Off-the-grid private home with beautiful views of St Omer Bay. Accessible by car from Havelock, by boat/water taxi from Havelock or Te Mahia (or anywhere in the Sounds) or by plane from Nelson or Wellington. 1 Queen, 1 Double, 2 Twins (bunks), large deck with retractable doors, steep driveway. Seclusion and privacy. Spring-fed water. 3 hours from Nelson, 2.5 from Blenheim by car. Come to unwind, relax, explore and recharge.
A DAY AT ST. OMER'S
When you wake up on Day One, take a moment to take in the silence. St. Omer Hide Away's remote location is blessed with a deep, natural quiet. Every once in a while - maybe 10 or 15 times a day - you'll hear a car winding its way down Kenepuru Road, but it's a distant sound.
(Though it's remote, St Omer Hide Away is not a place for loud music or parties. Sound does travel here and we want to preserve the quiet and be good neighbors.)
Two of the bedrooms - one with a queen-size bed and one with a full - present show-stopping views of St. Omer Bay and Kenepuru Sound and balcony access. The third bedroom is kid-friendly with bunk beds and no balcony or water view.
The shared bath, in typical New Zealand style, features a toilet (water closet) in one room and a sink and shower in a separate room.
Photos get you part of the way to understanding how dazzling the view is, but seeing it in person is a whole other story. Spend a few hours on the wraparound deck with a glass of local wine, blue skies above and jewel-tone water below, and you'll be made new.
Open the retractable patio doors in the living area and let in the fresh morning breeze. Brew a French press coffee and cook up some local eggs in the modern kitchen.
Side note: There are no stores or fuel stations in Kenepuru Sound, so you'll want to stock up on groceries before you get here (or have them delivered). We provide some dry goods including paper towels and toilet tissue, but you may wish to bring some with you just in case.
Despite the home's remote location, there is a surprising number of things to do nearby. Sightseeing by water taxi. Mussel farm tours. Exploratory trips on the Mailboat. Sailing charters. Kayaking, fishing, biking (and many other verbs). Hiking the Queen Charlotte Track. Golf at Nopera. Sunset on the balcony. But if you miss it, don't worry - the sunrises are equally awe-inspiring and will be waiting for you in the morning.
GETTING HERE
St. Omer's Hide Away is 3 hours by car from Nelson, 2 hours by car (or a 25-minute boat ride) from Havelock. Or take the ferry over from Wellington to Picton, then drive the rest of the way. See this post on our blog for more information.
CRITICAL INFORMATION: READ BEFORE YOU BOOK!
This home is far from typical. It is off-the-grid, spring-fed and uses solar/batteries & a generator for power. The driveway is steep. So steep that, when we met the locals, they said, “Oh, you're the people who bought the house with the driveway.”
Before you book, make sure you are okay with the below:
A 4WD vehicle is required to get up the driveway. You can also park at the bottom of the driveway and walk up with your bags...but again, it's quite steep.
The generator will not run between 10 pm and 7 am to preserve the silence of the Sounds.
Heat is from a wood-burning stove.
Cooling is via open windows (no A/C or other cooling).
There is no WiFi. (Wifi will be available for an additional fee, via Starlink, beginning mid-2023.)
There is no kid-friendly gear.
No nearby grocery stores, so you have to stock up in advance.
The reward for all of this, though, is the hush of seclusion and privacy, and the hilltop views that you will remember for years to come.
Rates may be quoted in NZD or your home country currency, but will ultimately be charged in USD. There may be a small monetary differential based on the date of the quote and the ultimate charging date. Plus the listing site may charge a currency conversion fee.
Reservations require the completion of a signed rental agreement including your credit card company. You are entering into an agreement with Splashy Ventures/Gulfport Florida and Splashy is the merchant of record for rent, taxes and fees.
