SPECTACULAR: One of two beautiful sea views enjoyed from the house.

I think I might have slept in a bed once occupied by actor Sam Neil. Ernie Dingo from TV show The Great Outdoors may have also laid his head on this bed’s pillow.

However, I can’t be sure because in my excitement at seeing their famous names (among others) in the guest book at The Great Beach House, near Cape Foulwind I forgot to ask if they had been allocated the room hubby and I were in or one  of the other 2 guest rooms.

Perhaps it just as well I don’t know because now I am free to surmise that it definitely was our room with its sweeping view of Nine Mile Beach.

Both men wrote highly of the location, the views and the hospitality, their comments just two among pages and pages of warm compliments from the many guests Michael and Yvonne Allan have welcomed at their Tauranga Bay bed and breakfast, 17 kilometres south of Westport.

Hubby and I had rejected the idea of being closeted in town while visiting this part of the world with our recent Finnish guests. What’s more, with its big sky and big sea, the rugged coastline decreed it should be enjoyed from as close to the shore as possible and it would have been difficult to get much closer than this tiny Tauranga Bay settlement sitting on a narrow isthmus between the two beaches.

As it turned out we settled for two different forms of accommodation – the four-bedroom, furnished Bach on the Bay for our guests and the Great Beach House Bed and Breakfast for hubby and I. The latter proved ideal for we two.

<!--page--> With three guest bedrooms sharing a beautifully appointed bathroom it catered best for lone travellers or up to three couples. Built on four levels, this B&B enjoyed sea views from both sides of the house. The kitchen, dining and host’s quarters were downstairs while the lounge, gallery, guest rooms and reading nook opening to a sunny deck, were upstairs.

Our tastefully appointed bedroom enjoyed a sensational vista across Nine Mile Beach to the south west. The room included a hand basin and came with water tray, luxurious toiletries, dressing gowns and house slippers and, most importantly, a very comfortable bed.

Although we arrived latish – close to 7pm – our hosts had wine and cheese waiting for us providing the opportunity to greet and meet. At our request they had booked us in for dinner at The Bay House, an award-winning, beachfront restaurant just a minute’s walk away so after a quick mix and mingle we changed and headed off to eat.

By time we slipped into bed that night it was nearly midnight. Our heads hit the pillow and we remembered no more until morning. And what a super morning we had. The smell of freshly baking bread – Michael’s specialty – had me in the kitchen quick smart. Fresh fruit, yoghurt and cereal, plus that gorgeous fresh-baked bread with cheese and cold cuts, was a great start to the day. We had intended to eat quickly then go walking with our guests before making our way to the nearby seal colony.

More than two hours later, our visitors were back from the walk and had even been to the seal colony while I was still at the breakfast table discussing everything from the South American economy through to the newspaper industry. Michael and Yvonne are former owners of the Kapiti Observer and Michael had spent many years in newspaper management. Of course, we also discussed South Island living, gardening, food and Waiheke Island, as you do when on holiday. Time seemed immaterial.

Finally, a glance out the window revealed our guests to be packed and ready to load the car while I was thinking only of my third cup of coffee – time to fly! Thirty minutes later I was dressed and ready to go to if somewhat reluctantly. Waving goodbye to the Allan’s and their lovely home we shared the thought that our one-night stand with Tauranga Bay would remain forever sweet.