A Surprise Wellington Weekender
On the edge of the earth in this cliffside cabin.
Until we laid our eyes upon this brand new cliffside cabin, Wellington was never really on our sliding scale of sexy destinations.
But Tunapo Escape pulled and pulled at our heartstrings until we could no longer ignore it, and boy are we glad we didn’t.
If you’re thinking - hang on, New Zealand for a weekend? We’ll stop you right there. Leverage a strategic public holiday, book some flights with those points you’ve been saving for a rainy day, and hire that car. In reality, Tunapo is no more of a mission than most weekenders in Australia.
And nothing spices things up quite like an international adventure. Surprise and delight a new flame or a long-time lover with this incredible Kiwi escape.
This is a new project born from a passion for lustful accommodations around the world and frustrations with the lack of sources to find them. Come on the journey with us, and click here to learn more about who we are and why we’re doing this.
But First, A Quickie
Tunapo Escape
Location: Paekākāriki Hill, New Zealand
Nearest airport: Wellington (WLG)
Why it’s sexy: There are so many reasons why this is one close to our hearts. Off-grid? Check. Ever-changing views? Double check. Not to mention the freestanding bathtub, starry nights, total isolation and moody weather.
The Journey
This getaway has all the excitement of jetting off for an international holiday, but it feels as easygoing as a weekender in Hobart.
With a short flight time of just 2.5 hours, we suggest catching a morning flight from the East Coast. Wellington airport is so small that you simply walk off the plane, pick up your hire car, and Tunapo Escape is a breezy 45-minute drive away.
Depending on the season, if you’re lucky, you’ll be greeted by adorable baby lambs as you enter the property and round the crest of Paekākāriki Hill.
The unsealed road to the front door of the cabin is manageable in most cars, but an SUV would be a safer bet depending on clearance and conditions.
The arrival scene is simply breathtaking. Tunapo sits upon a steep cliffside that dramatically cascades down to the ocean many hundreds of metres below. You feel small, like really small. Surrounded by boundless skies and an ocean that chases the horizon across 180 degrees, trust us - no one will find you here.
The Vibe
Tunapo Escape opened its doors just last year, so your hosts - Hannah & Chris - are eager to impress. But that’s easy to do when you’ve got such a jaw-dropping location as your blank canvas to start with.
As soon as you step foot out of the car, you're blown away (perhaps quite literally) by the unhinged elements at your doorstep. You’ve arrived at the edge of the earth.
The scene at Tunapo will change 100 times during your stay - you’ll have your head in the clouds one minute and they’ll be gone the next, teasing you with views of Kapiti Island and the sparkling blue of the Tasman below. The fiery sunsets right down to the horizon will soak up hours of your day, and you won’t be mad about it, as you’ll be soaking too, with wine in hand in the freestanding bathtub big enough for two.
Your run sheet will be total detox mode. You won’t find a single distraction other than the lustful eyes of whoever you choose to share the cabin with. We enjoyed cosy moments under the sheets as the storms howled overhead and fireside chats on the floor with a snow globe of stars to marvel at outside.
Food & Wine Options
Your time is precious, so the moment you step through the door, shed those clothes, throw flight mode on and pre-order some local NZ sparkling wine and a cheese board from your hosts so you don't have to worry about anything at all.
Hannah, who’s a trained chef, will send you a menu ahead of your stay, so if you’re really pushed for time or headspace, she can arrange everything for you. Her instructions are easy to follow with minimal prep, so we have no doubt you’ll impress and get the job done.
That being said, the suburbs of Tawa & Redwood on the road heading north from Wellington en route to Tunapo have all your supermarket and bottle shop needs. Consider the extra time you have together as an opportunity to put on some tunes, crack a bottle of red, and cook up something on the BBQ or in the little kitchenette.
If you do want to venture out - but we can guarantee you won’t want to - there are a variety of dining options available along the coast. It’s rural NZ though, so you either can’t book, absolutely must book, or it’s closed every day outside of Thursday - Sunday. 50-50 restaurant in Paraparaumu was suggested for date night, though we never got there ourselves.
If you’d prefer not to drive, there’s a hiking track down to the village from just beyond the cabin’s boundaries.
Disconnect To Reconnect
Thankfully, there’s no WiFi at Tunapo, and you’ll have minimal mobile data. Why not unlock a little extra spice by not telling anyone else where you’re going? You’ll feel like you’re the only people on earth anyway.
Flight mode is the supreme currency of 2024, and there’s nothing sexier than having someone’s full attention for three blissful days.
How To Book
Tunapo Escape is listed on Airbnb, which is where we found it, but it never hurts to browse the available date windows there first before booking directly. Better yet? The NZD is a little weaker against the Aussie, so you’ll be looking at about $800 for two nights. Hannah’s attentive but hands-off hospitality is worth cutting out the middleman for when you have a recommendation like ours.
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We selected Tunapo Escape for a reason and paid our own way. On the odd occasion that’s not the case, we’ll let you know.
Additional imagery courtesy of Hannah & Chris Thornton