- Clean all soil off your footwear and other gear, every time you enter or leave a forest/area with native trees, and at every cleaning station.
- Use disinfectant only after you have removed all the soil.
Long Term Stays are welcome.
17 July 2018
Longer stays are welcome. We would like to promote our Guests stay longer, either weekly or monthly. This is a change for us at Bush Sand and Sea B&B, and is in response to requests from some of our Guests over time. We anticipate that most long term stays would be during our Off Peak months of May to November, and specific Terms and Conditions will be negotiated and personalised for those who choose to stay as Independent Guests.
Normal Bed and Breakfast service will resume at most other times. If in doubt as to what will suit you best, or you wish to negotiate a stay, we are always happy to talk or email.
But are you too far from Auckland CBD?
5 February 2018
Is the distance too great to do things other than bush walk and relax? Are you too far from Auckland CBD? How far is Bush Sand and Sea B&B from Auckland’s CBD? All good and frequently asked questions. The short answer to these questions is no, we are only 45km from Auckland city, easily accessed by train.
Both distance and time are important factors when deciding where to stay. We are 48km from the airport and about 45km to the CBD of Auckland. The closest train station is at Swanson, a 12 minute drive from here. see train link Trains: www.maxx.co.nz. The 45 minute train ride ends at Britomart station, right in the CBD of Auckland. Walk out of the station straight intoQueen St with it’s many shops, or just cross the road to the waterfront, with it’s access to the Waitemata Harbour, the lovely viaduct with many cafes, the Events, concerts, Theatres and the Hauraki Gulf Islands, including Waiheke Island. We recommend that our Guests just take the train ride as an easy way to access the city and avoid traffic!
Two American couples recently stayed for 7 nights, and as they left, they commented that there is so much more they could have done from here, if only they had known! Of course Guests come here to Bush Sand and Sea B&B for tranquility from the big Cities, for peace and quiet, to be the ONLY Guests on 10 acres, and the beaches, Lake Wainamu and the native bush. And naturally the City Travel Agents promote they do city things. I also believe that they ‘fire’/send/promote Tourists out of Auckland far too fast, (perhaps to meet the demand to “see so much in too little time”) and so they travel to the fabulous Far North or down south to many other destinations. It all depends how long any person has to spend, and we ALL try to see as much as possible. We feel they miss out on so many other possibilities.
We also pride ourselves in taking an interest in WHAT Guests want to do- their ‘wants and needs’, and we are good at personalising trips, offering advice, and yes, we have bought tickets in advance for Incoming Guests when we have seen a good deal for a trip that’s on their list.
So, if you want the best of both worlds, we are not a bad option! And, no, we are not to far from Auckland’s CBD, (Central business District).
The upcoming Bethells Beach/Te Henga Community Day January 28 2018
21 January 2018
We have an exciting local event next weekend, the annual Bethells Beach/Te Henga Community Day January 28 2018. In the spirit of promoting such a wonderful event, there is now a special price on our Rates page for guests who may wish to attend.
This is a day for everyone to enjoy. Come on down to the local beach domain and join in all the activities in a fun filled day for all the family/whanau. Please remember to bring cash for purchasing raffles tickets and to buy from stalls as there is no EFT POS available.
Community Day is a not for profit/self-funded event. Money raised on the day funds the next year’s Day. It is also a fundraising day for the Bethells Volunteer Fire Service and for the Bethells Surf Lifesaving Club. Please give generously.
The Bethells Volunteer Fire Service are kept BUSY out here, (they had 4 callouts in 12 hours recently). They are an amazing group of Volunteers, who also have jobs to go to as well, and yet turn out at all hours. They provide a safety net for all Locals and Visitors and cover fire, accidents and misadventure. This is their only fundraiser. Community Day is not a big earner for them and yet they still patiently provide water slides, rides on the fire engine, etc. They are not running their usual drinks tent this year.
You will be met by children from the Bethells Surf Lifesaving Club asked for a gold coin donation. All cars are stopped at the beach end bridge. Our Lifesavers provide a hugely important service to all who swim or surf at the beach.
The programme is as follows:
Off-Road Race
Starts at 9.30am from the domain for all adults and children. Run or walk off-road race around the lake, over to O’Neill’s and back to the domain (around 14km). Call Vicki on 810 9077 for more information or just turn up at 9amish
Live Music
Come and be entertained by the stunning line up of local talent. If you would like to perform please contact Rico 8109101
The West’s Got Talent
Kid’s Talent Quest from 12.30 to 1.30pm. Always a popular event for our many talented rangatahi/youth to enter. All welcome with prizes for the winners. Register with Belinda on the day.
Cake Baking Competition
Love baking? Bring along your finest cake by 10am for judging by an experienced cake eater and maker Annette Lees. This year we are having a separate section for children up to 14 years old. A special prize for the winner of each section. All cakes will be sold off at the end of the competition to raise funds for next Community Day.
Art Tent
A great opportunity to bring along your art for sale or display. No commission. Bring your work ready to hang or sited by 9am on the day. All care will be taken with your art work.
Food Stalls/Car Boot Sales
Just turn up on the day $5 per stall
Other Activities include……
The famous water slide
Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving Stall
Raffles
Bethells/Te Henga merchandise – T shirts, stickers, caps
Opportunity to pick up an updated local phone list
Please Note: DOGS TO BE KEPT ON A LEASH
Want to give a helping hand on the day? We welcome people from 8 – 9.30am to help set up tents and then again from 5-6pm to take down and tidy up.
Please contact Sue Beesley 8109234
Kauri Dieback in our Waitakere Ranges
16 July 2018 UPDATE to KAURI DIEBACK. Sadly, much of the Waitakere Ranges’s tracks are now closed under Biosecurity regulations. Some tracks are still open and The Aritaki Visitor Centre is where you can get THE BEST and most up to date information. Check them out on https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/Pages/park-details.aspx?Location=204.
Luckily the walkway from Te Henga to Muriwai beach is still open, as are all the west coast beaches. There is still so much to see and do in our area!
4 January 2018
Kauri Dieback and Tracks in Waitakere Ranges January 2017
Kauri Dieback disease is affecting our Waitakere Ranges. I have compiled this blog with reference and thanks to many sources, in the hope that it will help our caring and discerning Guests who were hoping to come to us at Bush Sand and Sea B&B, and to explore our wonderful but sadly under threat Waitakere Ranges. A Rāhui has been placed over the Waitakere Ranges in a bid to stop the spread of kauri dieback disease. In Māori culture, a rāhui is a form of tapu restricting access to, or use of, an area or resource by unauthorised persons. For example Rahui are often used to manage coastal fisheries. This means that visitors are not able to use most of the walking tracks in the Waitakere ranges.
We still have a magnificent coastal walk available, part of the Hillary Trail, from Muriwai to Te Henga (Bethells Beach), approximately 4-5 hrs. You can enjoy the wonderfully wild beach, a walk to Lake Wainamu and almost 1km of track on our own land which is all-weather with its boardwalk and 4 bridges. On our track you can see some Kauri trees but we ask you to observe the shoe washing instructions and keep to the track.
Our Kauri trees are one of Aotearoa’s unique taonga. But kauri dieback is threatening kauri with extinction. There is no cure for kauri dieback yet, and it can be spread by just a pinhead of soil. But kauri will be saved – by people like you. Our closest tracks are in the Cascades. We, at Bush Sand and Sea B&B support the Rahui placed by Te Kaweraua a Maki in December. Here is a great video in which our own Local, Rewi Spraggon, explains the reason for this unusual action.
https://www.facebook.com/waitakererahui/videos/544001365961084/
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand also support this position, as do many Organizations, Locals and private individuals. The Waitakere Rahui Facebook page is:https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/protectourkauri?source=feed_text
It is fair to say that this extreme,(but essential view in our opinion), is different to that of our own Auckland Council. On December 5, Auckland City councillors have voted to close high- and medium-risk tracks to manage the spread of the disease.
Kauri dieback is a disease caused by Phytophthora agathidicida, a fungus-like organism and can be deadly for kauri trees of all ages. It is devastating our kauri trees. Kauri dieback lives in soil and infects kauri roots. Nearly all infected kauri die – there is no known resistance or treatment to the disease.
The report from Auckland Council shows that the rate of infection in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park (WRRP) has doubled in the last five years bringing up the question of whether preventing all public access to the park is needed to protect the trees from continued spread of the disease.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) have this to say on http://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kauri-dieback-recreation-project/
If you’re looking for a bushwalk, choose somewhere that isn’t in the Waitākere Ranges. Here are some great walks in
south, centraland north Auckland. In general, you should always:
As far as I am aware, if you are heading North after leaving us, you can still visit the fabulous Tane Mahuta
FINALLY, Is the disease found overseas, and if so, what are the protection measures elsewhere?
“The disease has not been found overseas. However, many other countries have had to manage Phytophthora diseases, such as Phytophthora dieback of Jarrah trees in Australia, Sudden Oak Death in the US, etc.” ref.https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2017/08/10/kauri-dieback-waitakere-ranges-expert-reaction/
KAURI TREE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agathis_australis
http://www.backpackerguide.nz/the-9-golden-picture-frames-in-auckland/
January Discount, Get a bargain quickly!
2 January 2018.
We have had some cancellations in January 2018, and have decided that it feels just a bit odd to be so quiet at this time of the year. There’s very little availability left in February and March. In fact we needed to disappoint some recent Luxemborgeans. They were so happy here at the start of their trip and wanted to return at the end of their New Zealand tour. Sadly, our calendar was already full on the new dates they wanted. C’est la vie!
So, we decided a discount was in order. The special JANUARY ONLY deal is: ” Stay 5 night minimum, pay the reduced price of NZ$1050, (22.5% discount), and between Jan 8 and 19th 2018″.
Email or ring us directly please to check dates and price.
I also need to add that the new Queen sized Tilt Down bed is getting very favourable comments. We can confidently say that we are VERY suitable for 4 adults now, and neither couple has to feel they got a second-rate sleep. The most recent Guests said, “Its great and more comfortable than my own bed”!!!
Nikau palm tree
5 December 2017.
The Nikau is New Zealand’s only palm. We have many on our property and a whole grove along part of our bush walk. The trunks are unbranched, up to 10m tall with a 25cm diameter.The top is crowned with large sheathing leaves or ‘fronds’.
I couldn’t resist running back for the camera this morning to snap this fresh bloom on the Nikau tree, (Rhopalostylis sapida). There is always something new to spot in the bush. I was just on the way to the clothesline and saw that the pod had been slipped off so that the flower ‘fingers’ could unfurl in the light. Some flowers don’t make it out and can’t escape from the pod, especially when it’s very dry, and then I have to help them by finding a long stick and knocking the pod case off! (foot added for scale). The ‘fingers’ are furled so tightly and often take a day to fully open out. The whole flower head is called an inflorescence and is made up of multiple tiny pink flowers. The fresh pods have a sweet aroma and dampness about them and this one was already housing some beetles. The red berries, up to 10mm long, often take 1 year to ripen and each contains a large seed, a good food source for the kereru and other birds. They swallow the whole fruit and then disperse the seed.
Stunning sunsets continue and a late cancellation.
2 December 2017
The sunsets keep entertaining us. Night after night, we are treated to the most amazing hues of red, purple, yellow as the sun sets and the colours whirl through a kaleidoscopic splendour. The sun has also cleared the last tip of land and now sets firmly in the sea.
Also, yesterday we had a late cancellation from Dec 29 for 4 days. So if anyone wants 4-5 days break and to join us here in our patch of paradise, now is a good moment to jump in. The pictures never quite match the true colours, but they still look stunning.
Summer getting closer in Paradise
12 November 2017
We know we live in Paradise, but I wanted to share 2 pics taken yesterday. The sunset was amazing. My pic taken from our dining room window, and the second pic was snapped by a Bethell’s local who was down at the beach. They are a sign of good things to come. Enjoy.
A surprise gift for the newly wedded couple.
10 October 2017
At Bush Sand and Sea B&B, because we are so small, we can ‘personalise’ a stay. Although a minority amongst our Guests, we enjoy the wedding Guests. Some come the night before, others on the actual wedding day, and then give themselves a day or two to relax, if they are lucky. Then they leave us to honeymoon in an exotic location, again if they are lucky. Some need to go back to work. They NEED time to recover. It’s a very busy time before the wedding day and they can be exhausted. We like to think that we can provide a place to rest, to contemplate the events. Alan and I have been married for 46 years and so we like to give them a small gift as a token. We give them recycled glasses, believing we are passing on some of our good luck.
Here’s what last weekends Guests said, “Thank you for your hospitality. We are very appreciative of the lovely food you left here for us. The home-made bread was amazing and the breakfast were yummy too. This place was just what we needed after our wedding: quiet, private, peaceful and a really nice house. We have felt so hidden away from the world. Thank you again.” Job done well, we reckon!
Happier spring days are here at last!
12 September 2017
Now I can report sightings of more Kereru and feisty Tui birds around us again. We feel less sad. Spring is the highlight of the year for me! More and more yellow kowhai trees are blooming, and the kitchen window becomes a beautiful frame of the bush on the ridge opposite. You can sit on the outside deck and hear the Tuis as they feast and fatten. You can spot the white native clematis as they reach for the light atop the bush. They are sun seeking, so need to get up high to flourish. The pics of three of my clematis ‘babies’, planted on our driveway about 2-3 years ago, are now all fully in flower. The west end of our Te Aute Ridge are coming alive with both kowhai and clematis, and the song of Tuis birds can be thunderous as they compete, cavort and socialise for the sweetest nectar. At the end of the day, they can be seen flying high and purposefully as they return to their own territory, heading in the same direction.