1.5 hours south of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, the historic Waitetuna River winds below Cara Mia at Te Uku Landing and into Raglan Harbour. One of only a handful of harbours on New Zealand's west coast, Raglan is renown for its surf beach, but its inner harbour is a serene natural sanctuary.
Cara Mia Holiday Cottage Accommodation New Zealand
Cara Mia is a modern two-bedroomed cottage which sleeps five and catches all-day sun high above the river at Te Uku Landing. The 360 degree views are simply spectacular and afford tranquil vistas of bush, farmland, and Raglan Harbour. Historically Te Uku Landing was the landing point for barges picking up flax for the early flax mills and timber from the Waitetuna Valley. 6 kms away on the Wharauroa Plateau overlooking the small settlements of Waitetuna, Te Uku and Te Mata is one of New Zealand's newest and most modern wind farms.
Te Uku - Waikato Region, New Zealand
Today Te Uku is a sleepy rural village. Te Uku Landing a few kms away is on a bend of the Waitetuna River where shags, wild swans, blue herons, ducks and other water fowl make their habitat. In the native bush, tall with ancient kaihikatea trees, tui, kereru (wood pigeons), ruru (small native owls) and many other native birds make their homes. It's a bird watcher's paradise. Walk through cool, still, native bush on the property and enjoy the limestone rock formations, or meander along the river bank.
Cara Mia Restful Rural Accommodation Next to Bush and River
The van der Voordens, your hosts at Cara Mia, are conservationists and hobby farmers. They keep sheep and chickens and they grow and preserve their own fruit and vegetables. The family's free range chickens provide eggs for your breakfast, and although Cara Mia isn't open during whitebait season, they can usually find some of the wonderful delicacy in their freezer for you to enjoy. A small greenhouse attached to Cara Mia lets you pick fresh vegetables in season.
I love the peace and quiet, distant cattle, birdsong, the river reaching flood and then exposing it's banks with the tides, and the big sky so full at night with crystal stars, so for me Cara Mia is a place to catch my breath, but if you're the more active type, there's plenty to do. Choose from a relaxing picnic with a glass of wine on the riverbank in the shade of a willow tree, or borrow an on-site kayak and catch the outgoing tide for a paddle into Raglan. One of your hosts is a keen paddler and time allowing, is happy to do a day-paddle with guests.
Activities in Te Uku/Raglan District
Across the road, an arts teacher offers tuition, and along the road, a small polyculture marine research farm contributes to New Zealand's body of marine farming knowledge. Take a short drive to Waingaro Thermal Springs, or a few kms away on the wild western coast at Ruapuke, horse trekking is a wonderful way to spend the day with the surf nearby, or visit the world famous Bridal Veil Falls. 10 minutes drive brings you to Raglan, a small charming township where arts thrive alongside popular cafes and boutique shopping.
No Cell Coverage so Relaxation is Top of the List
Bury your cellphone which has no reception in this part of New Zealand, and take the opportunity to really relax, and if going floppy all over appeals, before you leave, do the ultimate in relaxation and engage the Raglan mobile massage team.
Cara Mia is well off the beaten track but the roads are all sealed. The city of Hamilton is only half an hour distant for when you need a serious shopping fix with theatres, museums, art galleries and all the trappings of a larger city.
Resources: Author's personal experience (2011)
