Heron Hideaway at First Light Rangihaeata Retreat

Hot water was a bit up and down but we got around that

The aesthetic inside the cabin was great. lovely comfy bed with warm sheets on it. The kitchen was perfect for our needs. The Hosts had already turned on the heater so the room was nice and warm when we arrived.

I was surprised by the outdoor bathroom facilities. They need to have a paved path or stepping stones to them so you don't track dirt inside. This was bad due to the rainy weather. My partner had a cold shower as she did not adjust the switch from summer to winter. My shower after her discovery was lovely.

Location & view - was awesome & cosy

Only thing was another blanket on the bed

The view was fabulous. Comfortable bed. 1 saucepan was good quality. Salt & pepper grinders.

Before we booked this accommodation the owners wrote that no reviews were available, as the property was a new listing, so we believed the owners claim & their self-assessment. After we arrived & researched further we found that there WERE reviews available since Dec 2024! Many of the ☹️ comments that had been reported were STILL not actioned. We arrived early evening to find that no doors or windows had been left open, so the heat inside the property was unbearable. All the windows, ranch sliders & glass doors are on the sunny side, so overheating is an issue on hot summer days. No Aircon - just an inadequate fan which just moved the hot air around a little. Mosquitoes, sandflies & moths entered when the windows were opened, even after the interior lights were turned off. No fly spray was provided so we had to keep all doors & windows closed at night. Others have complained that there should be insect screens, so the owners have provided a mosquito net to put over the bed. There is a ceiling hook, assuming you can stand on the bed to reach it, but the headboard is fixed to the wall so there is no way to drape the net behind the bed, so the net actually touches your face, so insects can bite you & the net is scratchy. There were some notices stuck on walls about reducing water usage & how the compost toilet works, but NO helpful information for guests about the property. On arrival the compost bucket from the previous occupants was half full & had been left on the kitchen counter. Although there was tea, coffee & sugar, there was no milk provided. Others had complained about that too, but the owners explained that they can't predict what sort people want. (Our next accommodation had messaged us asking what sort of milk we preferred & it was in the fridge on our arrival.) The cutlery had not been washed properly & there were particles of dried food still on some.