Ara Roa – Villa and Boutique Lodgings (Northland)
Spending more than 25 years doing anything indicates commitment, and for Ara Roa hosts Paul and Susanne, that’s a commitment to welcoming visitors to stay in a truly special part of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Whāngarei Heads and the Whananaki coastline is in Northland (about two-and-a-half hours north of Auckland). If you live in the North it’s the sight of the Heads that tells you you’re coming home. If you’re fortunate enough to stay in one of the Ara Roa properties then it’s the epic views that stay in your memory. Described by many guests as “mindblowing” these are vistas that many New Zealanders can’t even imagine.
“You walk in the front door and the view just opens up in front of you. That’s a real Northland thing!” says Paul.
Remarkable views
For Paul and Susanne the remarkable outlook is their daily reality. But it’s still magical seeing other people’s reactions when they arrive, they say. “Giving people joy and getting positive feedback from our guests are two of the main factors that have kept us doing what we do,” says Paul.
“In the early years our kids were growing up here and they would get to meet and have a great time with the families that visited.
“These days we have a little more time to enjoy our own little sailboat which is moored nearby. We can sometimes go out on the water knowing we’re still within 30 minutes of getting back to a property in response to a call.”
About half of Ara Roa’s guests are international (mostly visiting in the summer months) with domestic guests dominating bookings during the winter.
Special offerings
Over the years the numbers of properties that the couple manage has grown and they have added special additional offerings such as a chef and catering option that can be booked in advance, and access to beauty treatments and massages from locally-based practitioners.
The couple work together sharing tasks such as administration, marketing, and upkeep of the grounds. For some properties they provide a full management service and for others they handle bookings only. They keep a close eye on all properties nonetheless to make sure all their guests have the experience they expect. The number of return guests is evidence that people are having a wonderful time in this beautiful part of the country.
Beautiful walking tracks
“It’s off the beaten track,” says Susanne, “but there is a lot more awareness of the walking tracks in the area now so that has attracted people here. We tend to see the more adventurous people who decide to go to Northland from Auckland.”
From the Ara Roa properties it’s an easy day trip to the Bay of Islands so it’s easy to stay in this beautiful place but still enjoy some of the more well known visitor destinations in the region.
On the other hand Whāngarei Heads and the Ara Roa properties are so special that you might just want to put your feet up and not go anywhere else!
“Today the pohutukawa are out, and I just spent an hour and a half on the loop track looking out at white sand beaches and came across only three other people,” says Paul. “What a privilege to call this place home.”
