We stayed 3 nights in early May 2022 (last month of Autumn yet brilliant weather). Can only echo previous guests/reviewers ... Fresh, modern home with upmarket kitchen (& all the utensils you'll ever need), beautiful new warm carpet, contemporary decor, nicely-presented bedrooms (better than photos) - with ensuite bathroom shared by 2 of the 4 bedrooms & a separate toilet & shower at the other end of the house as well. Above all, unrivalled location & those spectacular views of Kenepuru Sound [that unsurprisingly awed virtually all previous reviewers] inducing a genuine feeling of relaxation, well-being & peace of mind ... not just the midday sight of sun sparkling on blue-green water surrounded by bush & hills but also those uniquely luminous sunsets you get in the Sounds. Amplified by the sublime pleasure of being surrounded by the sight & sound of native birds & trees & bush. On the evening Entertainment front: Good, diverse selection of DVDs ... must have been at least 60-80 if not more (we focussed on iconic film Goodfellas & both series of Ricky Gervais' Extras ... previous guests had left The Big Bang Theory in DVD player sadly suggesting not all guests are blessed with the good taste in comedy the rest of us might have hoped for). Kayaking available at both the Portage & Mistletoe Bay ... I chose the Portage ($25 for up to 3 hours in May 2022), hadn't kayaked since I was a kid but enjoyed it so much I ultimately paddled two-thirds of the way out to the western shore of the Sound, inadvertantly putting myself into the view from the Bach's deck. Elderly guests & those with mobility issues should note that there are quite a few wooden steps (20-25ish maybe) from the driveway up to the house & deck ... albeit with a kind of landing half-way up allowing for a brief rest (& importantly there's a handrail the whole way to help) ... but outside stairs are taken as read for all accommodation on Lawrence Rd ... they're the inevitable price for such fantastic views ... & my elderly parents (age early 90s) managed to negotiate the steps without too much trouble (tbf both are still pretty mobile) ... only noise during the early hours was on the first night - thought it might be a stray possum or weka causing a loud kerfuffle, turned out to be my stray 90 yo father raiding the fridge & cupboards for a middle-of-the night feast ... moral of story: think twice before you invite 90 yo men going through not so much a 2nd childhood as a 2nd teenagehood.
