love to bounce on, if only I weren't so grown up.

Although the villas are rural it's only a short drive to lots of Taranaki's attractions. The Marshalls can point out the choicest surfing spots, streams for picnicking or swimming, world-class gardens and eateries.

Weather permitting, they can arrange a fishing trip to catch a nice blue cod or snapper for dinner.

Or - my choice - just curl up in the window seat, listen to the surf boom and watch the sun turn the sky into an artist's palette. Sloth is inevitable. Did I mention the view?

* Karen Goa was a guest of Ahu Ahu Beach Villas and Revitalize.

Where to find it:

Ahu Ahu Beach Villas, 321 Ahu Ahu Rd, RD4 New Plymouth

ph 06 752 7370, mob 025 781 206, email: holiday@ahu.co.nz

What it costs:

$150 a unit a night for two people, $30pp for each extra guest. Ask about rates for longer-term stays, especially in off-peak seasons.

Getting there:

Ahu Ahu Beach Villas are south of New Plymouth, 8km from Oakura. Take SH45 from New Plymouth through Oakura, turn right at Ahu Ahu Rd and follow the signs.

New Plymouth is approximately five hours' drive from Wellington or Auckland. Commuter air links connect New Plymouth with Wellington, Auckland and other centres. Daily bus services link New Plymouth with major centres. The villas are on a secluded rural road, so having your own transport is handy for going out for dinner and touring.

Access:

One of the units is wheelchair accessible, and all have flat access from the seaward entrance.

Smoking:

Not encouraged inside.

Children:

Welcome.

Food:

All units have a fully equipped, modern kitchenette. Self-catering breakfasts are available on request, $15pp for continental or $20pp with bacon and eggs added. Or try one of the local eateries - transport to and from Oakura can be arranged.

What's good:

Expansive sea views from inside and out, the ingeniously recycled washbasins, beams and bottles, the posh beds, the short downhill walk to the beach, the hot water shower outside each unit (there's one inside too, of course), the seclusion.

What's not so good:

The villas are only two years old so the grounds aren't finished, but the view is so seductive you barely notice.

They're self-catering so remember the essentials (and toiletries).

Where to eat:

* Cafe Wunderbar, 1139 South Rd, Oakura. Ph 06 752 7303

* Butlers Bar & Cafe, 1133 South Rd, Oakura. Ph 06 752 7765

* Green Ginger cafe, 1151 South Rd, Oakura. Ph 06 752 1399

Girls' nights out:

All four units can be booked for special occasions. Ahu Ahu Villas offer weekend packages or day stays for groups of five or more women wanting a treat. Choose from Beauty Indulgence, Garden & Gourmet, Arts for Arts' Sake, Outdoor Experience, Food & Wine Fest, or customise your own package.

www.ahu.co.nz