THE BASICS
2 bedroom | Sleeps 4
Children aged 7+ welcome
Dogs welcome
From NZ$350 per night
Private tidal beach
Stocked basic pantry
Fully equipped kitchen
Wood fire inside, with wood provided
Handcrafted outdoor cedar hot tub
Full linen, towels & bedding supplied
90 minutes from Auckland
Pahi, Kaipara Harbour
North Island
THE SPACE
Perched above the ever-changing tides of the Kaipara Harbour, The Dreamers Night Inn is a lovingly restored 19th-century cottage that blends settler-era charm with the relaxed elegance of modern coastal interiors. Styled in a Coastal Heirloom palette, the space pairs linen, timber, and handpicked vintage pieces with the quiet imperfection of Wabi Sabi. Timber-lined walls, sloped ceilings, and timeworn details speak to the home’s history, while curated touches - natural textures, soft lighting, and layered comfort and create a calm, soulful retreat.
Step out onto the wide veranda, nestled under mature olive trees, or climb to the painter’s loft tucked high above the water - a dreamy perch for sketching, reading, or simply watching the harbour shift with the day. With two restful bedrooms, sun-washed living spaces, and a handcrafted cedar hot tub set at a perfect 38 degrees, this is a home that invites you to slow down and stay a while.
THE EXPERIENCE
Life here moves to the rhythm of tide and light. Wake slowly as the sun warms the veranda, coffee in hand and birdsong all around. Wander barefoot down steps through bush to the quiet beach below - perfect for morning swims, shell collecting, or casting a line from one of Kaipara’s most beloved fishing spots. As evening falls, sink into the wood-fired cedar hot tub under a canopy of olive branches and stars.
Indoors, firelight flickers in the moody lounge, books and blankets within easy reach. Upstairs, the painter’s loft offers a quiet place to journal, dream, or sit in silence as the harbour shifts in colour. Whether you're here to create, restore, or simply be, The Dreamers Night Inn is a stay shaped by stillness, softness, and the art of slowing down.
THE HISTORY
Built over a century ago, the cottage was originally home to one of Pahi’s early settler families - simple in form but full of character, with timber cut from nearby kauri forests and views that stretch forever. Over the decades, it has weathered storms, welcomed generations, and watched the tides rise and fall with steady grace.
Its recent restoration honours this quiet legacy, preserving the natural bones of the house while breathing new life through texture, light, and considered design. What remains is not just a building, but a feeling - a sense of peace, of perspective, and of timelessness that carries through every room. This is a home with a past - and a gentle invitation to step into its story.
THE SURROUNDS
Pahi is a sleepy waterside village where the days unfold gently and nature leads the way. Just 90 minutes from Auckland, it feels a world apart - where tides mark time, tōtara trees line the hills, and the only rush is the wind through the trees. Walk the foreshore at low tide, where sandbanks stretch wide and herons wade quietly. Stroll to the Pahi wharf with fish and chips, or explore the nearby Matakohe Kauri Museum for a glimpse into the area’s rich settler and Māori heritage.
Further afield, Paparoa offers farmer’s markets, bush walks, and hidden swimming holes. But the greatest treasures are right here: the salt on your skin, the sound of tūī at dusk, and the soft hush of waves below the veranda.
THE SOUNDTRACK
