Encircled by a rugged, cliff-edged bay, this cedar-gabled homestead keeps a close eye on the wild Tasman Sea at the coastal edge of the working farm of Annandale, on the South Island’s Banks Peninsula. Offering what the estate’s owners affectionately refer to as ‘gumboot luxury’, this charming shack is no slouch: within its simple walls, there’s a soaking tub, an open fireplace and an expansive pool for the ultimate in secluded relaxation. As for meeting the locals, nearby Akaroa – a mere thirty-minute drive away – regularly delivers quite the aquatic array for keen-eyed spotters. It’s not unusual to encounter full colonies of seals snaking through that bay, as well as penguins and pods of rare Hector dolphins.

130 Wharf Road, Pigeon Bay +64 3 304 6841