Castaway Island Resort
A sense of place is deeply woven into the accommodation and activities on offer at Tahi. Guest villas feature Maori crafts and artifacts, as well as books on Maori and settler history. Guided walks by a member of the local Maori community take visitors through the ancient trees, local history and traditional myths and legends of the area. With the ocean, lakes and forests on the doorstep, Tahi days are nature-led and time for reflection is plentiful.
Maori for ‘first place of plenty’, Ohuatahi in New Zealand’s North Island is home to the secluded sanctuary of Tahi. Eight-hundred acres of golden sands and South Pacific surf meet estuaries, wetlands and native forest. As the result of an extensive wetland restoration, indigenous planting and pest control program, Tahi is a model for commercially-minded conservation. The owners adhere to sustainable principles in everything they do; luxury hospitality is integrated with a profound respect for natural surroundings.
Tahi accommodation options include:
HIWI CONTEMPORARY BUNGALOW
Hiwi, with its cool whites and neutral tones, is a beautifully furnished two-bedroom bungalow. Dine or simply relax on the terrace whilst enjoying expansive views over the ocean, as well as complete privacy.
TARA CHARACTER BEACH COTTAGE
Small and cozy, Tara is simpler than Hiwi and Mara, but equipped with all the usual kitchen facilities. With a fresh, relaxed feel, it’s full of character and lies close to the beach so it’s perfect for families. Savour the sound of the sea as you relax into your surroundings.
MARA BEACH HOUSE
Mara is a four-bedroom bungalow equally suited to families or couples. Light and spacious, it is a natural haven surrounded by subtropical gardens. The beach is a short stroll away through the private parkland of Tahi.
At Tahi, time is spent as you choose. Encompassing a rich variety of habitats, Tahi is a haven for walkers, birdwatchers and the conservation-minded. Dune vegetation on the surf beach gives way to a diverse broadleaf forest on the hills further inland, lakes provide habitat for mullet and rare long-finned eels while mangroves and saltmarshes are home to kingfishers, rare fernbirds and banded rails.
EXPLORE – LAND, WATER, AIR & BEYOND…From golden sand to the turquoise waters of the estuary, from rich native forest to wetlands teeming with wildlife, there is so much to explore at Tahi.
A LAND REAWAKENING
For centuries, Tahi has been home to the Maori, and from the 19th century, European settlers. The land is full of archaeological gems from both Maori and early European occupation for you to discover.
WATER
Our Pacific Ocean surf beach attracts visitors from all over the world. Beginners can take their first lessons while the more experienced can hone their skills with our expert instructors. And there’s plenty of aquatic fun to be had for those not wishing to surf – choose from boogie boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling or kayaking.
Others may choose the more tranquil options of fishing, relaxing walks on the beach or discovering Tahi’s many lakes that are brimming with waterfowl and newly returned native fish.
AIR
What can beat waking to the sound and smell of the ocean? Barefoot walks on the beach, breathing the pristine, salty air can be just the tonic for those escaping the harried pace of modern life.
The serenity and sensory pleasure of Tahi’s cool temperate forests, formed by ancient kauri trees, palms, manuka and a host of other native trees, allow you to reconnect with nature and restore your natural balance. Keen birdwatchers can take advantage of guided walks with our resident ornithology experts, catering for everyone from the novice to the most serious birder. More than 280,000 indigenous trees have been planted, providing a home for almost 70 bird species, many of them rare or endangered. Birdsong now fills the land where not so long ago there was silence. You can keep a quiet lookout for our feathered residents from our purpose-built observation huts.
NATURE AT WORK
At Tahi we produce our own honey, unique to New Zealand, using natural, sustainable methods. If you have a special interest in bees or apiculture, come and see what makes our honey so special, with a private tour of the honey-processing shed. For a closer look, don a bee-keeping suit, see inside a hive and watch nature’s workers in action!
BEYOND
Tahi provides an ideal base from which to explore some of the North Island’s diverse landscapes and rugged coastline. There’s a host of sports and activities on offer and we can help build a program that is tailored to your preference and pace.
Explore the excellent golf courses around our region or enjoy some of the best scuba diving in New Zealand. Other activities include sailing, wine tasting, caving and discovering New Zealand’s rich marine life.
Excursions may be arranged by car, private plane, helicopter or luxury motor launch.
Deep-sea diving
Sailing
Golf
Wine tasting
Caving
Dolphin experience
Tahi joined The Long Run in 2011 and committed to a holistic balance of the 4Cs – Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce – as a means to contribute meaningfully to the biodiversity and the people of their local region.Over the course of eleven years, 280,000 indigenous trees have been planted and 14 wetlands have been restored. As a testament to their success, birds have returned to Tahi, having vanished after years of neglect as a run-down cattle farm. The sanctuary is now home to over 65 species of native birds, including the endangered Australian brown bittern. The reawakening of Tahi is as much about the local Maori community as it is about the land. Priority is given to neighboring residents when it comes to procurement and employment and the sanctuary carries out several Maori education initiatives.
