Tunapo Escape is perched on top of Paekākāriki Hill. Photo / Lilia Alexander
Tunapo Escape is perched on top of Paekākāriki Hill. Photo / Lilia Alexander
The highlight of Tunapo Escape - just 35 minutes from Wellington’s CBD - is undoubtedly the large outdoor bath with sweeping views out to Kāpiti Island, writes Georgina Campbell
Surrounded by a working farm but completely secluded, this is the perfect getaway if you’re looking for a break from the city.
Location: Tunapo Escape is perched on top of Paekākāriki Hill and is about a 35-minute drive from Wellington CBD.
Perfect For: This place is designed for a romantic getaway but it could also serve as a retreat for a single person looking for some zen time.
First Impressions: We drove from Wellington and it felt like a world away from our life in the city. The most striking thing was the seclusion and the opportunity to be in our little world.
Tunapo Escape enjoys a completely private and secluded setting. Photo / Georgina Campbell
Hannah, our host, was responsive to any questions we had in advance via text message and email. She greeted us when we arrived but wasn’t overbearing and pretty swiftly left us to it.
A handwritten welcome note with some strawberries, cherries, and decadent chocolates was a lovely touch.
The room: There is one bedroom with a firm queen-sized bed and hypnotic views across the sea and nearby hills. The pillows were extra long and the sheets were a crisp linen.
The bedroom is separated from the main living area by an alcove where there is a record player, board games, puzzles and yoga mats.
There is a door from the bedroom to the deck where there is a gorgeous outdoor bath. It can easily fit two. Bath salts and a delightful bubble bath scented with patchouli, frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood were provided.
The room at Tunapo Escape has a queen bed with extra large pillows. Photo / Lilia Alexander
I would highly recommend soaking in the tub with a glass of wine while you enjoy the completely private setting.
I loved slipping into one of the provided linen bathrobes afterwards for ultimate comfort.
The only noise we heard was the sheep. There were a few pesky flies but this retreat is on a working farm after all.
Bathroom: The underfloor heating in the bathroom was a real luxury.
The shower had great pressure and felt very serene against a backdrop of green tiles.
Shampoo, conditioner and body wash were provided from the Sans range.
Facilities: There is cellphone reception although it can be a bit patchy on the way there.
There is a swing overlooking the ocean which reminded me of the swings you often see in Bali overlooking rice terraces. It makes for a great Instagram snap if that’s your thing.
There’s also a court with a petanque set provided or you could bring your own games. Klop would be a great option.
Food and drink: You can get your escape catered by Hannah, who is a trained chef, for an additional cost.
Dinner and dessert is $110 for two people. My partner is vegetarian so we had the twice-cooked goat’s cheese soufflé with micro salad and rosewater yoghurt pannacotta with strawberries for dessert.
Everything is pre-prepared so, it is either mostly cooked or can be reheated on the Weber barbecue outside on the deck.
The highlight of Tunapo Escape is undoubtedly the huge outdoor bath with sweeping views of the ocean and Kāpiti Island. Photo / Lilia Alexander
Hannah provides handwritten instructions on how to finish preparing the meal and it’s quite fun doing a little bit of cooking with the hard work already done.
Everything is left in a small fridge so, you can make the meal at your leisure without your stay being disturbed.
Breakfast is $50 for two and we had the delicious breakfast burrito.
The kitchen is well set if you would prefer to prepare your own meals with ingredients you’ve brought.
There were pots and pans, essential utensils, olive oil, vinegar and some basic spices.
Tea, coffee and milk were provided with a stovetop kettle and Bialleti coffee maker. There is a decent range of wine glasses, including flutes.
We brought our own wine but there are some bottles in a cabinet that you can buy if you get caught short.
In the neighbourhood: The Paekakariki Escarpment Track is accessible from the farm and is a destination in its own right on Kāpiti Coast. It’s known as the stairway to heaven because of the hundreds of stairs involved in the walk.
vehicle with rear-wheel drive or AWD is preferable.
We drove my Hyundai Accent most of the way but Hannah took us and our luggage in her ute for the final leg. When we visited, there were plans to do some work on this part of the road, especially to improve a tricky corner.
As it turned out, the Hyundai Accent even struggled to get back up the easier part of the road but Hannah skillfully manoeuvred the car (thank you Hannah! - I’ve never felt like more of a townie in my life).
Price: The escape is $450 per night with a minimum two-night stay apart from Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which are available for a single-night stay for $550.
Public holidays usually require a minimum three-night booking.
